Looking through a recent survey from Le Ski, I was struck by one stat in particular. While it was encouraging to read that the number of UK skiers and snowboarders is predicted to grow by 14% in winter 2023/24, the fact that only 13% stay in catered chalets highlighted how...
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is changing fast. A few years ago, it was just the name of one of Steven Spielberg’s less good movies, but in 2023 AI has moved from the world of ‘futurologists’ into the mainstream. The chances are that even if you haven’t tried ChatGPT (or Google’s ‘Bard’),...
Iain’s article ‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines‘ has now been published in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine. It’s also now available as a special episode of The Ski Podcast My first experience of working in the ski industry came 35 years ago when I went to Chatel...
Iain from Skipedia recently went ski touring in Morocco. Flying into Marrakech, and then travelling to Imlil (1740m), Iain then spent three nights at the Refuge des Mouflons (3207m), ski touring to different 4000m peaks. Ski hire was from Braemar Mountain Sports, guiding and logistics were organised by Toubkal Guide. You...
These are difficult days for the ESF in the UK. The current legal cases against Simon Butler and Le Ski have stirred up plenty of negative sentiment within the British market against the ESF. Both cases – which deal with different aspects of the law – are currently at different...
Okay, not strictly anything to do with marketing, but just for fun… So why do chalet girls bake a cake every day? As far as I know chalets have always left out a cake for their guests to tuck into for ‘afternoon tea’. After a long day on the slopes,...
See if you can spot the difference between these two snowsports ads using UK public transport messages to promote themselves. One makes sense, one has clearly never used the London Underground! Like the Tube… Seriously? No-one ever said: “You know what? I really want to go to a ski resort that’s ‘like the Tube’.” Discover...
No doubt you already subscribe so you never miss an episode of The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com) but just in case, here are some highlights from the last few pods… Just click on the links to catch up: Jim visited Chill Factore – the north west’s premier snow slope (Episode 22) Why are so many ski...
At the recent France Montagnes press event in London, Skipedia came across the following snowy stats about the French mountains: Proportion of France covered by mountains 23% Average price per day of a French ski holiday, per person €81 Average ski holiday budget, per person €429 Average daily price of a...
‘Montagne Leaders’ magazine have recently published their annual survey, showing which resorts have generated the most lift pass revenue. The Savoie region of France contributed 46% of the 1.3 billion euros of revenue, followed by the Haute Savoie (26%, €355m) and Isère (9%, €123m). The Top 8 French Ski Resorts: Chamonix-Mont-Blanc La Plagne Val Thorens/Orelle...
In April 2018, Iain travelled to Courchevel in France, where he interviewed Antoine Motillon. Antoine was involved in a motorcycle accident in 2004 and has been in a wheelchair since then. However, in 2017 he was given the opportunity by Courchevel to drive a specially adapted piste basher. Article on The Daily Telegraph In the...
Verbier have become the first ski resort to partner with a Premiership football club. While Manchester United may already have official partners for everything from noodles to beer, last year’s Champions League finalists Liverpool have become the first English football team to find a ski resort partner. Verbier hopes that through its sponsorship of the...
