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The sad demise of the catered chalet ski holiday

by iain on Sep 25, 2023 • 8 Comments

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...

Ideas

Will ChatGPT make ‘ski experts’ redundant?

by iain on May 11, 2023 • No Comments

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 / Ideas / Tour Operators

‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines’ – article in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine

by iain on Mar 8, 2023 • 3 Comments

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 / Resorts

Ski Touring in Morocco: A Photo Essay

by iain on Feb 8, 2019 • No Comments

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...

Resorts / Tour Operators

‘I’m a modern-day Batman’ says anti-ESF campaigner

by iain on Nov 2, 2014 • No Comments

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...

Tour Operators

Why do chalet girls bake a cake every day?

by iain on Aug 13, 2011 • 2 Comments

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,...

Latest entries

Branding / Resorts

New DC Area 43 snowpark for Meribel-Mottaret

by iain on Jan 4, 2012 • No Comments

DC have done some fine work with their rebranding of the Meribel Mottaret snowpark. More than 650 feet of rails, plus a skateboard mini half pipe, have been added to the park this season. There are four areas for different riders levels, served by a chair lift and a cable car. DC Area 43 will...

Resorts

Snow, snow, snow…

by iain on Dec 31, 2011 • No Comments

We don’t know the numbers yet, but the Alps have seen one of the best December snowfalls for many years. The amount of snow coming down in France in particular has been quite incredible. Even more so given that on December 5th there was so little snow that the Daily Mail and Metro were running scare stories...

Resorts / Social Media

The Top 10 Italian Ski Resorts on Facebook (Dec 11)

by iain on Dec 23, 2011 • No Comments

Following our recent update on the Top 10 French Ski Resorts and the Top 10 Austrian ski resorts, today it’s time to find out who’s top of the charts in Italy: The Top 10 Italian Ski Resorts on Facebook 1. Madonna di Campiglio – 11676 fans 2. Val Gardena – 7311 3. Monterosa Ski – 6768 4. Cortina d’Ampazzo – 6424 5. Bardonecchia – 5378 6. Livigno...

Tour Operators

The demise of the travel agent, rise of the Internet

by iain on Dec 16, 2011 • 2 Comments

Continuing our review of the data produced by the Ski Club of Great Britain in their annual Snowsports Analysis, in this post we look at how consumers are booking their holidays. Online and phone bookings up According to the Ski Club’s figures, online bookings have increased by 54% since 1994, admittedly from a small base, to...

Tour Operators

Does TUI have too much influence on the ski market?

by iain on Dec 14, 2011 • 1 Comment

While tour operators are relieved at the recent heavy snow in the Alps, the early signs are that this is going to be another poor year for the industry, with a fourth consecutive fall in the total size of the market. Evidently the economy is still in a poor state, and consumer confidence is low....

Resorts / Social Media

The Top 10 Austrian Ski Resorts on Facebook (Dec 11)

by iain on Dec 13, 2011 • No Comments

Following our recent update on the Top 10 French Ski Resorts on Facebook, today it’s time to find out who’s top of the charts in Austria: The Top 10 Austrian Ski Resorts on Facebook 1. Der Dachstein (Schladming/Dachstein) – 36036 fans (NE*) 2. Saalbach Hinterglemm – 31148 (1) 3. Ischgl – 21717 (2) 4. Soelden – 19494 (NE) 5....

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The sad demise of the catered chalet ski holiday

Will ChatGPT make ‘ski experts’ redundant?

‘Parrots in the Snow: the rise and fall of Bladon Lines’ – article in ‘Ski+Board’ magazine

Ski Touring in Morocco: A Photo Essay

‘I’m a modern-day Batman’ says anti-ESF campaigner

Why do chalet girls bake a cake every day?

New DC Area 43 snowpark for Meribel-Mottaret

Snow, snow, snow…

The Top 10 Italian Ski Resorts on Facebook (Dec 11)

The demise of the travel agent, rise of the Internet

Does TUI have too much influence on the ski market?

The Top 10 Austrian Ski Resorts on Facebook (Dec 11)

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