Chatbot helps find your dream ski holiday

THE Austrian National Tourist Office have overseen an industry-first, a Facebook Chatbot to help users find their dream ski holiday. The bot was created by chatbot specialists Chit Chat Agency.

The bot asks users 5 questions and then displays relevant ski resorts based on the user’s personal preferences. 4 chatbots have been developed for key territories including UK, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark.

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1 Pass over 27 Destinations

IKON Pass, the new standard in season passes, announces Thredbo as its newest partner, now offering access to nearly 26,000 hectares (more than 64,000 acres) at 27 premier mountain destinations across the globe. The Ikon Pass is available for purchase at www.ikonpass.com and through selected travel partners. 

In addition to access to 26 destinations in North America, all Ikon Pass holders can enjoy skiing and riding throughout Thredbo’s 2018 winter season. Ikon Pass holders will have seven-day access to Thredbo on the Ikon Pass with no black-out dates, and five-day access on the Ikon Base Pass, with selected black-out dates. 

Thredbo, Australia’s premier snow destination, offers an incredible snow experience with its impressive mountain accessing 480 hectares of varied terrain and its 672 vertical meters providing the country’s longest snow runs, combined with its picturesque alpine village at the base of the mountain which creates a vibrant après atmosphere. 

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Winter phenomena: snow monsters

SURROUNDED by grand mountains and 1,900 years of venerable hot springs tradition, Zao is located in Yamagata prefecture only 3 hours away from Tokyo and known as a top-tier traditional skiing and snowboarding resort in Japan. Zao is known for its multiple winter phenomena. Because of the unique weather conditions, trees are covered with ice and snow, or as locals call them, Juhyo, or even Snow Monsters. 

The Snow Monsters winter scenery which combined with the wide panoramic scenery make Zao Onsen the best winter resorts in Japan for scenery. The Juhyo can be seen from morning till late evening if you board the Zao Ropeway, which starts at the foot of the mountain. Furthermore, on weekends until 4th March 2018, visitors are treated to, “Juhyo Corridor of Fantasy” tour where the Juhyo are lit up throughout the night and are visible from snowmobile.

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Backpack your snowboard

HEADING off to the slopes this winter then pack light with this latest backpack for your snowboard. 

Board Bootie is the lightest, most convenient protective cover for a snowboard which can also be used as a backpack for carrying the board. Developed

 to protect a rider’s investment in a snowboard and to provide a more convenient way to transport a board to the slopes.

www.boardbootie.net

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New airline launches, opening up routes into heart of the Swiss Alps

NEW airline powdair has launched ticket sales through its website powdair.ski with a winter schedule that links Sion Airport with eight destinations in the UK, Germany and Belgium.

The skiers airline, based in Sion – the heart of Switzerland’s #wintersport region, the Valais, will offer skiers and snowboarders across the UK, Northern Germany and the Benelux Countries the chance to reach some of the world’s most famous winter sports resorts quickly and efficiently.

Flights commence from December 14, 2017 and will significantly cut transfer times to some of Switzerland’s most popular #ski resorts for winter sports enthusiasts including Zermatt, Verbier, Saas Fee, Crans Montana and Nendaz.

The eight airports that will be served by powdair are - London Luton, London Southend, Southampton, Bristol, Manchester and Edinburgh as well as Antwerp and Hamburg.

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More snow means longer season for Perisher

PERISHER in #Australia has seen over two metres of snowfall throughout August and the four-resort area of Perisher, Blue Cow, Smiggin Holes and Guthega are all looking superb. Spring skiing and boarding conditions are the best that skiers have experienced since 2012 and with plenty more snow forecast through next week Perisher has extended the season through Sunday October 8.

Perisher is Australia’s most popular alpine holiday destination. Located in the picturesque Kosciuszko National Park which is home to Australia’s highest peak Mt Kosciuszko, the resort is just three hours’ drive from Canberra. Perisher boasts an incredible 47 lifts accessing an immense 1,245 hectares of varied snow-covered terrain, and has four resorts areas including Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega to make it the Southern Hemisphere's largest alpine resort.

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Ski Japan: resort news

WITH a positive exchange rate for British travellers this year, additional daily flights from London to Tokyo, and the guarantee of plentiful powdery snow, it’s clear to see why #ski holidays to #Japan are growing in popularity.

Whether you’re keen to visit the snow monsters of little-known resorts such as Zao Onsen in Tohoku, or hit the famed slopes of the 1998 Winter Olympics venue in Hakuba – Japan has resorts of all sizes, with slopes aplenty for any level of skier.

Niseko, Hokkaido
The Ace Family Chair Lift has undergone an overhaul which will see its capacity double per hour. 

Niseko Annupuri International Ski Resort has announced the construction of a new ski lift – the Dream Quad Lift #1 specifically for beginner skiers and snowboarders. The new lift will be built at the bottom of Annupuri Gondola and will be complete in December 2017. The lift will be 433 metres long.

Hakuba, Nagano

A new Hoshino Resorts property, KAI Alps, will open on 21st December 2017. Within close proximity to Hakuba’s slopes, this property will offer the incredible service and 5* food that marks these Japanese properties out from the crowd. This stylishly cosy ryokan will offer hot springs with views over the Alps beyond, as well as authentic Japanese winter experiences such as snuggling up under kotatsu (heated tables with over-top blankets) eating winter delicacies. 

Mountain Side Hakuba – a new ski in, ski out condominium resort – opened in January 2017. The accommodation offers incredible views of the Olympic chair, and provides ski-in ski-out access to over 200 ski runs.

Tomamu, Hokkaido
Club Med will introduce their brand new hotel – Club Med Tomamu – in December 2017. Sprawled across the Tomamu mountain, this resort will allow skiers and boarders to immerse themselves in the layers of powder snow, perfect for thrill-seekers hunting down their next adventure. Nearby activities will entertain all the family, with Mina Mina – the largest indoor wave pool in Japan - an ice village and hot springs with a panoramic forest views all in close vicinity. Tomamu has a total of 29 ski runs, five lifts and one gondola.


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Ski in Slovakia and stay at the Dragon's Lair

JASNA Adventures has launched its brand new built chalet in the #ski resort of Jasna, #Slovakia, opening in October 2017 in time for the winter season.

The Dragon’s Lair sleeps up to 19 people in five guest rooms, all with ensuite, that include two upstairs-downstairs family rooms, a double, a triple, and a large 2+2 room – there’s a fulltime chalet host, an outdoor jacuzzi, sauna and fitness area, plus a full bar downstairs.

Guests can choose whether they stay on a bed & breakfast or half-board basis. There’s also a private lift shuttle service that drops off and picks up guests at the slopes in as little as eight minutes drive.

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Walls of Snow

ICE and snow maybe the furthest things from your mind now that spring and its glimmers of sunshine and blue sky are here, but the stunning Tateyama Kurobe Alpine Route in the #Japan Alps is so breathtaking that it might just be worth togging up in your winter clothes again in order to appreciate it at its jaw-dropping best.

The Alpine Route is a famous mountain sightseeing road snaking its way between mountains in the northern Japan Alps at an elevation of 3,000m - that’s almost as high as the summit of Mt. Fuji! The route is closed during winter, meaning that heavy snow piles up into fantastic walls of snow that are 20 metres tall in some places.

The route is open from April 15th until November 30th this year, allowing visitors to enjoy the stunning vistas and unique landscapes as they travel over, above and even under the majestic Mt. Tateyama and its towering snow tunnels - billed as “19 metres of amazing”!

The total length of the route is 37.2km, and visitors can make use of a variety of vehicles to explore every inch of it to the fullest, from cable cars and ropeways to trolley buses and even lake cruises.

The range of airborne transportation also includes several unique options that are not for the faint of heart, though potential passengers with less of a head for heights can take comfort from Japan’s impeccable transport safety records. These include the only cable car in Japan without any pylons supporting it, a cable car with an average gradient of 24 degrees that elevates passengers 500 metres in a single trip, and the only underground cable car in Japan, allowing it to remain unaffected by snowfall.

One of the route’s most popular spots is Yuki-no-Otani (giant snow valley) at Murodo, whose great Snow Wall can reach stupendous heights of 20 metres - that’s as high as a 10 storey building! Snowfall has been especially heavy this year, meaning that the snow wall is higher and more impressive than ever. A 500 metre section of the road between the walls is open for walking and sledding from April until June.

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Winter Skills in Scotland

FOR the last 7 years Unexplored Scotland has provided quality Winter Skills Courses in #Scotland. The company has revamped the programme of its courses and offers now a 2 day winter course every weekend from early January till early April. The two day course takes place on the Cairngorm hills near Aviemore.

Skills covered on the course include:

• Walking with crampons
• Using an ice axe to cut steps
• Avalanche awareness
• Digging an emergency shelter
• Practice ice axe arrests

For further information go to https://unexplored.scot

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On the runway . . .

SWISS  has been named Official Airline of next year’s FIS Alpine World Ski Championships to be held in St. Moritz, Southeast #Switzerland, from February 6-19.

SWISS’s involvement in the event will include prize draws among #skiing fans for SWISS flight vouchers and admission tickets. 

Further off-piste highlights will include spectacular overflights by SWISS aircraft. And SWISS will also be supporting the Youth Camp project of the event’s organizers by flying tomorrow’s ski stars to #StMoritz from all over the world.

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Deals on the slopes

WITH the Alps and North America already experiencing heavy snowfall, the forthcoming #ski season is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years. For those who haven’t yet booked, there are still plenty of great deals available to those ‘in the know’, including peak school holiday dates over Christmas, February half-term and Easter.

Ski Solutions have put together their ‘Top Ski Hacks’, to ensure customers get the best deals on the slopes this season.

1. Be snow sure

Early birds wanting to bag the best deals and avoid the lift queues should head to the high-altitude resorts where the snow is guaranteed.Situated at an altitude of 1,907 metres, the village of Obergurgl, Austria enjoys excellent early snowfall and already has a base building covering of 45cm. The resort is a good all-round destination with pistes suitable for all ski standards.

Those willing to hop across the pond will enjoy excellent snow-sure conditions from late November at Park City in Utah. Thanks to the new direct Delta service from London in to Salt Lake City, it’s never been easier to ski Stateside. The hotel is centrally located, just minutes from the historic Main Street and offers breath-taking views over the mountains.

2. Time poor, budget poor or just unsure?

For nervous first timers, unsure how they will take to full days on the piste, or simply for those on a budget, a short break to the easily accessible resort of Courmayeur in Italy is the ideal choice. With excellent piste and off-piste skiing to suit all abilities, plus fantastic shopping, restaurants and nightlife away from the slopes, this high-altitude resort at the foot of Mont Blanc caters for all.

Experienced time poor skiers can now book short breaks to St Anton, Austria, one of the finest and oldest resorts in the Alps.

3. Don’t delay, book today for school holiday dates

With key dates for Christmas, February half-term and Easter already selling fast in light of the recent snowfall, the advice is to book now to avoid disappointment and to take advantage of early season offers.

4. Escape Europe to beat the plummeting Pound 

Whilst the value of the Pound against the Euro and USD remains low, in Canada, the Pound is still worth a staggering 1.7 CAD, which means holiday spend will go much further.

5. Go all-inclusive

Another way to beat the currency fluctuations and control holiday spend, whilst ensuring great value for money, is to book an all-inclusive ski package. Many now go beyond the traditional inclusive dining options to also include ski tuition and lift passes.

6. Ski longer for less this New Year

As New Year falls on a Sunday this year, a traditional transfer and change over day for ski resorts; many hotels have had to overcome this problem by offering nine night breaks for the price of seven, resulting in two free extra nights over the holiday period for skiers. .

7. Take advantage of opening offers

There are a number of new hotels set to open for the upcoming season including the five-star Taj-I-Mah in Les Arcs. By taking advantage of the early opening rates, skiers can enjoy top-notch accommodation and the opportunity to experience the hottest new hangouts, without the premium prices.

www.skisolutions.com

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The longest tri-cable gondola in the Alps?

THE new 3S Eisgrat cable car lift by Leitner ropeways plans to open on October 29, increasing the capacity and access to the Stubai glacier in #Austria. The reworked cable car route will also open up a new #ski run Fernau, a 3.8 km long descent to the valley.

The sophisticated tri-cable gondola is the longest of its type to be built in the Alps, and the project at the Stubai Glacier has entered the history books as the largest single lift investment made by any ski resort, with 48 modern cabins capable of transporting 3,000 people per hour . The journey from the valley to the mountain will now take just 11 minutes.

www.stubai.at

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Ski Solutions celebrates

Ski Solutions is the UK’s original specialist ski tour operator and travel agency, with 30 years’ experience of arranging hotel and chalet holidays to the Alps and North America.

Craig Burton, Managing Director of #Ski Solutions, said: “As we’re celebrating our 30th birthday, Ski Solutions has its most comprehensive and exciting ski programme in its 30-year history.

“New for winter 16/17 we have launched a short break programme to world-famous St. Anton. The Wednesday-Sunday short break will prove really popular among people who want to go away for a long weekend.

“New flights with Delta to Salt Lake City mean skiers can fly direct from the UK, while good-value flights with WestJet give skiers in Banff the option to splash out a little more on top-notch accommodation. Plus, brand new hotels including the only five-star property in Les Arcs ”

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Ski discounts

SPECIALIST ski tour operator and travel agency #Ski Solutions is offering #discountdeals on bookings made before February 25 and 26, and March 4 for Champoluc, Tignes, Courchevel, and Val d’Isère. 

 Offers include:

Book by February 26 to save up to £375pp on seven nights chalet board in Tignes. Seven nights chalet board accommodation at the four star Chalet Hotel L’Ecrin du Val Claret. www.skisolutions.com/countries/france/resorts/tignes/accommodations/l-ecrin-du-val-claret

Book before March 4 to save up to £210pp on four-star ski holiday in Val d’Isère. Seven nights chalet board accommodation at the four star Chalet Hotel Le Val d’Isère. The price includes flights and transfers from London Gatwick departing March 13. http://www.skisolutions.com/countries/france/resorts/val-d-isere /accommodations/le-val-d-isere

www.skisolutions.com

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Iceland gears up for its Winter Games

2016 will see the third #Iceland #WinterGames, said to be one of the world's biggest winter festivals.  

Based in Akureyri, the ski capital of Iceland and the country’s second-largest city, the games attract some of the biggest names in winter sports and hosts events unseen anywhere else. These includes ski jumps in the shape of volcanoes, mountain top to sea skiing, Arctic horseback riding, and dog sledding championships.

Spectators can take tours in superjeeps, helicopters, snowmobiles, and green-energy powered schooner boats.

The festival runs from March 24 to April 3.

www.icelandwintergames.com

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Brits party on the piste

WINTER ‘gappies’ are overtaking the clubland sun-seekers in the British holiday market, with 44 percent of UK holidaymakers saying they prefer #skiresorts to beach ones. The phenomenon of the ski season gap year is growing rapidly in popularity, a study by my Travel Cash found.

Young people are favouring luxury ski resorts thanks to the increase in party destinations and budget ski deals on offer. The study found that one in five British holidaymakers are abandoning the booze cruise and shunning sunny shores in favour of luxury ski resorts to holiday with friends.

The survey revealed that off-piste activity is the top trend for ski resort tourists. Winter holiday hotspots such as #Vald'Isere and Tignes have shot up in popularity, where the action can be less exciting as what happens back at the lodges. Even for those who like to take to the slopes, 68 percent spend at least a day and a half of their holiday enjoying food and drink in their cabins, as well as shopping and sight-seeing, rather than hitting the slopes. Thirteen percent do not take part in any snow sports.  

A ski instructor at the French ski resort of Morzine confirms that it’s not the landscapes and sporting opportunities that offer the biggest pull to young Brits: ‘Ski season means party season, and the nightlife is as important as the daytime activities in Morzine. #Apre-ski starts at around 4pm and continues in to the early hours, then those who do ski or board will get up to clear the hangover with fresh air back on the pistes.’

For those who take part in sports activities, a ski season offers the chance for tourists to pad out their CVs while simultaneously enjoying the party lifestyle. Morzine’s ski instructor continues: ‘It’s common for Brits to become qualified ski instructors while they do a season. This looks good to employers and is an alternative to doing promo or holiday repping in Ibiza.”

Ian Johnson, Sales Director at my Travel Cash, said: ‘Overall, snow holidays are currently more achievable than previously thought. Sterling has recently experienced its biggest high since 2007 against currencies including the euro, meaning holiday money can stretch a lot further than people might think, especially in European destinations.

Top 10 snow destinations highlighted by the My Travel Cash research:

 1.     France (35%)
2.     Austria (31%)
3.     Italy (9%)
4.     Switzerland (9%)
5.     Bulgaria (5%)
6.     USA (4%)
7.     Canada (3.5%)
8.     Spain (2%)
9.     Norway (2%)
10.  Germany (2%)

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Avoriaz voted best ski resort in France

WHAT’S the best #skiresort in #France? The Ski Club of Great Britain says – based on votes by members – it’s #Avoriaz in the Portes du Soleil.  

Stephane Lerendu, director of the Avoriaz tourist office said: ‘This has always been a unique ski resort. It's 100% ski-in ski-out, has characteristic architecture, and an entirely car-free centre where horse drawn sleds are used as taxis.’

The resort, say the experts, has one of the best snow records in France, with 26ft of snow each season. In the rare event that natural snowfall is sparse, snow-making facilities across the 130 pistes ensures Avoriaz stays in good shape. The resort’s owners – Pierre & Vacances – provide a snow guarantee: good snow or your money back.

www.pierreetvacances.co.uk 

www.avoriaz.com/en 

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Picture Credit: "Crosets". Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons, "Turn in powder" by Sander Westerveld - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons 

Head north to the pistes

HAVING seen the winter’s first #snow falls in #Scotland, Natural Retreat’s CairnGorm Mountain is preparing to open for the #ski season.   

With investments in a stock of iconic Burton Riglet Snowboard equipment and the launch of a Snow School this season, the company says the mountain is more family friendly than ever before. Even under-fives can reap the benefits with boards as small as 70cm (2.3ft).

The mountain has:

• More than 18 miles of pistes 
• Britain’s highest restaurant, post box, and Starbucks 
• Two shops, 
• An exhibition 
• Disabled access throughout  

A ten-minute drive from Aviemore, the resort can be reached on the Caledonian overnight train from London’s Euston station.

 www.cairngormmountain.org

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