Despite the current economic climate, there still remains a real appetite for ski holidays according to Club Med’s annual ski report, The Economy of Ski: The Financial Factors Impacting the Upcoming Season.
One of the main findings is that 60% of frequent skiers and snowboarders are planning to spend more on their holidays this year. This aligns with the Skier & Snowboarder magazine’s own tour operator round up which found the pent-up demand for trips to the mountains caused by the pandemic is seeing wintersports enthusiasts prepared to treat themselves to a more expensive holiday.
2022/23 is set to be the first full, undisrupted season since winter 2018/19, following three years of travel restrictions. Although this is encouraging for skiers and snowboarders and the travel industry, Club Med says it is important to consider how the current cost of living crisis impacts holiday booking behaviours.
While some people will forgo their ski/snowboard holiday this year in light of increasing costs, 55% of those polled are still going ahead, but with certain factors taking on more importance.
When looking to book a destination or resort, value for money is now the single most important factor, and this is of the greatest concern to those aged between 45-54.
In light of the cost of the living crisis, 53% of people polled are considering a different winter sports destination.
France comes out on top as the destination perceived to provide the best value for money and this is echoed by trends seen at Club Med. Sales at its French resorts for the upcoming season are up 36% compared with the same time last year, with Les Arcs Panorama, Alpe d’Huez and Tignes among the bestselling resorts.
Nicolas Bresch, Managing Director, UK & Nordics at Club Med said: “We believe the all-inclusive ski holiday model will be more attractive than ever, with customers feeling safe in the knowledge that they are not going to be hit with lots of additional costs after booking.”
While spending in light of the cost-of-living crisis is front of mind for many, 60% of frequent skiers are in fact planning to spend more on a winter sports holiday this year according to the Club Med survey.
With the first restriction-free season upon us, skiers and snowboarders want to get back to the mountains and are willing to spend more to achieve this. Frequent skiers are prepared on average to spend £1,979 per person, an increase of 53% compared to average spends for the 2021/22 season.
Club Med is opening its very first Exclusive Collection ski resort in Val d’Isère for winter 2022/23 season. It will include 91 brand new deluxe rooms with balconies, 95 brand new spacious deluxe rooms and 30 suites. This is coupled with health and wellness facilities and restaurants including Les Millésimes where diners can sample five-course taster menus and wine pairing options. This resort is already at 70% occupancy capacity for the opening month in December.
The Club Med report also claims that this year, for the first time, the all-inclusive model is the leading option for accommodation, overtaking self-catering, which was the most popular for the 2021/22 season.
When reviewing the airport and airline chaos of recent months, 69% of Brits are now considering travelling with hand luggage only to avoid long delays or lost luggage. In relation to airport travel, two-thirds (66%) would consider holiday options which avoid flying altogether.
Sustainability
Climate change is at the forefront of public consciousness now more than ever and many have taken definitive action to reduce their environmental impact. 58% of the people surveyed look at the sustainability credentials of their holiday provider before booking. This figure is up from 54% in 2021, demonstrating the ever-growing significance of sustainability for the customer.
Club Med says it has implemented a range of eco-commitments to improve the environmental management of its business, aware of the onus placed on the travel sector to reduce its carbon footprint.
Eco-conscious choices are of particular importance to those going on winter sports holidays as travellers look to spend the majority of their time amongst nature. When booking a ski holiday, 43% of frequent skiers report that they choose holiday providers which give back to the local community, while 37% choose companies which sustainably source food, and 35% select those which are single-use plastic free.
Nicolas Bresch, added: “Our commitment to sustainability began more than 40 years ago, in 1978 with the introduction of the Club Med Foundation. The Foundation continues today to strive to support local communities and the environment in which we live and house resorts. We are always looking for ways we can do better as one of the biggest all-inclusive holiday brands, not only in Europe but worldwide.”
The research commissioned by Club Med polled the general population, not just Club Med clients.
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