Heavy discounts threaten ski specialists
Thousands of skiing holidays are being discounted heavily leaving specialist ski operators vulnerable.
With New Year landing on a weekend this year, skiers are unwilling to travel on those days and the traditionally busy New Year week has been left unsold.
Many schools are also returning as early as 3 January, preventing the family market holidaying a few days after Christmas and the initial high New Year prices have led skiers to look for cheaper alternatives.
Richard Sinclair at ski specialist sno, said: "While skiers are benefitting from ever more eye watering discounts, it's the smaller indie ski companies who are suffering. The big boys can afford to make a loss for a few years but, with small business struggling to secure borrowing, many small ski firms are finding things very hard.
“Prices are the lowest we’ve ever seen them and you can currently pick up an early January ski holiday for what were previously only available as ‘last minute’ prices.
“The take-home for customers though is that these crazy prices are getting noticed and are selling fast. Its simple supply and demand – when these prices reduce supply, these prices will have to go."
Some ski operators had switched departure dates in a bid to avoid the problem but many, including Crystal and Inghams, are now discounting by as much as 40%.
Resorts that traditionally fly on Saturday have been affected like France, Austria and Switzerland while Andorra, which has packages starting Sunday, 26 December have been snapped up as more affordable.
David Tonks, ski and activity manager at agency Ski-Direct, part of Midlands Co-op Travel, said “Prices have been heavily discounted. The main reason is the fact that people do not want to go away on the 31 December as they may arrive in resort quite late to fully enjoy the New Year.
"Also, they come back later in January than normal and this has an effect with schooling.
“New Year is the most expensive time along with Feb Half Term and the prices were very high of course. Some people have opted to go at other times due to economic reasons.”
By Diane Evans
Diane
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps