Ifyouski.com launches into short break market

By Jeremy Skidmore Online retailer ifyouski.com has launched a range of short break packages to capitalise on growing demand for the holidays from winter sports fans. For the first time the website is offering four night breaks to seven European destinations including Chamonix in France and Davos in Switzerland. The packages cost from £325, including flights, hotel and car hire and have been put together by Ski Solutions. Accommodation is at three and four star properties, like the Sunstar Hotel in Davos. David Norris, product manager at Online Travel Corporation, which acquired ifyouski.com two years ago, said it was starting off with a small programme to gauge demand for the product. “We’ve done this in response to customers asking us for weekend breaks, so we’re hopeful it will do well,” said Norris. “We’re taking up to four twin rooms per hotel per resort every weekend. We don’t have a commitment on the accommodation so we’ve got nothing to lose.” Norris said ski bookings generally were strong, but added the price of weekend breaks might prove a stumbling block to sales. “On average the weekend breaks are going to cost around £450-£500, because they include scheduled flights and car hire and we put people in good accommodation,” he said. “We’re appealing to people who have a bit of cash and are going on a second ski holiday, but inevitably some will think they may as well go for a week for that price.” Although ifyouski.com advertises large discounts on holidays and calls itself a value-for-money site, Norris said it was not targeting the budget weekend traveller by, for example, using low-cost flights. “To make it work you have to have large volumes, because the margins are so small and we’re only starting with a small programme,” he said. Norris emphasised that anyone booking weekend break packages with ifyouski.com were fully covered in the event of an airline or hotel failure. “We’re bonded through Ski Solutions, but some other operators offering weekend ski packages are not covered,” he said. Ifyouski.com has added more resorts this year, including Ishgl in Austria, which does not have chalets and only offers hotels. Norris predicted European favourites such as Chamonix and Meribel would again be popular this year and said there was a lot of interest in North America, particularly as the sterling/dollar exchange rate is currently favouring UK travellers.