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Interview: David Norris, brand manager, ifyouski.com
Internet agency ifyouski.com claims more people are prepared to book ski holidays online after notching £1.5m sales last year – a 40% rise on the previous season.
Ifyouski is one of several sites, including sister company 1ski.com, TUI’s skideals.com and Igloo which are fighting for bookings online.
Ifyouski sells the products of several operators and production manager David Norris (pictured) said that its clients were typically young professionals who were familiar with booking goods online.
“On the site we are offering more than just holidays, because there is resort information and snow reports and people can search for chalets,” Norris told TravelMole.
“We are giving knowledgeable skiers something more than just the basic price. Our typical market is 25-35 year olds. Many of them pick up the phone to us, but they are also confident about buying online.
“Typically our advance bookings are groups of six to eight people, but when we get into season, it drops to 3-4 people.”
Online Travel Company acquired ifyouski last year. Some 18 months ago, OTC bought sister site 1ski.com, which features budget accommodation and resort.
OTC has made several changes to the ifyouski site and the company has cut down the number of operators it works with to 20 from 38, to make it easier to give accurate availability updates.
Norris said the consumer site was not anti-agent.
“We are doing the same as them – we are an agent,” said Norris. “We sell operators’ holidays, but our shop window is online rather than on the street.”
Norris predicted there would be less capacity available in the lates market this season because skiers and snowboarders were booking earlier. He said Andorra would continue to sell strongly because of its good value and predicted an excellent season for Banff in Canada.
“Andorra is cheap, it’s got duty-free drink and good English ski instructors. It’s now taking 7% of the market, which is more than Italy or Switzerland.
“Elsewhere, Austria had better snow last year and that always makes people want to book the following year and we also expect Banff to do well.
“There are charters into Calgary from First Choice, so the lead in price is £484 and also the Canadian dollar is weak, which makes it good value for British visitors.”
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