United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Ski Independence launches new winter programme
After seeing a 10% rise in sales last year, Ski Independence has launched its ski programme with 31 resorts in North America, 31 in Europe and Niseko in Japan.
The operator said its top seller in Europe last year was the high altitude French resort Val Thorens, while in North America it was Whistler.
New for this year are the five-star Four Seasons Hotel on the slopes in the upmarket French resort Megeve, the five-star Hotel Daria-I Nor in Alpe d/Huez, the new Le Refuge de Solaise at the top of the new Solaise gondola in Val d’Isere, the ski-in, ski-out Limelight Lodge at Aspen Snowmass, and the Canalta Lodge in Banff.
The operator said it saw a trend towards shorter ski breaks last year, but spend per passenger was up year on year, possibly in part due to skiers switching to hotel rather than self-catering accommodation.
Regional flights from low-cost airlines including easyJet have made the slopes in the Alps more accessible, while Norwegian’s flights to Denver have reduced the cost of skiing in some North American resorts, it said.
However, British Airways has cancelled its Calgary service for the winter, making it harder to get seats on the only remaining service with Air Canada.
On the plus side, Air Canada has confirmed its free ski carriage on all transatlantic routes giving free ski and boot carriage in addition to the regular 23kg luggage allowance.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations