Category: Ski Trade Events

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Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

Whistler was the site of MTS 2019. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap. Photo courtesy of MTS.

Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

Just came a couple of weeks ago from the Mountain Travel Symposium, an event I have been working for the past six years and which I enjoy every moment of it. I noticed however, that as I am getting old, it is taking me longer to feel back human again.

Trentino attendees having fun at the top of Whistler Mountain. Photo: Mirta Valentini - Trentino Marketing. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.
Trentino attendees having fun at the top of Whistler Mountain. Photo: Mirta Valentini – Trentino Marketing. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

The Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS for short) is not a sprint, definitely is a marathon – An event that lasts one week and for me makes me be twelve days away from home from my husband and kids. MTS is the largest mountain and ski gathering of suppliers from all over the world – ski resorts, hoteliers and service providers, with tour operators that sell skiing, also from all over the world, and ski clubs and ski councils from the USA and Canada, that travel internationally.

I am in charge of the international market and on widening the international attendees year on year. This is a part-time, but yearlong job for me. Now I have a couple of weeks to get ready and close all things from this past event before we open the early bird registration for MTS 2020. MTS 2020 will be in Squaw Valley, at the Resort of Squaw Creek, in North Lake Tahoe, CA, USA from March 29 – April 4, 2020. In May we’ll be opening registration, with the best rates available for one month only. Then rates go up four times during the year, so whoever can register early, get rates that are USD 800 cheaper than the last published rates!

The French delegates at the Trade Exchange Reception. Photo: Mountain Travel Symposium. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.
The French delegates at the Trade Exchange Reception. Photo: Mountain Travel Symposium. Mountain Travel Symposium 2019 in Whistler – a recap.

But, getting back to MTS 2019, the event was in Whistler, BC. Canada. We have been In Whistler also in 2015, but the event took the Fairmont in Blackcomb. This year the event was at the Whistler Village Conference Center. I was an attendee at MTS being at the same place in 2002, when I was having my own incoming tour operator Ski Patagonia, where I was selling trips to Argentina and Chile.

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Listex’s State of the UK Snowsports Market Report 2018

James Gambrill, Founder of Listex talks at the Forum. Listex’s State of the UK Snowsports Market Report 2018.

Listex’s State of the UK Snowsports Market Report 2018. Listex is London International Snowsports Trade Exchange that gathers the UK andEuropean ski industry each year in May and September.

Its Forum covers lots of interesting topics, such as their annual State of the Snowsports Market. As a marketeer, I’ve found this report interesting as it focused in how buyers got inspired and went on to book their ski holidays, who they trust and what is important for them when booking a ski holiday.

Here is the executive summary of the report and if you go to the end, you’ll have a link to be able to read the entire report.

The Forum at Listex 2018. Listex’s State of the UK Snowsports Market Report 2018
The Forum at Listex 2018. Listex’s State of the UK Snowsports Market Report 2018

Inspiration, Information and trust:

Friends and families continue to be the most cited, and most trusted sources of information and inspiration for skiers when choosing a holiday. Social media continues to score very poorly, even amongst the under 35 demographics.

Important factors:

Price, snow and ski area size continue to be the most important factors when choosing a ski holiday destination, but below these headliners, there has been some shifts with accommodation and food quality making gains. Amongst the under 35’s, resort altitude scores as less important and après-ski climbs the table, suggesting some shifts in priorities.

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Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass

The state of the industry in Colorado - Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass

Alterra is expecting to sell 250,000 of the new IKON Pass while Vail Resorts stated that their sales of the EPIC Pass are up thanks mostly to the $99 military pass. This was the excerpt heard during the annual Governor’s Tourism Conference at the Talisa Hotel in Vail. The “Trends in ski” panel with Alterra’s Head of Sales Bob Stinchcomb, Vail Resorts marketing chief Kieran Cain and Powdr’s Jennifer Rudolph.

Lauren Berlamino, of Karsh Hagan, a marketing, design and tech company started the discussion with where the whole ski industry is in Colorado, noting the challenges of shorter seasons due to climate change and aging demographic. The opportunities to be had are the experiences beyond skiing and the leading the way in sustainability.

Powder Skiing in Back Bowls In Vail, CO. Photo: Vail Resorts. Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass.
Powder Skiing in Back Bowls In Vail, CO. Photo: Vail Resorts. Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass.

One-fifth of skiers are 55 years or older, with some of the most avid participants are aged 70 and older. Skiers and snowboarders visits in the country have increased from 8.7 million in 1996-97 to 9.2 million in 2017-18. Berlamino states that this growth does not correlate with the overall population growth over the past years.

“It kind of sounds like we’re facing an uphill battle, but really Colorado is doing amazing in this industry,” she said. “I think nobody’s better positioned than our state to continue to ride this momentum and be successful amidst all this change that we’re seeing.”

Powder Skiing in Back Bowls In Vail, CO. Photo: Vail Resorts. Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass.
Powder Skiing in Back Bowls In Vail, CO. Photo: Vail Resorts. Alterra expects to sell 250,000 Ikon ski passes while Vail Resorts Epic Pass sales are up thanks to the $99 military pass.

According to the National Ski Areas Association, Colorado’s share of overnight ski trips in the calendar year of 2017 was 21 percent, followed by California at 13.7 percent. Of the 53.2 million skier visits, that’s about 11 million visitors to Colorado.

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More than 1,100 attended the 43rd Mountain Travel Symposium in South Lake Tahoe

View from the room at the Harrah's - MTS 2018 Heavenly, Lake Tahoe.

Exhausted but happy participants departed South Lake Tahoe over the weekend after several intense days of buying, selling, learning, schmoozing and skiing at the 43rd Mountain Travel Symposium.

Trade Exchange Floor - 43rd Mountain Travel Symposium, Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe. More than 1,100 attendees participated
Trade Exchange Floor – Mountain Travel Symposium, Heavenly, South Lake Tahoe.

More than 1,100 participants representing 24 countries took part. Fresh snow and bright sunshine capped the week of events, and those who were there to do business said they had full schedules and lots of deals got done. Most also got in a few runs on the slopes of Heavenly Resort as well.

Virginie Koulibaly from Valais Matterhorn Region addresses with Nick Turnell and Pascal Prinz of Switzerland Tourism the invited tour operators for the Switzerland Tourism evening with raclette at the 43rd annual Mountain Travel Symposium.
Virginie Koulibaly from Valais Matterhorn Region addresses with Nick Turnell and Pascal Prinz of Switzerland Tourism the invited tour operators for the Switzerland Tourism evening with raclette at Mountain Travel Symposium.

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Warren Miller, the ski-movies-guru and pioneer, died at 93 at his Orcas Island home

Warren Miller was the pioneer of the ski films, a real ski movies guru.

I was very sad to hear that Warren A. Miller, the pioneer ski movies filmmaker has passed away yesterday. He was 93, but he did have a great life. He promoted the idea of ‘pure freedom’ that is associated with skiing. He was a self-taught filmmaker who started filming himself for an annual narrated ski movie shown in small theatres. Over the years, he continued narrating all his films, his voice is very warm, and recognisable. He makes fun out of skiing and is ok of making fun out of himself. His company, Warren Miller Entertainment, has produced more than 500 adventure sport films.

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The Second Ever European Mountain Travel Summit (EMTS) has concluded with lots of success at Crans Montana

Crans Montana photo by The-Ski-Guru- EMTS 2018

EMTS, the 2nd ever European Mountain Travel Summit (EMTS),  has concluded in Crans Montana, gathering 160  senior executives of the Ski Industry. Delegates from different countries in Europe, Asia and the Americas got together to have an insight on how business is going, what could be done better and to learn from peers.

EMTS took place at the Centre de Congrés Le Régent in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Amin Momen from Momentum Ski presented the morning sessions.
EMTS took place at the Centre de Congrés Le Régent in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. Amin Momen from Momentum Ski presented the morning sessions.

The business-to-business event connects top-level executives from all over the globe for thought provoking content, a number of networking events and alpine skiing in a leading mountain resort destination.

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European Mountain Travel Summit to start next week at Crans Montana, Switzerland

Hotelplan UK Group acquires Flexiski. Photo: Unsplash. Riciardus.

The European Mountain Travel Summit will start its second edition on the 9th January 2018 in Crans Montana.

This forum is produced by Mountain Travel Symposium and will gother over 150 senior executives for three days of networking and learning in one of the most exceptional resorts in the world.

Skiing resort of Crans-Montana. Crans-Montana, Valais canton, SWITZERLAND//Station de ski de Crans-Montana. Crans-Montana,Valais, SUISSE
Skiing resort of Crans-Montana. Crans-Montana, Valais canton, SWITZERLAND

EMTS content features market research, strategic marketing, best practices and trends – all focused on the mountain travel industry.

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Ski Biz News – Why attending the Trade Exchange @MTS2018 is a savvy investment!

MTS attendees having a great time at a closing party on top of the mountain - Banff, MTS 2017

Take a closer look

Ski Business: At the Trade Exchange at MTS 2018, you can reach your ideal client, build brand awareness, and make connections to last a lifetime. The Trade Exchange brings together hundreds of buyers and sellers from 35+ countries in a “speed-dating-for-business” atmosphere. Watch and see why you should join us in Heavenly – South Lake Tahoe 8-14 April 2018.

 

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