DEMAND for northern hemisphere ski holidays is on the rise, with bookings filtering through up to five months earlier than previous years, according to Skimax MD Rodney Muller.
Muller told travelBulletin that bookings were now being secured as early as February for the northern winter, with limited capacity in Japan likely to be driving the trend.
“The early demand for Japan is unprecedented, and people are now starting to book much earlier to avoid missing out,” he commented. Muller said interest for the USA and Canada was still “strong”, but the rate of growth for Japan was outstripping its North American rivals. However, he stressed that the weakened Australian dollar against the greenback was not deterring travellers from travelling to the USA.
“The cost of travel to the USA has gone up proportionately more than Japan and Canada, but it doesn’t seem to be diverting interest away from the USA,” he said. “Logic would say that people would change their plans, but that’s not happening.”
Muller said demand for ski holidays was on the rise with Australian travellers, which he attributed to the global publicity of the Vail and Perisher tie up in March. Increased air capacity was also a culprit, he said, with Qantas now flying direct to Vancouver and United launching a direct service from Melbourne to Los Angeles. Skimax is offering a range of earlybird specials including a 10% saving on accommodation at Alpen Hotel in Niseko from $2129 per person twin share.
WINTER SAVINGS
ITALY
SKIMAX is offering an earlybird deal at Cortina Ski Resort in the Dolomites, with seven nights of accommodation, daily breakfast and return airport transfers from $1141 per person twin share. The deal is valid for travel from 9-21 January 2016.
KOREA
SKIMAX is offering earlybird savings for stays at Dragon Valley Hotel in Korea, priced from $969 per person twin share. Travellers can ski Yongpyong which will be one of the three main sites for the 2018 Winter Olympics, with 31 slopes, 15 lift facilities and one cable car lift. The offer includes seven nights in a deluxe room and a six-day ski pass. It is valid for travel from 5-29 February 2016.
CANADA
SNO’N’SKI is offering a Ski-7 Pay-5 deal at Big White Ski Resort in Canada. The third largest resort in British Columbia, the resort has 16 lifts and receives around 750cm of annual snowfall. Night skiing is another drawcard along with its variety of beginner to expert trails. The deal only applies with accommodation bookings, with 10-night bookings receiving an additional four nights of accommodation and skiing for free. Lock out dates apply.
n Visit www.snonski.com.au for details.
USA
MOGUL Ski World has launched a ski-free deal at Telluride Ski Resort in Colorado, with a Buy-10 Pay-8 lift pass valid all season. A Stay-7 Pay-5 deal also applies to accommodation at Lumiere Hotel booked by 6 November, with prices for a seven-night stay starting from $2338 per person twin share. Rates are based on travel in January 2016. n Visit www.mogulski.com.au
JAPAN
SKI Japan has launched an earlybird deal offering savings of up to 20% off accommodation. A range of cottages, townhouses and apartments are on offer for bookings secured by 30 October. The deal is available for travel from 28 November to 11 December, and 12 March to 24 April.
n Contact [email protected]
Japan Ski is also offering savings for stays at Hilton Niseko Village. Located at the base of the gondola, prices lead in from $1103 including return airport transfers, a six-day lift pass and seven nights of accommodation. Bookings must be secured by 31 August. 2015. n www.japanski.com.au.
