Kitzbuhel Winter Review & Summer Outlook
Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel can look back on a very special winter season 2020/21. Despite the demanding framework conditions, KitzSki offered local winter sports enthusiasts an attractive and safe offer from December 2020 to April 2021. The extensive safety measures against COVID-19 have proven themselves and were awarded the COVID-19 safety trophy in gold by the ski area test ─ as the only ski area in Austria. On May 8th, KitzSki starts the mountain summer 2021. The focus is on hiking, biking and enjoyment. The security concept will be continued.
Reliable, safe and solution-oriented ─ that was the motto of KitzSki in the winter season 2020/21, which ended on April 11th. “The well-founded security concept formed the most important basis for mastering the challenges related to COVID-19. From Christmas to Easter we offered the locals and guests a high-quality range of cable cars and slopes, ”says Mayor Dr. Klaus Winkler, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bergbahn Kitzbühel.
Of course, the numbers cannot be compared to a regular season. “We were able to keep our promise and open the ski area. The comparatively low number of guests, however, forced us to limit the offer. Nevertheless, we were able to put our cable cars and slopes into operation every day. The test station on the Hahnenkamm was gratefully accepted by our skiers, ”adds Mag. Anton Bodner, CEO of Bergbahn Kitzbühel.
From an economic point of view, it was definitely the right thing to do to unlock the ski area. “We were able to book more than 317,000 first-time entries in the past winter season. That is 23.5 percent of first-time entries from the 2019/20 season and 21.4 percent compared to the record winter 2018/19 ”, says Walter Astl, CEO of Bergbahn Kitzbühel.
Security concept was awarded
The extensive security concept, which is constantly being further developed and recently awarded as the best in the industry, has proven itself. “We are very happy about the COVID-19 security trophy in gold, which we have received as the only ski area in Austria. It confirms that our guests can feel safe with us. In the upcoming summer season, too, we will do everything we can to offer our guests a safe mountain experience, ”says Anton Bodner. During this anonymous quality check, members of the ski area test checked and evaluated the Corona safety measures in the ski areas. More than 220 experienced ski area test members are out and about in the entire Alpine region and have been scrutinizing ski resorts and tourism destinations very carefully for the past 26 years.
Media analysis: reach of more than 61 million euros, advertising value of 1.7 million euros
In the 2020/21 winter season, KitzSki placed particular emphasis on active awareness and ongoing communication of the offer in Austria and Germany. This is reflected in the top scores in the media response analysis carried out by meta communication international. From October 2020 to April 2021, 626 online and print articles about KitzSki were published in both countries. The tonality was above average positive. Meta communication qualified an exceptional 77 percent of the contributions as positive. "Overall, we achieved a reach of more than 61 million readers and generated an advertising value of 1.7 million euros," says Mag. Anton Bodner.
Hiking, biking and enjoying: KitzSki is ready for the mountain summer 2021
On May 8, 2021, KitzSki will ring in the mountain summer 2021. “Even if the general conditions are still challenging, we are staying on course, investing in the expansion of our infrastructure and the advertising presence in the local markets. We particularly appreciate the constructive cooperation with Kitzbühel Tourismus and the Kitzbühel Alps Tourism Association ”, explains Mag. Christian Wörister, CEO of Bergbahn Kitzbühel. One of the central topics in summer 2021 is the high-quality bike range. “Last summer showed us that our bike trails in Kitzbühel and Kirchberg are particularly popular. We were able to record a high double-digit increase in bike transports. For this year we expect a rising tendency, provided the weather plays along ”, predicts Mag. Christian Wörister. From now on, KitzSki is also a partner of the Gravity Card. "We are pleased to be part of this network map of the 22 most renowned bike parks in Europe, which is specially designed for bikers and downhill fans."
Mobile Flow mobile phone ticket from the start of the season on Gaisberg and Kitzbüheler Horn
The second round of the “Handyticket” pilot project will begin in the summer of 2021. Guests can install the app and download the lift ticket of their choice. With the activated app, the smartphone becomes a 100 percent digital alternative to the conventional KeyCard. All hiking and bike tickets (with the exception of season tickets, season tickets and network tickets) are available from May 8, 2021 in the webshop (shop.kitzski.at).
KitzMountain Guiding 2021 - focus on hiking and mountain experiences
Also this summer, the guided hikes will be offered as part of the KitzMountain Guiding. From June 12th to October 3rd, 2021, the Tyrolean mountain guides of the Kitzbühel cable car will take their guests daily through the hiking paradise of KitzSki. Participation is free for owners of a valid lift ticket for the Kitzbühel mountain railway. Details on the eight attractive hikes can be found at kitzski.at
NEW: Photo point Streif
The Streif is one of the most famous downhill runs worldwide. The race track on the Hahnenkamm owes its fame to the unique key points. If you want to get an idea of the starting conditions, stand at the front of the start house. Then it says: “Smile please!” What remains is a great souvenir photo that you can print out at the mountain station of the Hahnenkammbahn and take home with you.
