Inghams To Launch ‘Elevate Your Winter’ Ski Programme For 2021/22
Inghams, the expert ski holiday operator, has shared a sneak peek of its latest winter programme for 2021/22, Elevate Your Winter. Highlights include fully renovated chalets, new premium hotels and apartments, flexible booking policies and a new COVID-19 Online Hub, complete with a unique ski resort requirements section.
The programme was presented at the Inghams Winter Launch event in London on 19th October, attended by trade partners, resorts and media, where the CEO revealed that Inghams is on track for a strong recovery this winter.
The talking point of the evening was Inghams NEW COVID-19 Online Hub, an interactive resource for consumers, which went live this week and was presented for the first time during the launch event. The COVID-19 Hub provides information on the rules and restrictions in place across the countries Inghams operate in, from destination entry requirements to what to expect in resort. Answers to how to get a lift pass, where face coverings on ski lifts are needed, if anything is required to enter bars and restaurants, what test centres are available in which resorts, and more, can all be found on Inghams’ bespoke COVID-19 Hub.
The Hub also includes details on Inghams’ flexible booking policies, discounts for UK test suppliers and Inghams’ In Safe Hands promise, which provides comprehensive financial protection for consumers booking with the operator. New for this winter is Inghams’ ‘No fee from us’ booking policy*, allowing customers to move their holiday up until 28-days before departure without fees, providing customers with even greater flexibility.
New accommodation features for the Inghams 2021/22 season include a number of renovated or new chalets, hotels and apartments. Many customer favourites have been retained, and the well-loved Chalet Hotel Ducs de Savoie in Val d’Isère has undergone a full renovation. Furthermore, Inghams has added 34 hotels and apartments across Italy, Austria, Switzerland and France, including the 5-star Grand Hotel Cervino in Cervinia, Italy, and the 4-star Hotel Val Claret All Inclusive in Tignes, France.
At the launch, which took place in the atmospheric Après bar, London, and was hosted by snow sports competition commentator, Tim Warwood, Inghams provided a sneak peek of its ‘Elevate Your Winter’ campaign which launches week commencing 1 November 2021. The campaign highlights Inghams’ plans to help people get back on the mountains and make this winter bigger and better than any before. Inghams CEO Joe Ponte also revealed that Inghams bookings have now surpassed pre-pandemic levels, with sales up 35% on this time two years ago.
Commenting on the strong performance and winter outlook, Joe Ponte, CEO of Inghams, said “We’re delighted to see such strong booking numbers as we head into winter, and what’s even more encouraging is that 63% of our direct customers are new to the Inghams brand, so it’s great to see that the work we have done during the pandemic has paid off. We want to make the return to skiing as safe and simple for our customers as possible, which is why we’ve launched the COVID-19 Online Hub and continue to upkeep our In Safe Hands promise.
“We hope that these resources along with the incredible chalets, hotels and apartments we have on offer this year will welcome customers back to the mountains feeling reassured and ready to ski, which is what we’ve all been waiting for.”
In addition to hearing about the Elevate Your Winter programme, attendees were given a glimpse into the latest news from Inghams’ resort partners, with speakers from Les 2 Alpes, Austrian National Tourist Office, Whistler and Val d’Isère discussing their expectations for the coming winter.
- Val d’Isère, France: Alexandra Domos represented Val d’Isère, which had a very successful summer with its Pisaillas glacier proving a hit with summer skiers, and it hopes to continue this success into the winter. Domos explained that the resort used the downtime of the pandemic to nurture new projects and dream up innovative activities, including ice floating, moonbike and a new ski touring trail.
- Whistler, Canada: In Whistler, there are great prospects for skiers, according to Michael Brabin from Tourism Whistler. The resort opens from 25th November and will be operating at full capacity, with over 200 runs and several new features for 2021/22. This includes exciting restaurant openings, new and renovated hotels and a brand-new exhibition at Audain Art Museum.
- Les 2 Alpes, France: The resort will reopen from 27 November, with visitors treated to some of the best skiing in Europe. Nadine Carle-Edgar explained that additions to the resort this winter include a Snowshoeing and Apero experience, a Rando Gourmande (walking food tour) and a couple of new cable cars to better connect the area. As always, the Rise Festival, which takes place on 11-18 December, is set to be a big draw for British tourists.
- Austria: Preparing for the return of skiers, with new direct flights available from Edinburgh and Bristol to Innsbruck and from London City and Southampton to Salzburg. Hannah Zajic from the Austrian National Tourist Office highlighted that sustainability is another focus for the resorts this year, with two ski resorts in Tirol – Silvretta Arena in Paznaun and SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental – receiving awards for their efforts towards sustainability and climate protection
