Dachstein West Focuses On New Brand "Dachstein West - Naturally In The Salzkammergut”

The Dachstein West ski region is starting the 2022/23 winter season with great ambitions and an expanded, attractively priced offer. The basis for this is a forward-looking destination development with the surrounding tourism associations in order to use synergies and be able to offer guests the extensive range of offers in the region.

Thinking and acting beyond the outskirts and across the seasons

The Dachstein West region consists of eight towns in the Salzkammergut and the Salzburg Tennengau, which are now operating under the new brand "Dachstein West - naturally in the Salzkammergut" and are also appearing externally. "By joining forces and resources, we have managed this unique cross-border cooperation and are now working together, from Abtenau to Gosau, from Salzburg to Upper Austria, to provide our customers with the best offers!" explains Rupert Schiefer the new destination development, which is an intensive Cooperation between the mountain railways and the two tourism associations, in winter and summer, leads to a higher level.

Above all, synergies in addressing customers and in marketing, as well as in the offers, were the motives for this intensive merger. In a world where everything is becoming ever more networked and faster, this makes sense, especially since everyone involved finds themselves in one philosophy: the naturalness of the region, the gentle west side of the Dachstein and the hospitality of the people. In other words, everything that makes a holiday here so pleasantly different from other destinations. “The region is more than a place, it's a feeling. And we wanted to capture this feeling with our new appearance: Refreshments together, enjoying the sun, a snowshoe tour or ski tour with friends with culinary delights, while soaking up the vastness, the silence and the fascinating views of the Dachstein. It's the multitude of little things

Dachstein West is more than just a place

For more than 84% of Austrians, good friends and family are among the most important aspects in life and, as in previous years, are at the top of a Statista survey. But, and this is certainly the result of the many uncertainties of recent years, values ​​such as deceleration, people's longing for the real, the authentic and the original are right at the top of the Austrian rankings. This is lived every day in the region and is now also reflected in the new brand identity. The new logo, the slogan and the colors of the corporate design convey the character of the region, but also the zeitgeist: everything is clear, reduced and friendly. The lettering already bears the mountain world of Dachstein and Salzkammergut.

New price model - skiing must remain affordable

“We have managed to put together a really attractive package for our customers with great offers. We know about the needs of Austrians and are therefore all the more pleased to have put together an attractively priced package. Skiing simply has to remain affordable and we also want to make our contribution to this,” says Dietmar Tröbinger happily.

In concrete terms, the new price model means that all tickets in the online shop are much cheaper than at the box office. There are also unique packages when it comes to season tickets, and you simply mustn't forget that: "Skiing in the Dachstein West region means 160 perfectly groomed kilometers of pistes with lots of variety, challenges and fun and skiing in 8 regions in Salzburg and Upper Austria." , adds Rupert Schiefer and continues: "These include: Gosau, Rußbach, Annaberg-Lungötz, Dachstein Krippenstein - Obertraun, Feuerkogel - Ebensee, Karkogel and Sonnleiten lifts in Abtenau, Zinken lifts - Bad Dürrnberg, Lammertal ski lift - Lungötz, ski lift - St. Martin am Tennengebirge and Werfenweng."

The season ticket costs € 469 for adults and € 149 for children when purchased online in advance, the 3rd child is even included for free. The day ski pass bought online at €54 for adults and €28.10 for children is also well below the Austrian average.

All new tickets

The new year-round ticket allows guests to spend their free time in the unique mountain world of Dachstein West 365 days a year. 8 ski areas and 6 summer lifts are included. This natural 365 ticket costs €620 for adults and €217 for children when purchased online in advance.

With the new parents' time-out ticket, the region has come up with something special. This ticket, specially developed for young families, can be used alternately by one of the two parents. The offer applies to families with a non-skiing toddler under the age of 3.9. Another novelty of this season is the Happy Hour ticket, valid from Monday to Friday in the 2022/23 winter season and available at the unique advance sale price of € 429.00 for adults and € 136 for children.

“Even if I repeat myself, but that is the core of this season. With these prices and the unique variety of tickets we have a unique selling proposition on the Austrian market!” says Dietmar Tröbinger.

Diverse offer for the whole family

"Perfectly groomed pistes in a low mountain range, modern cable car and lift systems, family atmosphere and a constant view of the high alpine backdrop of the Dachstein. This is what characterizes the Dachstein West ski region,” says Rupert Schiefer. With a total of 160 kilometers of pistes, the Dachstein West ski region offers the right descent for all age and performance groups, from easy and medium slopes to difficult runs. High-performance gondola lifts in Gosau-Rußbach and Annaberg, the main towns in the Dachstein West ski region, ensure a quick and comfortable start to skiing fun. There are 70 cable cars and ski lifts available to ski guests throughout the region. With an extensive range of ski slopes, touring routes, snowshoe trails, children's areas and themed slopes, there is something for every generation.

Touring continues to be very popular

At least last winter showed that touring has developed into an absolute trend in Austria. Above all, the individual mountain experience away from the ski lifts is increasingly appreciated by the guests. In order to further expand the offer, the Dachstein West ski region invested in the Atomic Backland touring route in Rußbach, which scores with beautiful views and a prepared valley run. With a length of 3.6 kilometers and an altitude difference of 630 metres, the uncomplicated tour, which lasts around one and a half hours, is also suitable for ambitious beginners.

44 km long "Dachstein Tour" skiing pleasure circuit

Starting this season, the Dachstein Tour skiing pleasure tour offers all big and small skiers a special experience in nature. The panoramic ski circuit is well signposted, can be skied in two directions and offers the whole family lots of exciting views of the imposing Dachstein massif with its glaciers and lakes. With a length of 44 kilometers, it offers varied and promising skiing fun along well-groomed and marked slopes.

A thirst for adventure and a thirst for adventure can be quenched by stopping off at one of the numerous traditional ski huts and sun terraces.

Snowshoeing with a mountain panorama

All winter sports fans and pleasure hikers will find winter fun away from the ski slopes when snowshoeing in Dachstein West on the Zwieselalm. Starting at the mountain station, the 8-seater Panorama Jet Zwieselalm leads to the marked path in the direction of Gosaukamm and further along the huts. "The impressive Dachstein Glacier is always in view, making the Dachstein West Snowshoe Trail an absolute highlight for all nature lovers," Schiefer affirms. For those who don't have their own equipment with them, the snowshoe combo ticket is available, which includes both the ascent and descent with the 8-seater Panorama Jet Zwieselam and rental at one of the rental stations in Gosau. Guided snowshoe hikes are also offered for families, groups, clubs and schools.

Promotion of learning to ski

The social developments of the past few years clearly show that fewer and fewer children are now learning to ski. The Dachstein West ski region, together with the local ski schools, would like to set a special incentive here and therefore supports children's learning to ski with their children's areas in the towns of Gosau and Rußbach. “It is important to us to give all children and families the opportunity to learn to ski. That's why we invested in the children's areas in Gosau and Rußbach,” explains Schiefer. The professionals from the four ski schools in the Gosau, Rußbach and Annaberg ski region are also happy to support all young and old learners.

Excellent ski region

The consistently high commitment of the Dachstein West ski region is reflected not least in numerous industry awards. The ski region received the gold award at the International Ski Area Test in the following categories: "Slope maintenance", "Experience and family mountain", "Ski tours" and "Sports shop of the year" as well as in the Trophy Covid-19 Safety, Skiers, Operations Manager and Marketing. In the "Ski Touring" category, the new walking tour route and the Atomic Touring Experience Center were particularly well received. “We are very pleased about the international award for the Dachstein West ski region. It confirms once again that our efforts in terms of quality and service are paying off and that our guests gratefully accept them,” reports Schiefer.

From Austria to Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands

The region is very popular with Austrians, almost half of all visitors come from Austria. But they were closely followed by guests from Germany, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. “Of course, the last two years have been very difficult for us, because many of our guests were only able to enter the country and go on vacation in general under difficult conditions. We are all the happier that we felt a significant upswing again last season. Above all, holidaymakers from Germany came to us in large numbers again. Last season, every third holiday guest with us was from Germany!” says Christian Schirlbauer, Managing Director of the Dachstein Salzkammergut holiday region.

Over 1.3 million overnight stays were booked in the entire region last season, which is almost back to the pre-corona level. For the current season, too, the future is cautiously optimistic: “We saw from the response of our guests what a holiday with us means to them. That motivates us all to create the best conditions for our guests here!” concluded Schirlbauer.

In the towns of the region there is a warm family hospitality, which is also lived in all accommodations - from private pensions to five-star hotels. “Above all, the uniqueness and diversity is what makes our region so special. If you think of the idyllic Lammertal not far from the Mozart city of Salzburg, or of the historically developed UNESCO World Heritage region of Hallstatt-Dachstein/Salzkammergut, there is something for every holidaymaker here, even off the slopes!", Andreas Neuhofer, Managing Director of Tennengau Tourismus, gives an overview.

In addition, the culinary delights in the Dachstein West region are not neglected: the numerous open huts in the ski region ensure the physical well-being of ski guests, as do the guesthouses and hotels in the towns of Gosau, Rußbach and Annaberg, which will be there for the coming months still have enough free rooms. From holiday apartments to 5-star children's hotels - suitable accommodation can be booked at www.dachstein.at .