Best Ski Resort 2023 Presentation/Award – Serfaus & Fiss

For the 6th time (after 2012/14/16/18/20) the presentation of the results of the largest and most meaningful study in the Alpine region - BEST SKI RESORT - took place this time in Serfaus and Fiss (Tyrol) on September 14th, 2023. In winter 22/23, over 49,200 guests were surveyed - directly in the mountain restaurants - using the random method (accompanied self-completion). 17 interviewers worked in 54 selected top ski areas in Austria, Switzerland, Italy and France for a total of 271 days!

What is noticeable from the results is that overall satisfaction, after an upward trend from 2012 to 2018, is unfortunately moving downwards from 2020 and now also 2023! From 8.01 in 2018 to now 7.86. (Scale 1-10)

Falling satisfaction ratings for the price-performance ratio are probably one reason. This affects the lift ticket prices as well as those for accommodation/hotels and restaurants. In total, a decrease of 6.4% compared to the 2020 values.

It should be positively mentioned that friendliness is not only currently ranked 4th in terms of importance (behind ski area size, snow reliability and slope preparation), but also that satisfaction is the same as that at 8.18 (on a scale of 1-10). of transport comfort. Only the ski area size achieved a higher value for the 6 most important criteria with 8.28!

In the area of ​​“overtourism” there was an overall relaxation in the top ski areas in 2020, although this varies greatly. 26% of the areas surveyed have a critical value above 40%. In plain language: 40% of guests are of the opinion that there are too many guests in the ski area. This is therefore critical because a study carried out by UNI-Innsbruck shows that guest satisfaction falls by 3-5% in these areas. Aside from the fact that some guests will avoid these areas in the future, this may also lead to a complete exit. Italian ski resorts with an average share of 36.8% will have to pay particular attention in the future to unbundling or better managing traffic flows in order to maintain their top values.

In a country comparison, the Italian ski resorts lead with an overall satisfaction score of 8.08, ahead of those in Switzerland with 7.87, closely followed by Austria with 7.84 and France with 7.66.

The top 10 ski areas with the highest overall satisfaction ratings are:

1. Zermatt: 8.47
2. Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis: 8.41
3. Kronplatz: 8.36
4. Val Gardena/Seiser Alm: 8.35
5. Livigno: 8.24
6. Aletsch Arena: 8.20
7. Alta Badia: 8.19
8. Laax: 8.19
9. Sulden am Ortler: 8.18
10. Mayrhofen: 8.18

The best-rated top ski areas in the 6 most important categories:

• Ski area size: Zermatt: 9.28
• Snow reliability: Sulden am Ortler: 8.76
• Slope quality: Zermatt: 8.88
• Friendliness in the ski area: Sulden am Ortler: 8.87
• Transport comfort mountain railways: Zermatt: 8.98
  Accommodation/Hotels: Val Gardena/Seiser Alm: 8.81

In the ranking of the top 5 most important categories mentioned above, the following are strongly represented:
Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis 4x, Ischgl 3x, Kronplatz 3x.

Mountain Management warmly congratulates all winners!

The awards presented should continue to be an incentive to constantly work on “uniqueness” in order to continue to delight guests on the mountain in the future. With almost 300,000 guests surveyed on the mountain as of 2012, highly relevant data/information is available to accelerate decision-making processes and act in a targeted manner.

Exciting lectures enriched the presentation of the results of the BEST SKI RESORT study.

For example, Lukas Heymich, the TVB chairman of Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis, with his lecture: “Limits to growth”. It is important to find a balance between growth on the one hand and a desirable living space for those residents who live and work there.

Prof. Dr. Matzler from UNI-Innsbruck was online and referred to the general price sensitivity in all areas, which will certainly also have an impact on tourist facilities. The necessary tact should be found here when it comes to price increases in order not to harm yourself in the long term. Increasing prices without increasing performance reduces competitiveness compared to alternative offers in winter.

Professor Dr. Hubert Siller from the Management Center Innsbruck fascinated the participants at the event with his comments on “Strategic Success Logic in the Alpine Region”.
Martin Streb brought in a very interesting aspect with the topic of “AI-controlled brand differentiation”. Using concrete examples, he showed how artificial intelligence can also be used sensibly in the field of tourism.

As head of the “kids on ski for free” pilot group, Mike Partel informed about a cross-Alpine initiative by BEST SKI RESORT ski resorts to bring preschool-age children onto the slopes. The start will take place in the coming winter season. The medium-term goal is to teach 1,000 children in each of these areas to ski in the off-season. (Includes ski school, equipment, ticket, hotel/accommodation). Right now it is important to support families and give children easy access to this healthy and fascinating sport.

The guests invited to this event had the opportunity to view both Serfaus and Fiss's unique family-children's activities on the mountain, as well as the new products currently under construction.