New Agreement In Andorra Between Soldeu (ENSISA) & Pal-Arinsal (EMAP) Ski Areas
The communes of Canillo, La Massana and Crèdit Andorrà Bank have signed a pre-agreement for the creation of a new company that plans to integrate 100% of the shares of ENSISA and EMAP, companies operating in the Soldeu El Tarter and Pal Arinsal ski resorts.
This integration will bring significant benefits, both in the economic field and in the cohesion of the business model, with the aim of being more competitive in international markets and eliminating internal competition, placing Andorra as a top 10 snow destination in the world with more than 2.5 million skiers day.
This new historical alliance in the snow sector of Andorra will favour the future stability of the two companies, increasing revenues, saving costs, and improving the capacity to promote a global investment plan that will allow Andorra to work in a local field of action combined with internationalization.
The purpose of the new formula is to promote a more competitive offer 365 days a year. In this sense, the strategic plan includes investments worth more than 60 million euros on the slopes of the sectors of Soldeu El Tarter, as well as an investment of 36.4 million euros in 2022 to develop the ski connection project between Arinsal and Pal through two new slopes, new chairlifts, snowmaking equipment and a service building in the area.
The new formula will allow to choose the best practices from both models. Francesc Camp (Mayor of La Massana) wanted to emphasize that beyond the synergies that the new society will generate from the new business level, “it is necessary to take into account the position in the international field that will involve the synergies of continuing to host the Audi FIS Ski World Cups in Soldeu El Tarter’’. Furthermore, Xavier Cornella (Executive Director and General Manager of Crèdit Andorrà Bank) explained that “with this agreement, everyone will win. It should make it possible to unify skiing in Andorra in a single brand, honoring the spirit of the pioneers of Grandvalira”. Crèdit Andorrà Bank has always been committed to the ski industry, which is key to the country's development.
Soldeu ski area links to Encamp, Canillo, El Tarter, Grau Roig and Pas de la Casa. The Soldeu Ski School has a large number of native English speaking instructors and has won awards for the quality of its tuition.
The village is at an elevation of 1,710 metres (5,610 ft) above sea level and the top of the ski area is at 2,580 m (8,465 ft). The gondola from the village rises to 2,250 m (7,380 ft), where the ski and board schools as well as restaurants are located. From there, it is possible to ski to the top of the El Tarter gondola or the village of El Tarter itself via the blue-rated 'gall de bosc' run.
Arinsal and nearby Pal offer good skiing for the novice and the intermediate skier, and first time skiers often head for Arinsal and Palfor their first holiday or two before heading for Soldeu and Pas de la Casa. Arinsal is a little different from Soldeu and Pas de la Casa too in that it has quite a few full-time residents and the villages are 'year round' while the others are fairly seasonal.
