CHALET SKI STATS REPORT 2018
Produced by
in association with
THIS REPORT IS COMPILED FROM DATA PROVIDED BY THE FOLLOWING CHALET OPERATORS AND SKI/TRAVEL AGENTS FROM WINTER 2017/18
Chalet Operators ALIKATS www.alikats.eu AVERY CREST www.averycrestchalets.com BIGHORN REVELSTOKE www.bighornrevelstoke.com CHALET SPA www.chaletspa.com CONSENSIO CHALETS www.consensiochalets.co.uk DREAM SKI www.chaletbrames.com ELYSIAN COLLECTION www.elysiancollection.com FAMILYSKI COMPANY www.familyski.co.uk FISH & PIPS www.fishandpips.co.uk LE CHARDON MOUNTAIN LODGES www.lechardonvaldisere.com LE SKI www.leski.com MATTERHORN CHALETS www.matterhornchalets.com MERISKI www.merski.co.uk MOUNTAIN EXPOSURE www.mountainexposure.com MOUNTAIN HEAVEN www.mountainheaven.co.uk
PREMIER NEIGE www.premiere-neige.com SARL HIMALAYA www.toitdumonde.co.uk SCOTT DUNN www.scottdunn.com SKI VERBIER EXCLUSIVE www.skiverbierexclusive.com SKIOLOGY www.skiology.co.uk TG SKI www.tgski.com THE BOUTIQUE CHALET COMPANY www.theboutiquechalet.com THE WHITE VALLEY COMPANY www.thewhitevalleycompany.com THUNDERBIRD SKI www.yellowstoneskilodge.co.uk WHITE MOUNTAIN CHALETS www.whitemountain-chalets.com
Ski and Travel Agents ABERCROMBIE & KENT VILLAS www.akvillas.com ALPINE ANSWERS www.alpineanswers.co.uk ALS SKI www.als-ski.com CAMEL SNOW www.camelsnow.com CARRIER www.carrier.co.uk ELEGANT RESORTS www.elegantresorts.co.uk EV STYLE TRAVEL www.evstyletravel.com FIREFLY COLLECTION www.firefly-collection.com IGLUSKI www.igluski.com INTERACTIVE RESORTS www.interactiveresorts.co.uk LEO TRIPPI AG www.leotrippi.com LUXURY CHALET BOOK www.luxurychaletbook.com MOUNTAIN BEDS www.mountainbeds.com SIMPLY VAL D’ISERE www.simplyvaldisere.com
SKI IN LUXURY AND ULTIMATE LUXURY CHALETS www.skiinluxury.com SKI SOLUTIONS www.skisolutions.com SNO www.sno.co.uk SUMMERS & WINTERS www.summersandwinters.co.uk THE OXFORDSKI COMPANY www.oxfordski.com THE WHITE CHALET COLLECTION www.thewhitechaletcollection.com
THE TOP NATIONALITIES WHO BOOKED LUXURY CHALETS IN FRANCE The percentage of bookings made by UK clients has decreased from 55% last year to 39% this year. The other European clients combined took 22% which is a slight increase from their prior share of 20%. The Russian proportion has bounced back after a dip in bookings last year. Increases have also been seen with USA, Australian, Asia and South American bookings.
THE TOP NATIONALITIES WHO BOOKED LUXURY CHALETS IN SWITZERLAND The UK clients again made the greatest proportion of the bookings in Switzerland with 48%, an increase from the prior year value of 45%. The other European countries followed with 18%, a decrease from the prior year value of 23%. The USA and Australian shares remained fairly consistent with the prior year. A decrease in the percentage of Russian bookings from 8% to 5% is directly reflected in an increase in middle eastern bookings from 2% to 4%.
NATIONALITIES WHICH HAVE BEEN INCREASING THEIR BOOKING NUMBERS Increases in booking numbers have been experienced across a wide range of nationalities, mostly seen in the booking numbers from Europeans, closely followed by Australians, USA, UK and Asia.
BOOKING PATTERN FOR HOLIDAYS TAKEN DURING WINTER 2017/18 Increases in booking numbers have been experienced across a wide range of nationalities, mostly seen in the booking numbers from Europeans, closely followed by Australians, USA, UK and Asia.
FACTORS WHICH MOST INFLUENCED A CLIENT'S BOOKING 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
RESORT PRICE LOCATION SIZE OF CHALET SERVICE FACILITIES FOOD & BEVERAGE QUALITY ADVICE FROM OPERATORS & AGENTS TRAVEL INCLUSIVE TRANSFER TIME Showing a change from the prior two seasons, the resort was the most influential factor for clients, rather than price. Another notable change from the prior season was the size of chalet moving from eighth position to fourth position.
PROFILE OF THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR BOOKING THE SKI HOLIDAY The profile of the person responsible for booking the holiday was predominantly male, with a small minority using their PAs to make the booking. This remains relatively unchanged from the prior season.
AVERAGE AGE OF THE PARTY LEADER More than half of all bookings were made by the 40-60 years old age group with the majority of the remaining bookings made in the 20-40 age group. Only 14% of bookings were made by the 60+ age group. This remains relatively unchanged from the prior season.
AVERAGE SIZE OF GROUP BOOKINGS DURING 2017/18 The average group size was 9 with 77% of groups remaining the same size as last year. Last season reported 15% of bookings increased in size, this dropped to 9% this season. Last season also reported 10% of bookings decreased in size, this increased to 14% this season.
CLIENTS' PREFERRED METHOD OF TRAVEL An overwhelming majority of clients used a scheduled airline to travel to their destination, the proportion of which remains consistent compared to the prior season. The proportion travelling by private jet has increased from 7% to 8%, but the proportion self-driving has decreased from 11% to 9%.
MOST POPULAR SCHEDULED AIRLINE Easyjet and British Airways continue to lead the way as the airlines of choice. This year continued the prior year trend of increased use of the budget airline, Easyjet, however, there was a decrease in the popularity of Ryanair.
CLIENTS' EXPENDITURE ON EXTRAS OTHER THAN LIFT PASS OR SKI HIRE Private ski guides remained the main source of expenditure in resorts. A large increase in childcare saw this expenditure move into second position pushing group ski school into third place. Decreases in expenditure on spa treatments, wine and airport transfers were offset by a continued increase in expenditure on activities and childcare.
IMPACT OF THE 2017/18 SNOWFALL ON THIS YEAR’S BOOKINGS The snowfall this year had a large positive impact on bookings. It was reported in the 2016/2017 season that the snowfall had a negative impact on 60% of the bookings, this season it had no negative impact and had a positive impact on 77% of bookings.
LEVEL OF CURRENT BOOKINGS COMPARED TO 2016/17 Booking volume continues to increase this year with 62% of Operators and Agents reporting bookings to be up compared to last year, with just 7% reporting a drop in bookings, and 31% remaining static.
LEVEL OF CURRENT OVERALL SPEND COMPARED TO 2016/17 Overall spend continues to increase this year with 60% of operators and agents reporting overall spend to be up compared to last year, with just 12% reporting a drop in overall spend, and 28% remaining static.
IS FRANCE OR SWITZERLAND MORE EXPENSIVE? An overwhelming majority of Agents and Operators confirmed that the standard cost of a chalet holiday is more expensive in Switzerland, but a notable difference from last year is that 5% are now reporting that France is more expensive.
IMPACT OF THE EU REFERENDUM RESULT DURING THE LAST YEAR Since the leave result of the EU referendum, 34% of Operators and Agents have experienced a negative impact on their business, this is a decrease from last year which reported 50% experienced a negative impact. Last year 48% experienced no impact, this increased this year to 64% reporting no change during the 17/18 season.
EXPECTED IMPACT OF THE EU REFERENDUM RESULT OVER THE COMING YEAR 50% of Operators and Agents are expecting a negative impact on their business over the coming 12 months with none expecting a positive impact. 45% expect no impact and 5% are expecting a disastrous impact.
EXTRA OR PUNITIVE TAX/EMPLOYMENT INSPECTIONS EXPERIENCED Although 30% of Operators and Agents have experienced extra tax/employment inspections over the last year, with 2% experiencing punitive inspections, 68% report no such increase in inspections.
AGENT ONLY RESPONSES
MOST POPULAR RESORTS IN FRANCE Val d’Isère remained the resort of choice in France with Méribel still in second place although it has decreased in popularity from last year. Courchevel has remained the third favourite with an increase in popularity.
MOST POPULAR RESORTS IN SWITZERLAND Zermatt was the most popular resort with Verbier a very close second which is a switch between the two resorts. Both have increased in popularity since last year. St Moritz has enjoyed an increase and has moved into third place.
PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS BOOKING CHALETS VERSES HOTELS Chalets were more popular than Hotels with an overwhelming majority of 76%, this percentage has increased from 72% as reported last season.
CATERED VERSES NON-CATERED CHALETS Catered chalets were more popular than non-catered with an overwhelming majority of 77.5%, a slight decrease from the prior season.
If you would like to receive a copy of this report or for all press enquiries please email Ceri Tinley on ceri@consensiochalets.co.uk WHEN QUOTING FROM THIS REPORT PLEASE MAKE REFERENCE TO: 'THE CHALET SKI STATS 2018' from CONSENSIO