Operators have said the impact of the curtailed 2019/20 winter season and decimated 2020/21 season would likely come to bear over the coming weeks and months, although there are growing concerns about a new wave of Covid infection in Europe that could derail a third season in succession.
In the winter sports sector, chalets have proved a particular issue due to Covid restrictions and staffing difficulties.
However, demand could be tempered by some key destinations’ insistence on Covid boosters, which may deter younger skiers ineligible for a third jab until later in 2022.
Nevertheless, Joanna Laforge, Ski France sales and marketing director, said the forthcoming season was “exciting and promising”. “Since late September, when testing became a little bit easier, bookings have really built up,” she said.
Ski France offers "contactless catering" in its chalets, which Laforge said was partly due to Covid and partly to Brexit rules on foreign staff. “There are complications since Brexit, so a lot of operators have reduced their programme.”
Crystal Ski has axed its “very small” chalet programme, with no current plans to bring it back. However, managing director Chris Logan said bookings were “extremely strong" and "well ahead of where they would usually be for the season", with Italy, Austria and France the firm’s biggest destinations.
“We will be sending as many people out to the mountains as our pre-Covid programme,” he said. “Christmas, New Year and February half-term are proving popular times to get away as they are very well sold, with December dates also filling up fast.”
Inghams is one operator reaping the benefits of cautious planning. Its winter sales are back to pre-Covid levels, but capacity is down 37%, which should mean good margins. “The market is very, very strong,” said head of agency sales Julie Franklin.
“Capacity was committed to well over a year ago; you can’t commit to charters and then get left with a lot of seats you can’t sell. We will buy in seats on scheduled as we need to.”
Sales this season had been “stronger for longer”, Franklin added. “It’s just flying, we’re back to pre-2019.”
