Will the ski season soar or slide downhill?

The party crowd will be absent from the mountains next season, believes Helen Furlong, a Midcounties Co-operative Personal Travel Agent specialising in snow sports.

Furlong believes resorts will be occupied by serious skiers avoiding bars and clubs. “I think it’ll be focused far more on ski than apres,” she says. “We could have heavy lates for ski, but I don’t think we’ll see beginners learning to ski next season.”

Despite this, she says she’s “quite optimistic” about the coming months. “Ski is more buoyant than I thought it was going to be. Whoever has a good Covid policy is doing well.”

Furlong adds Easter, from 2 April, “is selling well” with clients hopeful of an end to quarantine, but February half-term is proving “weak”. She is avoiding packaging under her own Atol and “sticking with the big operators until things settle”.

Client uncertainy

Operators have seemingly let consumers’ timidity drive their booking policies. Crystal Ski has tackled the issue of local UK lockdowns, with no amendment fees payable. It also allows flexibility on booking changes, but clients who cancel just through reluctance to travel will lose deposits.

Not that this makes much difference to some. In contrast with Furlong, former ski rep Lee Hunt, managing director of Deben Travel, is downcast. “Usually September is a big (ski) month for us, but we’ve not had one enquiry. Regular bookers tell me they’re put off because they don’t know what the situation will be.”

Hunt says he is frustrated at the lack of price messages coming from operators. “Looking at Christmas, February half-term – there are no prices out there that are enticing. I’m surprised, bearing in mind we lost a great part of last season.”

Hunt is putting his faith in the lates market, but adds: “If they put out a few half-term offers I would snap them up.”

Crystal Ski managing director Chris Logan disputes the lack of deals, pointing out a previous two-for-one lift pass offer and adding it has more campaigns due in October. “Hopefully agents will gratefully receive them; they will be stronger than previous years,” he says.

Crystal Ski has removed a third of capacity and will not offer Sweden or Slovenia next season. Most of the reduction comes from removing multiple flight frequencies.

“We’re expecting a late booking curve as, hopefully, some quarantines are lifted,” says Logan. Crystal Ski has also cancelled its chalet programme, albeit only 15 properties. “Unsurprisingly, there’s been a move towards self-catering, but half-board hotels are holding up in terms of share. Demand for chalets isn’t there; there are concerns about social distancing.”

Accommodation focus

However, in winter sports, there will always be those with the cash to buy exclusive space and peace of mind. Ultra high-end chalet and apartments specialist Consensio has found ways of meeting Covid safety requirements, retaining its full inventory of properties.

Next season, catered accommodation will feature buffet-style breakfasts, afternoon snacks laid out, contactless cleaning and a restaurant booking option instead of the usual waiter service. To reflect reduced service levels, chalet prices are discounted by 25%.

Managing director Ceri Tinley says the brand had to adapt. “Having the amount of staff we have in chalets is too big a risk.” Consensio has also had to adjust its terms and conditions. Deposits have been reduced from 25% to 10% and balances due 28 days in advance, instead of 10 weeks.

Its Covid policy now offers free rebooking or a 90% cash refund. Crystal Ski’s Logan believes a decision to remove a lot of pre-Christmas capacity was wise, not just from a risk point of view, but also to allow resorts to perfect Covid practices.

“A lot of resorts will open up well before our customers go out, so will have Covid restrictions in place,” he explains.

Fingers crossed, clients will be reassured and there will be no repeat of Ischgl’s headlines next winter, but fasten that helmet, winter 2020/21 is shaping up to be a white-knuckle ride.