09-10-2009, 05:30 AM
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Junior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Canada: Ski specialists hope for Olympic boost
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Olympic Games are not always good for tourism but, as Rob Gill reports, Canadian specialists are cautiously optimistic for the coming ski season
Canada’s ski resorts are waiting nervously to see how the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler affects winter sports sales from the UK.
There has been some evidence that hosting the games has had a negative impact on the host destination’s visitor numbers during Olympic year.
But tourism boards and ski operators are cautiously optimistic that Canada will still be an attractive proposition for skiers, particularly as the strong euro against the pound may entice them to fly across the Atlantic.
Last year, Canada suffered following the collapse of Zoom Airlines before the winter season started.
But for this season most operators have maintained capacity from last season and Air Transat has announced its biggest winter schedule to Canada. Kathryn Munro, marketing director of Air Transat Holidays, says: “Despite the challenging
economic conditions, we believe there is still considerable demand for good value winter sports holidays to Canada, and we are increasing our programme to meet that.”
Here is a look at some of the main developments for winter 2009-10 from Canada’s ski regions.
British Columbia
Olympic Games are often preceded by mad scrambles to get all the venues ready for the big event but this is not the case in Whistler as its new lifts and facilities have already been completed.
Fortunately, the Olympics does not seem to have led to a surge in prices throughout the season, with operators offering competitive packages to Whistler. The exception is during the games period, February 12-28, when prices have inevitably spiked.
But for those determined to visit Whistler during the Olympics there is still limited accommodation available through some UK ski operators and most of the resort’s huge ski area will be open to the public during the event.
The Paralymic Games, which follow in March, are not expected to affect prices.
Ian Davis, product director of Crystal Ski, Thomson Ski and First Choice Ski, said: “There is still interest in travelling to Whistler to see the Olympics spectacle. But other
customers may choose to watch from a distance and then travel to experience the Olympic venue outside of the actual event.”
Whistler will be boosted by the opening of the refurbished Aava Whistler Hotel, formerly Coast Whistler Hotel, in November. It will feature 185 suites. Le Scandinave Spa is also due to debut in November.
Elsewhere in BC, the new resort of Revelstoke on the western side of the Rockies, which opened in 2007, is expected to win a bigger share of the British market.
Sandra Potter, managing director of Frontier Ski, says: “The fast-developing resort of Revelstoke, with its new slopeside lodging, is perhaps the most likely to see increased visitor numbers this season.”
Air Transat Holidays has also added Revelstoke for this season as well as the family-friendly BC resort of Silver Star.
Other developments in BC include the imminent opening of Kookaburra Lodge in Sun Peaks, which will feature apartments ranging from one to four bedrooms.
Alberta
The majority of charter capacity from the UK continues to be focused on Calgary with its proximity to the Rocky Mountain resorts.
One of the major developments for this winter is Air Transat’s decision to double capacity to Calgary: it will run four weekly flights with two from Gatwick and two from Manchester using Thomas Cook Airlines.
Jasper’s Marmot Basin resort is to benefit from a new lift, which is being billed as the longest high-speed quad-chair lift in the Albertan Rockies.
Other improvements include 30 new suites at Sunshine Mountain Lodge and new jumps and rails at Mount Norquay’s floodlit park.
Visitors will also be able to catch special events during the winter as Banff national park celebrates its 125th anniversary at its three resorts of Mount Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village.
Quebec
The French Canadian province has really put itself on the winter sports map in recent years and may benefit further this season from its shorter flying time from the UK and its location on the other side of the country from British Columbia.
Mont Tremblant (left) has for many years been the shining jewel in Quebec’s winter crown and Inghams is tipping the resort for further growth.
There are also plenty of other resorts vying for British visitors such as Le Massif, near Quebec City, which has been undergoing a major redevelopment to increase its ski area by 30%.
Quebec City offers a rare chance for skiers to stay in a major city with access to three resorts: Le Massif, Stoneham and Mont-Sainte-Anne. The Carte Blanche lift pass covers all three areas.
Olympic factfile
Dates: February 12-28, 2010. The Paralympic Winter Games are March 12-21.
Tickets: Agents can sell tickets to individual events at the Winter Olympics through official supplier Sportsworld, part of Tui Travel. Commission rates have not been revealed.
Packages: Agents cannot sell official travel packages to the Olympics; these can be sold only direct to consumers by Sportsworld. Some UK operators are selling packages to Whistler during the Olympics, including Frontier, Air Transat and Crystal. But accommodation is very limited as many hotels have been block-booked by the games’ organising committee, Vanoc.
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Source: Canada: Ski specialists hope for Olympic boost - Travel Trade Gazette |
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Canada: Ski specialists hope for Olympic boost
