DESTINATIONS EUROPE | SKIING
INSIDER insight Ian McIlrath,
managing director, Ski Solutions
“Approximately 85%-90% of the total carbon footprint [of a ski trip] comes from travel
to and from the destination, if guests fly. The single biggest
contribution visitors can make is to go by train; this can
reduce transport emissions by up to 30%. Rather than trying to sell sustainability, talk about the benefits of such choices. For example, train travel
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Ski touring is a way to reduce the emissions from ski lifts; Val d’Isère is targeting 100% electric buses by 2026; Gornergrat train station, Zermatt, Switzerland PICTURES: Shutterstock/zedspider, Bernsten; Tristan Shu
SLOW IT DOWN Carrying heavy gear on aircraft creates additional emissions on an already carbon-intensive mode of transport, so where possible, encourage clients to swap flights for scenic train journeys instead. It’s easier than ever to access European ski destinations in France, Austria and Switzerland. Clients could take the Eurostar to Lille and change for services to Bourg-Saint-Maurice (with a journey time of eight hours and 20 minutes) or use a plethora of new sleeper services from Paris across the Alps and central Europe to reach their final destination with affordable local train routes. Popular resorts such as St Anton in Austria and Les
Arcs in France are accessible by rail, and for local travel, many resorts provide low-emission transport options. Zermatt has banned cars, relying instead on free electric buses to shuttle people around, while Val d’Isère has a fleet of buses that aim to be 100% electric by 2026. When on the slopes, ski lifts use a large amount
of energy, so for the most active clients, suggest ski touring, which involves self-powering one’s way up the mountains. It’s a breathtaking way to experience the great outdoors, with multi-day ski touring packages from operators. Responsible Travel has a commissionable seven-day ski touring trip to Finland that minimises CO2 and visits local hotels and businesses, including a family-run farm where clients can try locally-sourced food such as berries, fish and elk.
50 16 JANUARY 2025 GOT THE GEAR?
Highlighting the best eco-friendly gear is a simple way to transform clients’ impact on the mountains, with brands such as Arbor Collective and Venture Snowboards crafting skis and boards from sustainable wood cores, recycled materials and low-impact resins. Even the wax used on skis matters, with traditional
fluorine-based waxes posing serious environmental risks – some waxes take up to 100,000 years to biodegrade. Thankfully, biodegradable alternatives are available in ski rental shops worldwide.
LOCALLY SOURCED To offset the impact of skiing, visitors can opt to stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses, or at the higher end, dedicated eco-resorts that make use of local materials in their construction. This also applies to the après-ski element; advise guests to head for restaurants or dining spots with seasonal menus and local produce to reduce food mileage, which will give them the chance to embrace the area’s traditional dishes and try a few unusual beverages at the same time. In Austria’s Tyrol region, many restaurants are part of
Tiroler Wirtshauskultur, an initiative promoting the use of ingredients from nearby farms, rivers and forests. Not only is this more sustainable, but it also gives a standard ski holiday an extra infusion of Austrian mountain culture.
avoids the stress of airports and becomes part of the holiday itself. Family-owned hotels specialising in local
cuisine offer a personalised and authentic experience. Resorts that are powered by
renewable energy are typically cleaner and quieter. Together, these benefits provide a more enjoyable and ultimately more sustainable holiday.”
BOOK IT
Inghams sells seven nights’ half-board at Val d’Isère’s Hotel Ducs de Savoie for £1,409, based on two sharing, including train to Bourg-Saint-Maurice from London St Pancras and bus transfer to Tignes. Departing March 22.
inghams.co.uk
TW
Ski Independence offers a seven-night stay on a half-board basis at the Hotel Allalin in Saas-Fee, Switzerland, from £3,686, based on two adults sharing a Superior Double Room, including 23kg luggage, free ski carriage, transfers and flights departing March 17.
ski-i.com/travel-agents
travelweekly.co.uk insight
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