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UK's leading ski operator scraps all chalet holidays for the upcoming season

ski chalets - boris baldinger/getty
ski chalets - boris baldinger/getty

Catered ski chalets have been axed as tour operators struggle under the pressures of Covid and Brexit

Crystal Ski Holidays has dropped its entire ski chalet programme for the upcoming ski season. The tour operator, owned by Tui, made the decision on Tuesday (8 September), as Covid restrictions tightened across the UK and the future of international travel hangs in the balance.

The company is one of the largest ski holiday tour operators in the UK, and last season operated 45 catered chalets across the Alps. This winter, Crystal had planned to run 30 chalets. It said that Tuesday’s decision to axe the entire operation was taken “due to the impact of Covid-19”.

A spokesman for Crystal said: “We’re sorry for any disappointment but the health and safety of our customers is our top priority. There are still a range of great ski holiday options available to choose from, including self-catering apartments to half board hotels. We’re proactively contacting everyone affected to discuss a full range of flexible options available, including amending to an alternative ski holiday, or cancelling and receiving a full refund.”

Earlier this week, ski tour operators were dealt a further blow when it emerged that after the Brexit transition period ends on December 31, restrictions on non-essential travel to the EU might be applied if the number of coronavirus infections continue to rise.

Crystal was quick to point out that cutting its chalet programme is “for the coming season only, not forever” and on September 3 it launched 2021/22 ski programme, earlier than ever before, in a bid to reassure skiers. At the same time Crystal issued a range of “peace of mind” pledges for customers keen to get back on the slopes.

verbier ski chalets - margarita almpanezou/getty
verbier ski chalets - margarita almpanezou/getty

These included free amendments to holidays for anyone diagnosed with Covid-19 or needing to self-isolate, anyone living in an area that goes into local lockdown or who have booked to ski in a resort that is or goes under local lockdown while they are there. If skiers have booked to visit a country that requires them to quarantine on return or arrival or the FCO advises against all but essential travel, they can either amend their holidays or cancel for free.

The ski industry has been fighting hard to readjust its plans for the coming winter against a constantly changing coronavirus backdrop. Hotelplan, which owns Inghams, Ski Total and Esprit, is to operate a reduced programme for the coming winter, though declined to confirm exact numbers.

Skiworld, one of the UK’s largest chalet operators, had earlier this summer reduced its entire operation by 20 percent to 103 and has now said it plans to reduce its chalet programme (both catered and self-catered) further for this winter by “about 40 percent to around 60 or 70 chalets”, citing both Brexit and Covid as reasons. Skiworld marketing manager Robert Dixon said the further cut was because more people are looking for self-catered apartments and self-drive holidays.

But he added: “Skiers are still booking [catered] chalets but they often want the whole chalet this season. We are expecting catered chalets to work well since guests don’t have to go out to eat and drink if they don’t want to.”

Smaller operators are offering similar increased flexibility. Ski Amis, which operates 20 chalets in the major French ski resorts of La Tania, Les Menuires, La Plagne and Les Arcs is running seven chalets as self-catered, with 13 catered options. Ski Amis managing director Danielle Fenton said increased staff costs because of Brexit has played a part, but confirmed that the main reason for the change is Covid-19.

She said: “There’s been a higher demand for self-catered properties as it’s deemed less risk than a shared apartment with staff coming in and out.”