19 Aug 2014
Upgrades in Switzerland; rise in serviced apartments; growth of Ultra-Luxe; season-long rentals; and retreating to the mountainside…
As the 2014/15 ski season approaches, Oli Corkhill, luxury ski expert and founder of Alpine Guru, has identified the key factors set to impact on the luxury market and has adapted product accordingly:
1. A focus on Switzerland
New working laws imposed on chalet companies operating in Switzerland requiring them to pay staff a minimum wage of £2,238 per month have led to numerous low to mid-level chalet operators pulling out of the country or significantly reducing their offering, including big players such as Crystal, Inghams, Ski Total, Esprit Ski and Neilson.
“We're predicting that many of the chalets vacated by the mass-market operators will be snapped up by luxury developers and renovated for the high-end market.” Says Oli. “This will be very welcome in resorts such as Zermatt, where demand outstrips supply during peak periods for the high-end market.”
This season, Alpine Guru will be offering 184 chalets in 12 Swiss resorts, an increase of 20% from 2013/14.
2. Rise in luxury serviced apartments
High-end ski hotels have increasingly been working with property investment companies to enhance their offering and provide a more flexible option for guests in the form of luxury apartments that benefit from access to five-star hotel services and facilities.
“Further developments for fully serviced luxury apartments are in the pipeline across the Alps and we are pleased to be able to offer more of this type of property this season to cater for an ever increasing demand” says Oli.
Alpine Guru's most recent additions to meet this need include Residence E-Wow in Verbier, located at the W Verbier. Being linked to the W Verbier means that guests staying at this four bedroom apartment enjoy access to the hotel's spa, pool, sauna and hot tub. Prices start from 4,300 CHF (around £2,850) per night.
Also new for this season, the Corvatsch Tower in St Moritz is one of the Alps' most sought after residences. This 440sqm duplex apartment has access to the traditional and glamourous Kempinski Grand Hôtel des Bains with its luxury spa. Prices start from 4,300 CHF (around £2,850) per night.
3. 3. Demand for Ultra-Luxe
The 'keeping up with the Joneses' attitude of many skiers frequenting Alpine resorts (a rivalry that is sometimes as important as the skiing itself) means that the appetite for ultra-luxe chalets in the region is showing no sign of dissipating. And the offering is continually growing to meet this demand.
To make sure clients can go all-out to impress this season, Alpine Guru will be offering the brand new Chalet Mont Blanc in Megeve. With its very own fully operational heli-pad, cinema, gym, spa, underground car park for up to 12 vehicles and not one, but two swimming pools, this ski-in, ski-out 12-16 person chalet enjoys classic alpine vistas over the main village from a stuninng atrium style living area.
Guests here will be served Perrier Jouet champagne on arrival, with more of the fizzy stuff preceding dinner each night.
Prices for the whole chalet start from €120,000 (around £96,200) per week.
4. An increase in season-long rentals
Whole season rentals are becoming increasingly popular. There is an burgeoning demand from families and work colleagues who are coming together to rent luxury properties for multiple weeks in one resort over the course of the season to create a cost-effective holiday solution.
Alpine Guru has added a number of season-long rentals to their portfolio for the 2014/15 season, including the Chalet Pure Folie in Verbier, available for 375,000 CHF (around £248,000). Situated in the sought after enclave of La Tinte in Verbier, Chalet Pure Folie sleeps ten guests featuring a cinema room, gym and a spa area with steam room and sauna.
5. Getting back to nature
There is a growing trend for skiers to seek out accommodation that connects with the environment or is situated on the mountain itself. Mountain refuges have seen a renaissance and Alpine Guru predicts an increase in people combining a traditional stay in the village with a number of nights on the mountainside.
Whitepod is a luxury retreat nestled in the Swiss Alps near the small village of Les Cerniers in Switzerland. The resort is made up of 15 geodesic pod domes at the foot of the Dents du Midi range of mountains. Even in the coldest of winter days the pods remain warm and cosy with wood-burning stoves as well as space and romantic seclusion from the other pods at the retreat. A central traditional chalet building houses a relaxation area, bar and restaurant serving breakfast and dinner.
Prices here start from 360 CHF (£358) per night including breakfast.
For more information or to book your Alpine holiday, visit www.alpineguru.com or call 020 3004 8750.
– Ends –
Notes to editors:
- Alpine Guru and Villa Guru are accommodation-only booking sites, however, Oli and Ant provide a bespoke concierge service to assist with booking flights, transfers and / or holiday extras if required.
- Alpine and Villa Guru welcome enquiries or bookings from travel agents.
- Oli Corkhill and Ant Cullen are available for interview or to provide expert comment / insight on the ski or luxury holiday markets.
For further press information please contact:
James Brooke / Julie Aguilera / Kevan Barber
Rooster PR
T: +44 (0)20 3440 8930
About Alpine Guru
Alpine Guru works tirelessly to find its clients the perfect luxury ski chalet or hotel for their alpine getaway. Founded in 2011 by ski enthusiasts Oli Corkhill and Ant Cullen, Alpine Guru boasts an impressive collection of 300 luxury chalets, apartments and hotels throughout 35 of the best ski resorts across seven countries in Europe and North America; all on one comprehensive, polished and easy to use website.
A global brand, Alpine Guru boasts clients from over 14 different countries and has enjoyed growth of over 1,000% in its first three years, with sales figures soaring from under £100,000 in 2011/12 to over £1,000,000 in 2013/14.
The Alpine Guru brand and website has been redesigned and re-launched in July 2014. Properties in the collection have been rigorously assessed, stripped down and enhanced in order to ensure clients have access to only the very finest ski chalets, hotels, services and facilities for the 2014/15 winter season.
