The pitch is a good one. Skiing on New Year’s Day on snow which fell the previous millennium sounds irresistible.
But negative publicity over initial over-inflated brochure prices, combined with both Christmas and New Year’s Day falling on a Saturday, has kept early bookers away in droves, forcing most operators to reduce their capacity and rates over the millennium period.
Only during the last month, with the promise of late-booking deals, has the ski market picked up for 2000 celebrations.
Neilson senior product manager Nina Clifford said: “Up until a month ago it was a dead duck in the water, but then it began to move. In some places prices are down by as much as 30% and there is still quite a lot of capacity in Austria, Italy and France.”
Crystal group managing director Andy Perrin added:”There isn’t quite the capacity people were predicting as operators took a prudent view and cut back in time. No country is 100% sold out though. The better properties have gone, but good deals are still available.”
According to Inghams, the largest capacity is at the lower end, self-catering market. Sales manager Laurence Hicks noted that there was no noticeable slump in the top end of the market.
“We still have 25% capacity left for the millennium, mainly in France and Austria,” he commented as Travel Weekly went to press. Thomson also had some availability for France and Austria, but said the US was sold out.
If a little luxury is called for, Collineige still has availability for December 27 departures at its catered chalet in Argentiere. The seven-night lead-in price of £1,185 includes scheduled flights, transfers, and three daily meals with wine, as well as a special menu with champagne on December 31.
With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, agents should urge clients to book now to ensure they enter the new millennium with their skis on.