Inghams parent Hotelplan has secured an exclusive deal to operate a five-star chalet hotel in the heart of Val d’Isère.
The deal marks a departure from the ski specialist’s traditional model and could be the first in a series of tie-ups, as it seeks to develop more differentiated product.
The luxury Le Savoie will be featured by all three Hotelplan ski brands: Inghams, family specialist Esprit and adult-focused chalet operator Ski Total.
In effect, Le Savoie will be offered as a brand within a brand in the winter 2015-16 brochures that went on sale on Wednesday.
Hotel staff will be recruited and managed by Hotelplan, but wear Le Savoie uniforms and offer a premium service and catering for guests.
The hotel will manage the proportion of guests booked through each of the three brands according to demand. In the summer school holidays, for example, it will accommodate more Esprit family guests.
Simon McIntyre, agency sales manager for the three brands, said: “This is the first time we have done anything like this, where we have a property to sell into across our brands.
“This is a real coup for us. We are always looking for something this unique to suit customers we know are out there but have not had the chance to travel with us.”
Hotelplan group chief executive, Andy Perrin, said: “This is a special property, in a prime location, in arguably the UK’s favourite ski resort.
“We have broken from the tradition of chalet hotels being exclusively available through one company, as we know we will have many loyal Inghams, Esprit and Ski Total guests keen to secure our top-of-the-range Val d’Isère accommodation.”