THOMSON Breakaway has designed a new brochure format for its ski ’99/2000 programme -Êlooking to build on the snowboarding craze.
The bulk of the brochure is dedicated to skiing while on the reverse the operator has developed a special six-page snowboarding section.
Ski programme manager Ian Simkins said snowboarding made up 14% of Thomson’s winter sports market in 1998/99.
“We think that will grow that to 20% next season,” he said. “Furthermore, 23% of skiers said they would like to try snowboarding. It is a market that is growing rapidly.”
Learn to board courses are available in 66 resorts while skiers in every resort can board for a day.
Richmond-based Breakaway has also introduced academies for 10-16 year olds and a summer camp in Austria for experienced snowboarders.
New destinations are Tahoe in California and Champoluc in the Italian Alps.
Prices lead in at £199 per person for seven nights at the Manzano Apartments in Andorra.
Simkins, who claimed Thomson was the second largest ski operator in ’98/99 with 17% of the market, said business is increasing through selected independents with sales up 30%. Independents now account for a quarter of its overall ski business.
He added Thomson finished 14% up on last year in a market down 8%.