Companies: Crystal, Inghams, Neilson, Ski Independence, Ski The American Dream, Virgin Ski.
Best-selling destinations: Colorado resorts, particularly Breckenridge and Vail; Neilson’s top seller is Winter Park – also one of the biggest growth areas for Ski Independence. Virgin’s number one is Lake Tahoe in California, which has become Crystal’s fifth largest seller after resorts in Colorado and Vermont.
Best ski conditions for rest of season: Mammoth and Heavenly in California and most Colorado resorts. Ski The American Dream includes Utah.
Best resorts for beginners: Killington inVermont is recommended by Virgin, Inghams, Crystal and Neilson, while the otheroperators include Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado and Sunday River in Maine.
Best for advanced skiers: Jackson Hole, Wyoming, is strongly recommended, followed by Vail in Colorado. Ski The American Dream also suggests Park City and Snowbird in Utah while Virgin plumps for Kirkwood in Lake Tahoe as its most suitable offering.
Best for families: California in the west and Stowe and Killington in the east are a popular choice. Inghams also includes Breckenridge and Vail, while the Colorado resort of Steamboat comes into the reckoning for Ski Independence and Neilson.
Good availability: generally across all resorts, except the Easter period. Crystal offers good availability up to the end of the season in Breckenridge, Vail, Mammoth and Tahoe.
Sample flight-inclusive packages for March/April Crystal: seven nights’ half-board in Stowe for £475 each based on two sharing.
Inghams: one week room-only at Big Mountain in Montana for £430 based on four sharing.
Neilson: seven nights’ bed and breakfast twin occupancy in Heavenly costs £539 per adult. Half-board deals in Breckenridge for £679 including car rental.
SkiIndependence: seven nights at Sunday River based on four sharing a two-bedroom condo with car hire for £499 per person.
Ski The American Dream: 10 nights at Jackson Hole for £599 twin occupancy; £725 each based on two people sharing a fully catered package in Breckenridge.
Virgin Ski: one week at Lake Tahoe or Mammoth from £419 and £429 respectively, including accommodation and car rental based on two people sharing.
Special offers
Crystal: two-for-one lift pass offer on pre-booked passes in many resorts on selected dates. Free lift passes for children with adult bookings.
Inghams:in Breckenridge and Vail, buy 10-day adult lift pass and get four days free. Kids ski free offers in most resorts.
Neilson:half-price lift passes for couples, £100 discount on child places.
SkiIndependence: under-12s get free ski pass and equipment when one adult pays for their own facilities.
Ski The American Dream: free nights and dinners on longer stays; also free skiing and equipment rental at Steamboat for under-12s.
Virgin Ski: exclusive Virgin Bonuses in resorts.
US ski advantages: value for money, good service, no language barrier, excellent snow conditions, long season and quality accommodation and facilities. Also most holidays include a car so clients can visit other resorts to ski.
Up-and-coming destinations to watch
Crystal: Winter Park and Keystone in Colorado.
Inghams: Big Mountain, Montana.
Neilson: Winter Park, also Sunday River in Maine.
SkiIndependence: Sunday River for families and Purgatory and Telluride in Colorado for experienced skiers looking for something different.
Ski The American Dream:Canyons and Park City in Utah and Copper Mountain, Colorado.
Virgin Ski:Mammoth Mountain, likely to become the Aspen of the West Coast due to huge investment.