| Many naysayers are predicting a slow ski | | | | higher-altitude ski resorts, so they have |
| season simply because of global warming and | | | | more snow earlier and later in the season. |
| increasing fuel costs. | | | | Some predict similar challenges for the |
| | | | 2007-2008 ski season. |
| The 2006-2007 British ski market saw a three | | | | |
| per cent increase despite challenging snow | | | | Crystal Holidays is prepared to face these |
| conditions and fuel prices. Three per cent | | | | challenges head-on by helping in the fight |
| may not sound like a large number, but the | | | | against global warming. During the 2006-2007 |
| numbers are astounding. The 2005-2006 ski | | | | ski season, Crystal Ski Holidays was the |
| season saw approximately 921,000 Brits take a | | | | first major operator to offer their customers |
| ski holiday. The total of skiers rose in the | | | | the opportunity to participate in a programme |
| 2006-2007 season to 1.19 million. | | | | to offset the carbon emissions created by |
| | | | their flights. Crystal has signed on to the |
| Let's face it; we, as human beings, love to | | | | "carbon neutral" scheme with The |
| pamper ourselves from time to time with a | | | | CarbonNeutral Company. |
| holiday. Die-hard skiers are not going to let | | | | |
| the possibility of poor snowfall or fuel | | | | CarbonNeutral makes investments globally in |
| prices stand in their way of a ski holiday. | | | | projects like solar, hydro and wind farms in |
| They know their favourite resorts will have | | | | a massive effort to cut back on greenhouse |
| things taken care of. On the other hand, | | | | gases. Many of Crystal's customers are more |
| people who have been dreaming of a ski | | | | than happy to join in with donations and |
| holiday for years aren't going to let poor | | | | support for the cause. |
| conditions stop them either. People, in | | | | |
| general, will do what they want, no matter | | | | Many of the greatest ski destinations are |
| what the conditions. | | | | jump-starting their ski conditions by making |
| | | | their own snow early in the season. This will |
| Crystal Ski Holidays knows this to be true. | | | | give natural snow a great blanket to stick |
| They aren't worried about losing business. | | | | to. Some of the higher elevation areas are |
| They know how to take care of their | | | | already seeing a nice amount of natural |
| customers. They see a lot of repeat visitors | | | | snowfall in countries like Austria and |
| year after year. The 2006-2007 ski-season | | | | Andorra. Resorts in these areas are generally |
| suffered from low snowfall and high fuel | | | | booked months in advance and don't let things |
| costs. High-elevation resorts, like several | | | | like negative predictions hold them back from |
| of Crystal's resorts, had no problems with | | | | having a great ski season. |
| low snowfall. | | | | |
| | | | No worries, ski enthusiasts! Your favourite |
| France continues to be the most popular ski | | | | ski destinations will welcome you with |
| holiday getaway with just over 37% of UK | | | | man-made snow this season if natural snow is |
| skiers enjoying chalet and club hotel | | | | slow. The bigger ski resorts have invested in |
| holidays. Two contributing factors also aided | | | | several snow cannons over the years. Several |
| France's popularity in the 2006-2007 ski | | | | of these snow cannons are working overtime |
| season: the first being a difficult start to | | | | until nature catches up. They have also build |
| the season because of a late-starting winter | | | | reservoirs to aid in snow production during |
| yielding low snowfall to start; the second | | | | slow-snowfall months. |
| factor being a late Easter. Many skiers enjoy | | | | |
| taking a lengthy ski holiday during Easter | | | | The 2007/8 European ski season looks set to |
| break. France is home to some of the | | | | be one of the best yet! |