Compagnie des Alpes announces big jump in sales to 31st December 08

The Compagnie des Alpes, the world's largest ski resort operator, with resorts including Meribel, Val d'Isere, Les Arcs and Chamonix, announced ski area sales up 18.3% on last year for the three months ending at December 31st.

A company spokesman credited two additional days of school holidays and abundant snowfall for the sales success, which saw the number of skier-days rise by more than 6% over the same period in 2007, and accommodation levels at 80%. Revenues per skier-day also rose significantly by around 4%.

The picture is not currently quite so rosy for the rest of winter. Reservations of accommodation at CdA resorts, as measured in number of visits booked by January 15 are down 2.9% from a year earlier. Estimated occupancy rates for January and February are similar to those in 2008 but because Easter falls in April this year, March will be down, with occupancy rates in net decline (50% compared to 64% on January 15th, 2008). So keep those eyes peeled for some great last minute offers.

Source: World Snow News