New ski route for Norwich

WINTER SKI FLIGHTS TO GENEVA FROM NORWICH INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Norwich Airport is offering low-cost winter flights to Geneva with Flybe starting from Saturday 19th December 2009. Passengers can buy flight only with Flybe, or choose a winter package holiday with Inghams, the leading independent ski tour operator that is offering Ski Switzerland holidays to the 12 major resorts direct from Norwich International Airport.

Geneva city breaks are perfect for relaxation and self-indulgence for those looking for lovely landmarks coupled with French-influenced shopping and dining, however as a winter destination, fly to Geneva for access to hundreds of kilometres of ski slopes, in one of the most spectacular mountain chains in the world.

Elliott Summers, the airport’s Managing Director commented: “We are pleased to offer these flights from Norwich Airport as Geneva is a very popular winter destination for local holiday-makers. The region offers all of the mountain activities you can possibly want, there is something for everyone.”

Holiday and Flight Information

· The flights will operate on Saturdays from 19th December to 13th March 2010 inclusive.

· The flying time from Norwich is 2 hours.

· The flight will depart from Norwich at 0955 and return flights depart at 1340.

Peak dates - Book early for your ski holiday

Following a difficult season, most operators have cut their capacity for next winter, meaning that available holidays on peak dates will be harder to get. Many operators are showing almost full for the peak half-term week in February as families and teachers start to book to secure their school holiday ski break. Traditional tour operators generally secure enough beds to cover the airline seats they have guaranteed for the winter, but this represents a huge financial risk, particularly with the pound struggling against the euro, the main currency for 91% of UK skiers, so by cutting capacity and concentrating on filling available places at higher rates, most operators will come out of next season better off, having taken considerably less risk. At hotels4u.com the advantage is that our hotel stock is not linked to high risk guaranteed aircraft seats, we provide great value hotel and apartments and transfers but let you choose the most suitable flight amongst the millions of available low-cost and scheduled flying serving the majority of ski destinations, so you get the best deal across the board. The other benefit is that in most destinations you can choose to travel on the day and for the duration that suits you, and not be tied in to standard Saturday-Saturday or Sunday-Sunday arrivals.

Helmet-use on the rise

A US-wide ski survey reveals helmet usage among skiers and riders nationwide increased 12 percent over the previous season...

According to the 2008/09 NSAA National Demographic Study, last season, 48 percent of all skiers and riders were wearing a helmet at the time of being interviewed, up from 43 percent during the 2007/08 season.

In comparison, only 25 percent of skiers and snowboarders wore helmets during the 2002/03 season. The annual Demographic Study is compiled from more than 130,000 interviews of skiers and riders nationwide. The study also showed that:

• 77 percent of children 9 years old or younger wear ski helmets;
• 66 percent of children between 10 and 14 wear ski helmets;
• 63 percent of adults over the age of 65 wear ski helmets;
• Helmet usage by skiers and boarders aged 18 to 24 is currently 32 percent, representing a 78 percent increase in usage for this age group since the 2002/03 season, when only 18 percent wore helmets.

In addition, overall ski helmet sales (adults and kids) have increased 43 percent over the past two years, dating back to the 2006/07 ski season.
Sales of adult ski helmets alone increased 50 percent since the 2006/07 season, according to the SnowSports Industries of America (SIA) annual Retail Audit.

Sterling Skis - The best ski in the world

Created just over 4 years ago, with production now into its 2 year, Sterling Skis have always dreamt of being the best skis in the world. Produced in very limited quantities (140 of each model per year), Sterling Skis come with an unbeatable money-back guarantee - If you don't like them and are not sking better than you did before, you get your money back. With prices in excess of $2500 a pair, that's a lot of money to put where your mouth is, but in the two years of producing skis, nobody has sent a pair back, and each year more and more people are putting there names on the wating list to get their hands on a pair. The skis are crafted with the best available materials, exotic woods and hi-tech components, and an R&D history that makes this ski purr. So what is the secret? The sweetest, tighest sweet-spot in the business, making this ski a pure pleasure to ride and a huge status symbol to own... At the momen these skis are only available in the US, but the word on the grapevine is that a number of hand-picked European ski retail outlets are being contacted to help to spread the joy.

Expect to start seeing these beauties on European ski slopes next winter, Courchevel, Zermatt, St Moritz, St Anton, Ischgl, Kitzbuehel, Cortina d'Ampezzo to name but a few.

visit the weabsite at www.sterlingskis.com

Ski holiday prices could rise more than 20%

Skiers are facing price hikes of more than 20% in the forthcoming season thanks to capacity cuts and the pound's continued weakness.

Speaking at the Erna Low Credit Crunch Report yesterday, chief executive Joanna Yellowlees-Bound said the ski specialist is currently contracting for the forthcoming season with the pound worth between €1.10 and €1.15, as opposed to €1.25 this time last year.

She added the situation has been worsened by some operators trimming capacity, which has helped drive up prices and could lead to a reduced lates market during the season.

Yellowlees-Bound said: "Overall price increases on peak season dates will be pretty high; at least 20% more than this year."

She warned the increase will see nearly 100,000 fewer Brits hit the slopes than the 1.4 million originally predicted in January 2008. The new estimate is 2% down on last season's numbers.

She added: "Next year is going to see the biggest negative growth (in the market) for some time."

Yellowlees-Bound said the cuts will also effect this year's lates market, adding: "There will not be the same offers as this year if people do leave it late.

"It is very important people realise that with late bookings next year, you may well book something late but it won't be your first choice."

She added Erna Low's average selling price for the last winter season grew by 15% to £1,000 as customers took advantage of savings of around 30% by booking extras like lift passes and ski hire.

At skihotels4u, we will be doing all we can to make skiing affordable with prices held as for last year - The beauty of skihotels4u, is that you can tailor-make your package to suit your wallet and your diary, benefiting from less congested flying times and shorter breaks with similar skiing time. If you book an Easyjet flight into GVA first thing in the morning, you can be on the slopes in Chamonix by 11 am, stay 3 nights but ski four full days so you save money all round....

Schladming to welcome Champs in 2013

The preparations for the 2013 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships are also progressing. The state of Styria has announced its own support program to ensure that visitors to the Schladming event will enjoy the best quality accommodation possible. Styria together with the Austrian government has made up to 130 million Euro available for hoteliers to upgrade their infrastructure in time for the event. This assistance is available to both existing and new lodging institutions in the region of Liezen up until the end of 2012.

Besides the tourism quality program, the region hosting Schladming 2013 is also putting great emphasis on sustainability and event legacy. This will be seen in the energy efficiency planning for any new construction among other initiatives. According to the state leadership, the 2013 event shall go down in history as the greenest FIS World Ski Championships ever held. The plans also call for a high degree of involvement by the local population in realizing the sustainability of the event. Overall, the Dachstein-Tauern region is planning to invest up to 700 million Euro in projects related to the 2013 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships.

Catch Madonna in Barcelona - 21st July

The queen of pop will play at the Estadio Olimpico de Lluis - which is located within easy reach of the many Barcelona hotels - on July 21st in support of her latest album Hard Candy, which was released last year and has spawned the singles Miles Away, Give It 2 Me and 4 Minutes, the latter of which features Justin Timberlake.

However, Madge fans can rest assured that she will likely perform hits from her entire back catalogue, ranging from Holiday and Like a Prayer to Get Into the Groove and Hung Up. The star, who was recently confirmed to be the face of Louis Vuitton's advertising campaign for the fashion house's 2009 autumn and winter collection, is famous for putting on elaborate and breathtaking shows that make use of spectacular special effects, lighting and dance routines.

Tickets for the event, which are on sale now, are available in a range of prices, from 65 EUR to 175 EUR.

Meanwhile, people keen to get up close and personal have an array of VIP packages to choose from. They begin at 378.50 EUR and rise to 403.50 EUR. Book your hotel now on www.hotels4u.com