Ski & Snowboard 05/06 - Neilson's launch

Award winning active holiday company Neilson has launched its main (2nd edition) ski brochure with an expanded range of resorts. Although the 1st edition has been on sale for some time it is the 2nd edition brochure which contains the real changes for the 2005/6 season. 7 new resorts in 10 different countries are featured in the new brochure, including a big expansion to resorts in the Italian Dolomites. There is also a substantial increase in the number and range of properties featured throughout the programme, more flying options from regional airports, and considerable savings on family holidays to the USA and Canada.

Introduction of New Resorts Neilson has introduced 7 new resorts and 89 new properties for winter 05/6. Fernie in Canada, Jackson Hole (USA), Zell am Ziller in Austria, and four new resorts in Italy bringing the total number of resorts now offered in the new brochure to 64. Neilson’s upweighting of its Italian programme to include Selva, Corvara and Canazei/Campitello in the picturesque and sought after Dolomiti Superski means that it has now doubled its capacity to Italy through the Verona gateway.

Commenting on the new additions, Joe Lynch Head of Product and Marketing said: “Italy has proved to be a popular ski choice over the last few years and we are delighted to have secured more accommodation in a number of key resorts – all of them with something slightly different to offer: Selva is a high and snow sure resort offering fantastic skiing and great après ski which is ideally suited to groups and couples; Corvara is a beautiful, buzzing and upmarket resort suited to beginners and intermediates. Canezei meanwhile is a good value family friendly resort with a cosmopolitan atmosphere offering plenty of facilities for families including kids clubs.”

More for families Neilson has made it cheaper than ever before to travel as a family to the USA and Canada. Parents can save literally hundreds of pounds on last year’s prices because of a restructuring of how child prices are calculated to pass on flight savings given by the various airlines. Children now pay a flat price regardless of which property they go into or how long they stay for. In addition, there are many Neilson properties where children qualify for free lift passes and equipment which further impacts on the final price paid. The new pricing policy coupled with some fantastic ski pack offers for kids means that this is one of the best years to venture further afield with the family for a skiing break to North America with Neilson.

Child prices to North America start from just £279 for up to 14 days in Tremblant Canada when sharing a room with two full fare paying adults.

Snowman & Snowbusters Clubs for children Another plus for parents with young children is the expansion of the Neilson kids clubs. Neilson offers a choice of two types of clubs in a range of resorts – the “Snowman” Club which caters for the 2-5 year age group and the Snowbusters Club which is for older children (5-11) and can be combined with daily ski school. Two new “Snowman’s clubs” in Alpe D’Huez, France, and Are, Sweden are added to the programme for this season offering a wider choice for skiing parents looking for quality child care and/or skiing lessons for their children whilst they ski.

Introduction of Short and Flexible Breaks The last few years has seen an increase in demand for short breaks – either as an addition or an alternative to a main skiing holiday. As a consequence, a number of three, four or five night breaks are now available through Neilson in France, Austria, Norway, Sweden, Romania, Andorra and Italy. Accommodation-only or mini-packages - which include flights, transfers as well as accommodation - are both now available offering maximum flexibility and choice.

Reflecting the increased popularity and interest in “low cost, great value” Bulgaria, Neilson has also added a new city add on to Sofia. For the first time visitors to Bansko in Bulgaria can choose to spend the last night of their holiday in one of two hotels in the capital city of Sofia leaving them a day to explore the city before flying.

Increased Regional Flying New regional flights are added for the first time including the Manchester to Verona, Glasgow to Lyon, and Manchester to Vancouver routes which are all new for Winter 05/6. Neilson is using low cost carrier ‘Zoom’ on some regional flight routes for the first time giving the option of a low cost alternative for those looking for the cheapest possible getaway from their local airport.

Other highlights of the new brochure include an expansion of the number of chalets available including a new Platinum serviced chalet in Les Arcs; group deals of 1 in 5 going free and added group discounts for long haul holidays; and a new tailor made service for the USA and Canada.

Lead price for half board at the Hotel Ela in Borovets, Bulgaria is £299 per person for 7 nights departing 14 January 2006 to Bulgaria.

Short Break prices start at £199 for 3 nights in Geilo, Norway staying on a self-catering basis at the Geilo Apartments departing 7 January 2006.

01/09/2005