Daily Archive for September 4th, 2008

First Choice Put Onus on Families

Published
by
Mike Styles
on September 4, 2008
in Ski UK and Snowlife
. 0 Comments

First Choice, one of the UK’s five biggest tour operators and now owned by the same company that owns Crystal and Thomson, has launching its biggest ever family programme and will introduce 11 new childcare facilities this winter, offering 13 crèches and nine Kids’ Clubs in total in the Alps.

The new crèches are in key resorts including: Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Niederau, St Anton and Zell am See (Austria); Courchevel 1850, La Plagne, Belle Plagne, Les Deux Alpes and Tignes (France); Claviere (Italy) for children from six months to four years.

The seven new Kids’ Clubs are in: Niederau (Austria); Courchevel 1850, La Plagne, Belle Plagne, Les Deux Alpes and Tignes (France); Claviere (Italy), bringing it to a total of nine, for children aged four to eleven years.

First Choice have other initiatives right across theior programme aiming to make ski holidays easier and more affordable for families at every level. They include a ‘family concierge’ service aiming to providean ‘extra pair of hands’ when arriving in resort, helping with ski equipment and advising on family attractions, as well as organising early check-in to hotel and provide a reservation service.

“We make a magical holiday in the mountains available to everybody,” said Ian Davis, Product Director First Choice Snow. “From our family-friendly resorts, to well-thought out childcare and prices designed to make it easy for parents to take their children skiing. This season we undoubtedly offer more choice, better facilities and a more flexible programme to match the needs of every family than ever before.”

www.firstchoice-ski.co.uk

SnOasis decision expected by Sept. 17

Published
by
Mike Styles
on September 4, 2008
in Ski UK
. 0 Comments

The final go-ahead, or not, for the SnOasis indoor snow centre in Suffolk is expected to be delivered by Hazel Blears, the British government minister for communities and local government on September 17th. Ms Blears has already said she was minded to approve SnOasis, following a lengthy and acrimonious public enquiry, as long as environmental concerns were fully addressed by developers of the £300 million facility, Onslow Suffolk.

Experts working for Onslow Suffolk are also trying to convince Natural England that sufficient habitat is being provided for the great crested newts. The company has recently offered nine acres of extra land on the Great Blakenham site for the creation of new habitats as part of an existing mitigation area scheme on land bordering the development.

Godfrey Spanner, managing director of Onslow Suffolk told local media, “We have made great progress. It has always been part of Onslow’s mission statement to be as sustainable as possible. Recent concerns on carbon emissions and footprint have put further constraints on development of all types and we and our engineers have gone to extreme lengths to bring to us the very latest technologies available.

“Government guidelines at present are seeking 25per cent renewable energy targets by 2020. We shall be well ahead of those long term requirements in the next few months - at least, I am convinced, on a par with the Olympic Village where obviously government are concentrating these efforts.”


www.snoasis.co.uk

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UK’s longest indoor snow slope receives green light

Delays Continue for SnOasis

Daron Rahlves takes classes at Ski Dubai

Published
by
Mike Styles
on September 4, 2008
in Adventure, Ski Dubai and Travel
. 0 Comments

American ski racer Daron Rahlves is at Ski Dubai this week sharing his expertise with local ski enthusiasts at an exclusive ski race camp organised by the famous indoor ski centre.

Sponsored by skiwear brand Spyder, the five-day camp is being held from 24th-28th August and enables skiers to learn race techniques of races from Ski Dubai’s multi-national instructors. The sessions will be reinforced with tips from Spyder sponsored rider, Rahlves.

Mike Mahoney, General Manager at Ski Dubai, said,

We are delighted to have Rahlves at Ski Dubai for this exciting skiers’ camp. This camp is an incredible opportunity for avid skiers to learn from a true professional and we are confident that the skills and new tricks taught will definitely excite the participants.”

On the final day of the camp, all participants can take part in a three-hour competition session which will include a warm-up with Rahlves and a race where participants get the chance to show their new skills and compete for prizes.