Verbier has for the second year been voted the best ski resort 2019 in Switzerland. Val Thorens, on the other hand, was awarded as the best ski resort worldwide. The award was presented during the annual World Ski Awards which were held on Saturday, November 23rd in Kitzbühel, Austria.
In his speech after the reward, the Téléverbier Group CEO Laurent Vaucher said: “This distinction is the result of all the efforts made by local players and partners. Verbier does not only offer beautiful slopes, but a real customer experience that everyone can enjoy. Indeed, Verbier offers its customers a complete panel of sporting, cultural and relaxation activities.” it was a double celebration for Verbier after the hotel W was also voted the best mountain hotel, both in Switzerland and globally for the fourth consecutive year.
Speaking after the award, Pierre-Henri Bovsovers, the hotel’s managing director, attributed the win to the continued dedication and support from the hotel owners and the hotel W Verbier hotel team members. In his words: “It is the support of our owners, and the dedication of each team member in providing outstanding service, exceeding the hotels guest’s expectations 24/7, as well as their passion for their work, that have made these prestigious awards possible.”
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Gala Ceremony
A big delegation from Verbier was in attendance during the gala ceremony when the winners from various categories were finally announced. Verbier had been nominated in Switzerland’s best ski resort award category alongside other finalists which include: St-Moritz, Zermatt, and Gstaad. The nominated candidates had a period of 16 weeks to market themselves in a bid to get the prestigious award.
There were numerous challenges involved during that period and Verbier had to go the extra mile in mobilizing all available resources to finally be announced the winners. To be declared winners, Verbier needed to garner as many votes as possible. The Chalet Les Anges de Zermatt was voted the best ski chalet in the world in Valais.
About the World Ski Awards
The world ski awards were launched in 2013 as the only organization that recognizes and awards excellence in the ski tourism industry. The main objective of the World Ski Awards initiative is not only to reward leading organizations in various fields in the ski industry. It also seeks to enhance standards in the industry.
Verbier Ski Resort
Verbier is the leading resort in the largest ski area in Switzerland, the 4 valleys. Not only is the region scenic, but it’s also sunny with picturesque terrain. Verbier attracts different clientele such as students, wealthy families, and a wide range of celebrities. You can easily access Verbier seeing that it lies just two hours from the Geneva airport. There are readily available public means of transport that you can leverage on.
Are you an adventurous ski enthusiast? Do you love snowboarding and other snow-related activities? If you do, then Verbier is a must-visit resort that features excellent slopes to meet the needs of different individuals, regardless of their experience levels. There are 80 lifts in Verbier providing access to over 450kms of runs. These are inclusive of some of the best lift-served away from the piste in the Alps.
The slopes in Verbier offer a snow-sure experience as well as exceptional scenery to marvel at. Enjoy exceptional views from the top of Mont Fort at 3,33m. The views can go as far as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Due to the far-reaching snowmaking and the altitude within the ski area, visitors are advised to place their bookings either early in the season or later. You can access 2,700m from the resort via two continuous gondola rides which take less than 11 minutes. The higher you go, the more extensive the snow terrain shall be. The main network of pistes in Verbier is directly above the resort, which is served by the Medran gondola.
A popular complex was launched at the lowest point of Medran gondola between the 2013/14 season. There are restaurants, shops, and the luxurious W Verbier hotel. What’s more, there are numerous bars, lounges, cafes, and other public areas. These enhanced the resort’s focal point. There’s a regular free shuttle bus that connects Medran with the lifts with other smaller ski locations within Verbier through different routes within the town’s chalets. Many of the visitors accessing Verbier can also gain access to the central region and its slopes via the bus.
Opening of the lifts
The lift connections were launched during winter in 2013/14. This made it easy for visitors to explore all the 4 valleys ski area. You can now access the center of the Bruson ski area, which locals initially called the insider’s secret. All you need to access this region today is two seamless gondola rides from Verbier. The availability of a send high-speed gondola has revolutionized the link between the 4 Valleys resorts of Nendaz and Siviez.
Verbier Drawbacks
The Verbier terrain can be taxing, and this has seen the rise of numerous exciting spectator events. These include; the Verbier High Five where non-professionals compete with world champions, Xtreme Verbier which marks the Freeride World Tour finals, and the Patrouille des Glaciers, a tiring ski touring race from Zermatt. There are various drawbacks to Verbier even though it’s the best ski resort in Switzerland.
If you are a beginner, you will realize that the beginner ski areas at the bottom of the mountain are isolated from the other pistes. This means that beginners won’t be able to access the main ski area with ease. Of course, there are many other things to do within the beginner areas apart from snowboarding and skiing along the slopes.
How to Get to Verbier
You can access Verbier from the Geneva airport. The resort is approximately 161km, and it’ll take you around two and a half hours to get there. If you prefer to travel via train, the nearest station is Martigny.
Why you Should Choose Verbier as Your next Ski Location
Verbier is nestled along the south-facing sunny plateau at 1,500 m complete with magnificent views. The ski playground in Verbier stretches to Mont-Fort at 3,330 m from Le Châble at 850 m. Verbier has up to 140 km of slopes and a big percentage of those are red with a small amount of blue and black and the off-piste routes.
The resort is part of the largest ski area in Switzerland. One of the most interesting facts about Verbier is that you can ski from November to May. Are you hunting for ski locations in Switzerland? Here are various reasons why you should consider skiing in Verbier.
Indoor Entertainment
There’s a new sports centre hall that’s open every day from 10 am to 9 pm. There’s a 600 m² climbing wall, a covered tennis court, 2 squash courts, and a multiple sports ground. There’s also a Mondzeu swimming pool at the heart of the resort that features a 19 m indoor pool. Further, you’ll also find a gym and a sauna.
Off-piste
Skiing off-piste in Verbier is less risky, even when you don’t have a guide. This is because route runs are monitored. Professional snowboarders and skiers can select one of the seven marked freeride routes. These are; Vallon d’Arby, Mont-Gelé, Otanes, Gentianes-Tortin, ChassoureTortin, The entertainment, and La Côt-Le Châble. There are numerous events in Verbier during the ski season ranging from artistic, cultural, and gastronomic events.
For instance, the Polaris Electronic Music Festival takes place from November 28th to 1st December. Haute Cuisine takes place from 1st to 4th April, while the Verbier Art Summit takes place between 31st January to 1st February. Verbier Xtreme takes place from 28th March and 5th April, and the Patrouille des Glaciers ski mountaineering race takes place from the 27th of April to the 3rd of May.
Heli-skiing
Expert snowboarders and skiers get the opportunity to drop on a remote peak via helicopter. From this point, they can enjoy breathtaking views before descending on untracked powder. Trient Glacier, Rosablanche, Petit Combin, and Pigne d’Arolla offer memorable descents in clear high mountain terrain.
Après-ski
Après-ski was recognized across the globe for its cosmopolitan and rousing nightlife. From the slopes, you’ll only need to take a short walk to the popular places which have elevated the resort’s reputation. These include; Fer à Cheval, Pub Mont Fort, the Rouge, Off-Piste at the W, and the Farinet.
Sledding
The La Tzoumaz sledge run is the longest toboggan run that you’ll find in western Switzerland. If you’re adventurous and courageous enough, try to throw yourself down. From the summit, you can enjoy 10 km of spills and fun, complete with a 848 m descent. You’ll need helmets to maximize your experience.
Finally
The management of the Verbier resort has worked together to steer Verbier to where it is today. Winning the best ski resort for the second year is a clear indication that the resort is a must-visit area. Remember to visit the Verbier resort on your next ski holiday.
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