A survey by one of Britain’s top holiday providers has found that senior executives choose ski holidays in Austria over destinations in other Alpine countries, not only for business meetings and incentive trips, but also for their own family ski trips.
Here’s how the Austrian Alps beat France to become your boss’s winter sports holiday resort.
For many in the boardroom, the authenticity of Austria’s old mountain towns is a major draw. Unlike France’s purpose-built resorts, which sometimes lack character, Austrian villages enjoy their centuries-old architecture, charming cobbled streets and a distinctly traditional atmosphere. It’s not just a visual appeal either: the iconic Swiss-style ‘chocolate box’ landscape is on full display, but at a better price than its Swiss counterpart, thanks to Austria’s friendlier Euro-based price tags compared to the sometimes exalted Swiss franc.
Senior managers are often looking for comfort and exclusivity, but without the flashy opulence that comes with more modern or ‘bling-bling’ ski areas. Austria delivers, with five-star hotels like the Schosshotel in stealth-wealth Ischgl, where guests can enjoy fine dining, spa treatments and ski-in/ski-out access among skiers more likely to be dressed in Arc’teryx than Gucci. For an authentic catered ski holiday in chalets, the favorite villages of European royalty, Lech and Zurs, shine with their high-quality properties, discreet concierge service and prime location in the spectacular Arlberg domain.
Its incredibly family friendly Ski holiday Austria is highly ranked among resort favorites such as Zell am See and Kaprun with their gentle practice slopes, 12 ski schools and teen-favourite snow parks. Often voted ‘Austria’s most family-friendly ski area’, Serrfaus-Fiss-Ladis is a gem slowly being discovered by British visitors, who love it and return annually for its special children’s snow area, adventure zones and interactive ski routes.
Snow reliability is another factor behind its enormous popularity. Austria has the largest choice of glacier ski areas in the Alps, ensuring that even when the lower slopes get warm enough to take your mind off more creative ski holiday destinations, skiers can count on snow-sure slopes for everything from high-stakes on-piste networking to adrenaline-fueled family days.
Family favorite Obergurgl and Hochgurgl, also known as the ‘Diamond of the Alps’, even guarantee snow from November to May with wide, uncrowded pistes, perfect for flattering the carving skills of the executive and cruising with partner and children.
Yet it is the après-ski that really sets Austria apart. From legendary locations like the Mooserwirt in St Anton to lively beer halls in Kitzbühel, Austrians have made socializing a national pastime.
For fine dining, the refined Hendl Fischerei in Saalbach-Hinterglemm is on par with Ischgl’s Michelin-starred Stüva, and the resort’s famous mountain concerts (Ellie Goulding opened the season this winter) are good enough for the most discerning teenage crowd. or customer entertainment.
Business leaders also appreciate that Austria’s major ski resorts are remarkably accessible, especially when working with tight schedules. Flights from London City Airport to Innsbruck or Salzburg place visiting groups directly in the heart of the Alps, cutting travel time and minimizing the number of days away from the office.
Some of the country’s best-known resorts, including Kitzbühel, Mayrhofen, Saalbach and Zell am See, can be reached in less than an hour by car from the nearest airport, turning a long layover into a convenient plane-to-slope transfer .
The premise for business travelers is clear: Austria offers the best mix of character, cost-effectiveness, snow certainty and efficient travel connections, making it the new leader in retreats, conferences and family ski holidays.