Tignes inaugurates World's Largest and Highest Open-top Aerial Tramway

Tignes just inaugurated its new aerial tramway, the largest and highest tramway in the world.
Located at an altitude of 3,032 meters on the Grande Motte Glacier at the gateway to the Vanoise National Park, the new Tignes aerial tramway belongs to a new generation of equipment. Its two open-top cabins will offer passengers a unique 360-degree view of one of the most beautiful panoramas of the French Alps with views of Mont Blanc, the Cime de Bellecôte and the Aiguille de la Grande Sassière (3,747 m).
This exceptional new aerial tramway was designed to withstand the weather at an altitude of over 3,000 m, blending in perfectly with its surroundings and offering passengers a unique view of the incredible natural setting. It was designed in Switzerland by Garaventa AG and is equipped with state-of-the-art comfort and safety technologies. It will first open to skiers this winter once the ski area itself is opened. Due to extreme temperatures and heavy snowfall in winter at over 3,000 m, both open-top cabins will be open to the public in May.
Financed by the Société des téléphériques de Grande Motte (STGM)—the company operating the Tignes ski area—this new aerial tramway is part of a global investment project called ALTITUDE EXPERIENCES, reaching a EUR 17 million budget. Created as part of a partnership between STGM and the Vanoise National Park, ALTITUDE EXPERIENCES is a "Unique, Fun & Educational" route that will start at the Tignes funicular station at 2,100 m and will reach the Grande Motte Glacier at 3,032 m altitude. ALTITUDE EXPERIENCES will open to the public in May 2019. It will be accessible to the general public, including people with disabilities. Between an elevation 3,032 and 3,456 meters, visitors will be able to enjoy the spectacular views from various altitudes as they feel like they are flying through mid-air. In addition, educational materials in various shapes and forms will provide information on this exceptional environment and ecosystem.

Technical Characteristics

• Dual-rope aerial tramway with two open-top cabins
• Bottom station altitude: 3,034 meters
• Top station altitude: 3456 meters
• Transport capacity: 1,000 people/hour (in each direction)
• Total number of carriers: 2 (open-top cabins)
• Capacity of each cabin: 100 people
• Capacity of each open-top deck 20 people
• Travel time: 5 minutes 
• Line length: 1,996 meters
• Altitude rise: 421 meters
• Max. operating speed: 10 m/s

Tignes is located in the valley of Tarentaise, in the department of Savoy, in the Rhône-Alpes region, in the southeast of France.
The Tignes ski resort comprises 5 locations; Val Claret, Tignes le Lac, Le Lavachet, Tignes Les Boisses, and Tignes-les-Brévières. The first three are very close to each other and are located at 2100 meters. Les Boisses and Les Brevieres are located in the lower part of the valley, above and below respectively the large dam built in 1952 and which buried under its waters the old town of Tignes.

The ski area of Tignes - Val d'Isère is one of the most beautiful and largest ski areas in the Alps. 300 kilometers of ski slopes suitable for all levels, from beginners to experts (green, blue, red, black and "Naturide", safe off-piste itineraries not groomed). Tignes - Val d'Isère has a modern network of 78 ski lifts.

The ski domain known as Espace Killy owes its name to Jean-Claude Killy, former Alpine ski runner who dominated the world circuit in the late sixties, winning two World Cup titles in 1967 and 1968. It was also a triple Olympic champion, winning the three alpine events at the 1968 Winter Olympics. The Espace Killy extends from the Pisaillas Glacier over the Col de l'Iseran in Val d'Isère to the Grande Motte glacier above Val Claret in Tignes. The domain has a vertical drop of 1906 meters. Its highest point is found at the top of the Grande Motte cable car at 3456 m. From this point, we can descend skiing to the village of Tignes Les Brévières at 1550 m.
The glacier area remains open in summer and autumn to practice skiing with 20kms of ski slopes located between 3456 and 3000 meters.

FIS Alpine Skiing: Summer Training on the Glaciers

Today is World Tourism Day!

Ever since its inception, World Tourism Day is celebrated on 27 September to foster awareness among the international community of the importance of tourism and its social, cultural, political and economic value. As the official day set aside in the United Nations Calendar the celebration seeks to highlight tourism potential to contribute to reaching the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), addressing some of the most pressing challenges society is faced with today.
"Tourism and the Digital Transformation" is the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day (WTD).
A digitally advanced tourism sector can improve entrepreneurship, inclusion, local community empowerment, and efficient resource management, amongst other important development objectives. This year’s WTD presents a unique opportunity to help us to further explore the opportunities provided to tourism by technological advances including big data, artificial intelligence, and digital platforms.
World Tourism Day 2018 is a unique opportunity to raise awareness on the potential contribution of digital technologies to sustainable tourism development while providing a platform for investment, partnerships, and collaboration towards a more responsible and inclusive tourism sector.

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), a United Nations specialized agency, is the leading international organization with the decisive and central role in promoting the development of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism. It serves as a global forum for tourism policy issues and a practical source of tourism know-how. Its membership includes 156 countries, 6 territories, 2 permanent observers and over 500 Affiliate Members.

2019 Alpine Skiing World Cup Finals Andorra at Soldeu - El Tarter Communication Campaign

The Illa Carlemany de Escaldes Engordany (Andorra) cinema today hosted the presentation of the communication campaign for the 2019 alpine skiing World Cup Finals Andorra at Soldeu - El Tarter. It is the largest sport event in the history of Andorra, and will take place from 11 to 17 March, with the participation of ambassadors Carolina Ruiz, a Spanish former alpine ski racer who won a downhill victory at the 2013 World Cup in Méribel, and Luc Alphand, decorated athlete and 1997 World Cup champion.
The communications campaign was launched today in order to continue strengthening Andorra’s position as a top international skiing destination and emphasize what it means for both the Principality and the Pyrenees to host such a premier competition. The campaign aims to involve the country, build enthusiasm and highlight the values of the event, the ski resort and the sponsors using a cross-cutting message.
General Manager of the 2019 World Cup Finals Organising Committee Conrad Blanch explained that "one of the major goals of these finals is for Andorra to become well-known as a destination worldwide. We want the country to make the event its own". Along these lines, Grandvalira-Nevasa General Manager Alfonso Torreño stated that "this cross-cutting communication campaign goes beyond the ski resort to highlight everything the country has to offer. We want to get everyone involved and excited". Tourism Minister Francesc Camp added that "getting everyone involved makes human capital one of the primary assets. At this event, we are putting our best selves forward and positioning ourselves on the global stage".
Carolina Ruiz and Luc Alphand have joined the event’s promotional team. Ruiz commented: "Andorra already has lots of experience with competitions. What I have felt in Andorra in recent years as a racer is a passion with which the people of this country do things. There is a huge human effort, and you go home feeling just how passionately the people experience it".
Alphand added that he was "at the European Cup finals last season and it was a very well-organized event. All skiers dream about winning the Crystal Globe, and this year we will experience it at Soldeu – El Tarter".

The first phase of the advertising campaign to introduce will be launched from September to November. The main communication strategy revolves around the slogan "This winter we’ll all be world champions" with a graphic representation of the Crystal Globe at the top of a podium.
From December to March, the promotional campaign will intensify for the 2019 alpine skiing World Cup Finals Andorra at Soldeu - El Tarter Andorra in order to get all of the country’s residents involved and excited about the sporting spirit. The second phase will therefore have the slogan: "World champions in excitement".
The third phase of the campaign will include street activities in partnership with the Principality’s trade associations. Various social media efforts will also be launched with global sport celebrities linked to the ski resort, to help promote the use of the hashtag #totssomcampions and the official hashtag #SoldeuElTarterWCF19 and boost the visibility of the event.
New technologies will also be present with the launch of the first alpine skiing World Cup Finals online game for mobile devices, available on Google Play and the Apple Store. “Ski Race Soldeu” is the name of the game in which players from around the world must try to get the best time on the Downhill (DH) slope Àliga El Tarter, an identical reproduction of the real slope. Soldeu - El Tarter will organise different online competitions throughout the entire season.

On 12 March the Opening Ceremony will be held on the Avet slope in Soldeu with a spectacular light, sound and fireworks show. The numbers draw will take place in Plaza Carlemany in Canillo on 16 March, accompanied by festivities. During the final,s there will also be a programme of musical events on race days at Abarset in El Tarter, one of the top après-ski spots in the Pyrenees. The organisation hopes that the entire country will get involved, get excited and experience what will be a very important week for Andorra.
In terms of media, according to data available from Infront Sports & Media about the competitions held in Méribel in 2015 and St. Moritz in 2016, the 2019 alpine skiing World Cup Finals Andorra at Soldeu - El Tarter can be expected to have a potential television audience of nearly 700 million viewers and some 350 accredited media outlets.

Liverpool FC Announced Partnership with Verbier Ski Resort

Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler took to the slopes this week to show off his skiing skills to mark a new partnership deal between the club and popular Swiss ski resort Verbier.
To welcome the new sponsor to the Reds family, the LFC ambassador stars in a short clip, seemingly set in the Swiss Alps, in which he tests his abilities on the snow.
The launch of the new four-year partnership sees Verbier become the first official Alpine tourism destination of LFC in Europe.
During the course of the deal, Verbier will provide exclusive offers on winter and summer holiday packages to put the Swiss ski resort on the map for Reds fans, and will also work with the club to host a week on the slopes dedicated to Liverpool in January.
"As our first Alpine destination partner, we are delighted to welcome Verbier to the LFC family. We believe a partnership in this space will allow us to bring unique and exciting opportunities to our fans", said Billy Hogan, managing director and chief commercial officer at LFC.
Laurent Vaucher, CEO of Téléverbier, said: "Verbier is one of the most iconic ski destinations in the world and we’re proud to partner with a club of legend such as Liverpool FC".
Pierre-André Gremaud, managing director of Verbier Promotion, added: "This collaboration has strategic importance and we hope it will help defend or even increase our market share in the UK but also in Europe".

Our Choices Define Us. A New Whistler Blackcomb Documentary Series

Presented by Whistler Blackcomb and TELUS "Our Choices Define Us" - is a six-part Documentary Series featuring people who have made life-altering choices that lead them to Whistler Blackcomb. Each story features powerful choices that we're sure will inspire your own.

Matterhorn Glacier Ride. World’s Highest 3S Cableway

At the beginning of the 2018-2019 winter season, the world’s highest 3S cableway will start taking passengers to the Klein Matterhorn near Zermatt. The "Matterhorn glacier ride" is an unrivaled combination of technology, design and ride comfort.

With the existing Matterhorn Express cable car and the new 3S (three-cable system) cableway passengers will reach Europe’s highest mountain station from Zermatt (1608 meters) more quickly and in greater comfort than ever.
On April 2016, the official go-ahead was given for the construction of the new Matterhorn glacier ride. 145 people from 38 different companies have been involved in the biggest construction project in the history of Zermatt Bergbahnen AG. The three-year construction project has involved such companies as Leitner ropeways and Pininfarina, the design studio renowned for its work for Ferrari and Maserati. The cost of building the cableway between Trockener Steg and Matterhorn glacier paradise amounts to some 52 million Swiss francs.

The four "Crystal ride" cabins are a highlight of the ultramodern cableway. The journey itself is exhilarating, but the cabins add to the thrills with an amazing view of the ground far below.
Four of the 25 cabins on the new Matterhorn glacier ride are encrusted with 280,000 Swarovski crystals that sparkle in the sunlight. The special Crystal ride cabins are the standout feature of what will be the world’s highest and most modern 3S cableway – 3S stands for 3-Seil in German, which means 3-rope. From the start of the 2018/19 winter season, the ride will carry up to 2000 passengers an hour to the Matterhorn glacier paradise, high on the Klein Matterhorn. During the nine-minute journey to the highest mountain station in Europe, the four special gondolas will reveal their spectacular view. Three minutes into the journey, at a height of 170 meters above the ground, the previously opaque glass floor will clear in seconds to offer a dramatic view down onto the glacier landscape. This effect is made possible by an active laminated glass sheet which turns from milky white to transparent under the effect of an electric current. As Sandra Stockinger, Head of Marketing at Zermatt Bergbahnen explains: "The Crystal ride cabins will surprise our guests with a completely new ride experience. Now, they will be able to marvel at the mountain world around Zermatt in a unique 360-degree panorama".
The nerve-tingling thrills will be experienced in opulent surroundings. All the cabins of the cable car, which were designed by the Italian Pininfarina studio, offer incomparable luxury. Each of the gondolas has 28 comfortable and spacious seats inspired by car design and finished in the finest materials, such as leather and Alcantara. The all-around glazing on all the cabins offers a majestic panoramic view of the nearby Matterhorn. The interiors of the four special Crystal ride cabins are also embellished with Swarovski crystals. "The crystal motif was created especially for the cabins and recalls both the Matterhorn and the Corporate Design of Zermatt Bergbahnen", explains Sandra Stockinger. In cooperation with Bartenbach Lighting Design, LED lighting has been set into the cabin ceilings to create a “starry sky” effect extending over 13 square meters.
The 3S cableway is set to become a special attraction for visitors from Switzerland and around the world. But the construction of the world’s highest 3S cableway is just the first stage in the realization of a much more far-reaching vision: to create a continuous connection between Zermatt and Italy, the so-called "Alpine Crossing". The Alpine crossing will be completed by a further link between the stations at Testa Grigia and the Matterhorn glacier paradise. The new lift is planned to enter service in the winter of 2021. This would create the highest Alpine crossing point of all, establishing a direct year-round cableway link between northern Italy and Zermatt over the Klein Matterhorn. The construction of a further cableway link between the Ayas valley in Italy and Valtournenche/Cervinia would connect the three ski resorts of Zermatt, Cervinia/Valtournenche and Monte Rosa. Linking the three resorts would create one of the largest continuous skiing areas in the world, with over 600 kilometers of slopes.