Skiers prefer to book online

The nervousness in the winter sports venues these days is particularly large. The reason: more and more mountain railway try new pricing models. Flexible pricing is the magic word. Initial feedback from the ski resorts show that this effect is mainly two things: Tickets are increasingly bought online and used to be.

In Laax GR can acquire skiers a day ticket is cheaper if you book via their own Smartphone App days in advance. From last November until 2. January the with the App-generated revenue had increased compared to the same period last year to 50 percent of means there. Andermatt-Sedrun introduced last season, is a flexible price model. If you book early online, it saves money. Previous conclusion: in 2017/18, the number of guests who bought a Ticket online has increased, according to Stefan the core of Andermatt Swiss Alps compared to the previous season to 700 percent. "In the current season, the number doubled."

Video: Flexible ski passes: a blessing or a curse? Of a dynamic pricing model, Bucher benefit early. For vacations, the skiing could be in the future a lot more expensive. Video: SDA/Nicolas Fäs

other ski resorts, which rely on flexible online systems – for example, Bellwald, VS, Pizol SG or the Arosa-Lenzerheide, GR – speak of a positive response. "Many guests are accustomed to online purchases from everyday life," says David Wyssen, managing Director of bell forest sports cars. He has introduced this season a new pricing model that rewards early bookings. The price of the ticket depends on the demand and the weather forecast. Wyssen draws a positive balance: In December, about 20 percent of the Tickets had been on the new Webshop bought, which was higher than the industry average. Wyssen sees another win for the mountain Railways: "We learn the client and his behaviour to know each other better." In bell forest you want to optimize the price model, and with individual Offers to expand. "We are considering to reward in the future, a lot of drivers with a voucher or a promotion."

online purchases have a decisive advantage. "The Queue at the ticket office can be massively reduced," says Lisa Lerchi of the mountain Railways Laax. To close operated the ticket counter, was not planned. There is still a lot of guests, and the switch on the clutch. "We can use thanks to the relief through online bookings, however the human resources of targeted consultations."

The day pass is a quarter more expensive

As the price impact models in the long term, on the revenue of the mountain Railways, must only still show up. "The advantage of flexible prices is that the tracks days with expected to promote weakening of demand," says Andreas Keller of the industry Association of cable cars in Switzerland. Providers such as the Pizol ski runs, or bell forest tempt you with lower prices if the weather is bad. At the same time you do not go during busy days over the regular day ticket price. This only works, if the lower prices lead to more guests, because of the fixed costs in the mountain paths, remains about the same.

In Pizol, there is the bill went so far. According to a study by the University of applied Sciences St. Gallen the weather brought dependent day cards, around 34 percent of new guests on the mountain. Every second winter athlete said that he had only come because of the pricing model.

"A third of all guests Bay now at an early stage."Thomas Rechberger, upper Engadine mountain Railways

A Gamble to go to the mountain Railways in the upper Engadine. Guests book up to 15 days in advance, pay 30 percent less. The mountain Railways make it more expensive, but the fun in the snow at short notice. The one-day ticket, the cost in the last Winter of 79 francs, can now hit with 101 Swiss francs. "It is clear to me that I have such ski resorts avoid," writes a reader annoyed in the online forum of the "20 minutes". In St. Moritz to defend the price policy. "A third of all guests Bay now at an early stage, especially families, to come at such reasonable prices as never before," says Thomas Rechberger of the upper Engadine mountain Railways.

tourism expert Thorsten Merkle of the University of applied Sciences Chur expects further ski areas in the next few years, flexible price systems. The industry is under pressure, since the first Railways their prices lowered. "Digitization opens up new possibilities. The Airline industry or the hotel industry to use such systems for a long time."

the models have a major impact on the ticket prices, still at a loss to say. According to cable cars in Switzerland the price for the daily card of the ten largest ski resorts increased in the last ten years on average from 60 to 74 Swiss francs.

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 06.01.2019, 10:51 PM