Snow Space Salzburg Wins Big At International Ski Area Test
With the awards “Best of Alps”, “Best Piste Team” and the “Safety Trophy”, the Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen won three categories. The annual Audi FIS women's night slalom in Flachau was once again awarded the title “Best Event” in the international ski area test.
The international ski area test is one of the most important yardsticks in the cable car industry in terms of safety, quality, guest service and innovation. The seal of approval is particularly popular in the Alpine region. This year's awarding of the coveted trophies did not take place as planned on the MS Wolfgangsee due to the current COVID situation. Instead, the Ski Area Test Committee, headed by President Klaus Hönigsberger, visited the winners on site and handed over the certificates personally.
With no less than five trophies in their luggage, the jury of the ski area test traveled to Flachau to choose the Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen as the winner of the international ski area test 2020/21. In the presence of Snow Space Salzburg brand ambassador Hermann Maier and the chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Hans Scharfetter, the two mountain railway directors Wolfgang Hettegger and Christina König received the “Best of Alps” award. This high distinction is given to the ski area that was most convincing in the past winter season in the areas of slope quality, adventure offers, guest service and innovation.
According to the jury, the decisive factor in the fact that the Salzburg ski area was able to prevail against the strong international competition was the impressively rapid merging of the three previously separate mountain railways in Flachau, Wagrain and St. Johann / Alpendorf into a large premium winter sports destination. Since the 2017/18 winter season, the ski area has been run by a joint management team and marketed under the Snow Space Salzburg brand.
Other reasons for the decision were the initiative for the ski ticket via smartphone, the high quality standards in slope preparation and the consistent further development of the range of experiences on the mountain. In addition to the “Best of Alps” Trophy, the mountain railways were awarded the “Safety Trophy” for their ingenious piste rescue system. The three piste managers in the Snow Space Salzburg received the trophy for the “best piste team”. The organizing committee of the Audi FIS Ladies Night Slalom was also honored. The women's classic, which takes place annually under the auspices of the Flachau Tourism Association and the Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen, received the “Event of the Year” award in platinum.
"The trophies presented to us today confirm our chosen path as a premium ski area and are motivation for us to continue to develop the range of offers in the years to come," said CEO Wolfgang Hettegger, referring to the Panorama gondola, which will be in operation next winter Link. With the new connecting cable car to the neighboring Flachauwinkl and Zauchensee ski areas, the Snow Space Salzburg Bergbahnen are doubling their range of slopes and climbing to the most diverse winter sports regions in the Alps. At the end of the award ceremony, the board was visibly touched when it was presented with the certificate “Cable Car Operator of the Decade”. An honorary award given by the International Ski Area Test Committee to selected personalities only every ten years,
Other winners of the 2019/20 winter season
On the occasion of the award to Snow Space Salzburg, the ORF Landesstudio Salzburg received an award. The "Pistenchecker" broadcast format received the gold award for "Ideas & Implementation".
The Panorama-Alm team in the Kitzbühel ski area was able to look forward to the crystal trophies "Most Popular Mountain Restaurant" in double gold and "Most Friendly Staff".
Also to be found in the Kitzbühel ski area - the "Most Popular Alpine Hotel", the Alpinlodge Sonnalm, was awarded gold for the third time in this category.
The Auhofalm in Snow Space Salzburg can now call itself the "Most Popular Mountain Restaurant" in gold.
Hermann Schnell was given a special honor - he received the "Lifetime Achievement Award".
The small-scale award ceremony took place under strict security precautions. In addition to maintaining the minimum distance and wearing mouth and nose protection, all participants tested negative for COVID-19 before handing over the certificates. The safety measures used are part of the COVID-19 prevention concept of the mountain railways, which will be used in the entire ski area in the upcoming winter season.
The quality seal of approval in winter sports
The international ski area test has meanwhile risen to become a premium brand that is indispensable. The anonymous quality check is used for the constant further development of quality, safety and offers in alpine tourism. Ski Area Test President Klaus Hönigsberger and his team are anonymous in the European Alpine region testing tourist destinations and ski areas.
Comprehensive test criteria are available to find out who the "best of the best" are. Checked with the know-how, objectivity, seriousness and experience of the test team, the ski area test also offers good orientation aid for athletes and guests as well as selection aid for holidaymakers.
