The Daily Mail: World Ski Award winners are revealed with Val Thorens scooping the gong for best resort and W Verbier is ranked the No1 ski hotel

Mon 10 December 2018

Boasting a vast network of snowy slopes, Val Thorens in France has scored the title of best ski resort in the world for the fifth time in six years.

The ski resort, which is the highest in Europe at 10,560 feet, was given the gong at the sixth annual World Ski Awards, which were held in Austria and are voted for by industry experts and members of the public.

Meanwhile, the five-star W Verbier in Switzerland ranked as the best ski hotel in the world for the third consecutive year, with experts noting that it strikes 'the perfect balance of contemporary design and Swiss tradition'.
The slick 123-room hotel is positioned just steps away from the main Verbier ski lifts, and there is a state-of-the art spa and gym complex on the site.

To keep energy levels up there are also six bars and restaurants, serving up everything from sushi to tapas.

On the smaller end of the accommodation scale, seven-bedroom Chalet Les Anges in Zermatt was named the world's best ski chalet.

Perks of the luxury lodge include private balconies boasting views of the Matterhorn, a massage room, steam room, sauna and plunge pool.

Stepping up a notch on the size front, Aurelio Lech in Austria was awarded the world's best ski boutique hotel title.
The five-star complex includes 19 rooms and suites which are housed within two traditional alpine-style buildings.

Rocksresort in Switzerland was lauded for its green credentials and took home the best green ski hotel gong.

While Fahrenheit Seven Courchevel in France took the award for the best new ski hotel of 2018 and best new ski chalet went to Chalet des Cascades, also in France.

Moving to a less traditional ski setting, Ski Dubai was named the world's best indoor ski resort.

Opened in November 2005, the indoor resort features a 279-foot-high indoor mountain (equivalent to a 25 storey building) and five slopes of varying steepness and difficulty.

Other winners in the global awards category included Switzerland's LAAX (best freestyle rOpened in November 2005, the indoor resort features a 279-foot-high indoor mountain (equivalent to a 25 storey building) and five slopes of varying steepness and difficulty.

Other winners in the global awards category included Switzerland's LAAX (best freestyle resort); Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel (best ski resort company); Bella Coola Heli Sports, Canada (best heli-ski operator); Schneebeben (best ski transfer operator); Leo Trippi (best ski travel agent' and Sunweb (best ski tour operator).

The World Ski Awards 2018 also honoured individual countries.

In America, Utah's Deer Valley was named the best ski resort with it being described as having groomed-to-perfection slopes, on-site childcare and gourmet dining.

Meanwhile, five-star Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley scored the best ski hotel award and the Golden Hirsch Inn, also in Deer Vallet was named best ski boutique hotel.

When it came to Canada, Lake Louise was named as the top resort, while the award-winning Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside scored the majority vote in the ski hotel category.

Summit Lodge in Whistler was named as the best ski boutique hotel and the best ski chalet in Canada was revealed to be Bighorn at the base of Revelstoke Mountain Resort in British Columbia.

Thredbo in New South Wales was named as the best ski resort in Australia with it being home to the country's longest ski runs.

In the accommodation category, Hotel Pension Grimus in Victoria was crowned the best ski hotel, thanks its convenient central location.

Other Australian winners were Astra Falls Creek in Victoria, which claimed the prize for best ski boutique hotel and the Sequoia Penthouse in Thredbo, which won best ski chalet.

In New Zealand, picturesque Mount Hutt celebrated being honoured as the country's best ski resort and The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments & Lakeside Residences in Queenstown got the best hotel gong.

The hotel is situated right on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, with its own beach and private wharf. It includes 60 luxury rooms, 90 apartments and five lakeside private residences boasting spectacular views.

THE 6TH ANNUAL WORLD SKI AWARDS WINNERS

World winners

Best Ski Resort 2018: Val Thorens (France)

Best Freestyle Resort 2018: LAAX (Switzerland)

Best Ski Hotel 2018: W Verbier (Switzerland)

Best New Ski Hotel 2018: Fahrenheit Seven Courchevel (France)

Best Green Ski Hotel 2018: Rocksresort (Switzerland)

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Aurelio Lech (Austria)

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Chalet Les Anges, Zermatt (Switzerland)

Best New Ski Chalet 2018: Chalet des Cascades (France)

Best Ski Resort Company 2018: Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel

Best Indoor Ski Resort 2018: Ski Dubai (UAE)

Best Ski Tour Operator 2018: Sunweb

Best Ski Travel Agent 2018: Leo Trippi

Best Heli-Ski Operator 2018: Bella Coola Heli Sports (Canada)

Best Ski Transfer Operator 2018: Schneebeben

Outstanding Contribution to Ski Tourism 2018: Juan Cruz Adrogué

Australia

Best Ski Resort 2018: Thredbo

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Hotel Pension Grimus

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Astra Falls Creek

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Sequoia Penthouse Thredbo

China

Best Ski Resort 2018: Vanke Lake Songhua Resort

Japan

Best Ski Resort 2018: Rusutsu Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2018: The Westin Rusutsu Resort

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Ki Niseko

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Hakuchozan

New Zealand

Best Ski Resort 2018: Mt Hutt

Best Ski Hotel 2018: The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments & Lakeside Residences

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Matakauri Lodge

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Whare Kea Lodge & Chalet

South Korea

Best Ski Resort 2018: YongPyong Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2018: InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort

Andorra

Best Ski Resort 2018: Vallnord

Best Ski Hotel 2018: The Bringué Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: The Xalet Bringué Hotel & Spa

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Els Llacs

Austria

Best Ski Resort 2018: Kitzbühel

Best Ski Hotel 2018: SPA-HOTEL Jagdhof

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Aurelio Lech

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Tschoder

Bulgaria

Best Ski Resort 2018: Bansko

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Alpin Hotel

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Villa Gella

Czech Republic

Best Ski Resort 2018: Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Harmony Club Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel Savoy Špindlerův Mlýn

Finland

Best Ski Resort 2018: Ski Resort Iso-Syöte

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Ruka Ski Chalets Apartment-Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel Iso-Syöte

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Rukan Salonki Chalets

France

Best Ski Resort 2018: Val Thorens

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Le Chalet Zannier

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Chalet Marco Polo, Val d’Isere

Germany

Best Ski Resort 2018: Garmisch-Partenkirchen

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Das Kranzbach

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel Zugspitze

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Country Home Pitzner

Italy

Best Ski Resort 2018: Dolomites Val Gardena

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Montana Lodge & Spa

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Saint Hubertus Resort Luxury Hotel & Spa

Best Ski Chalet 2018: White Deer, San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge

Norway

Best Ski Resort 2018: Trysil

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Radisson Blu Resort Trysil

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Nermo Hotell

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Havsdalsgrenda

Poland

Best Ski Resort 2018: Kotelnica Bialczańska

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Hotel Bania Thermal & Ski

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel ART&SPA Zakopane

Romania

Best Ski Resort 2018: Sinaia

Russia

Best Ski Resort 2018: Rosa Khutor

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Rixos Krasnaya Polyana Sochi

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Gorky Hotel

Slovakia

Best Ski Resort 2018: Jasná Nízke Tatry

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Grand Hotel Praha

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel FIS Jasná

Slovenia

Best Ski Resort 2018: Krvavec

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Ramada Resort Kranjska Gora

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Skipass Hotel

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Chalet Planina

Spain

Best Ski Resort 2018: BOÍ TAÜLL

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Hotel La Pleta

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: El Lodge

Sweden

Best Ski Resort 2018: Åre

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Copperhill Mountain Lodge

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Buustamons Fjällgård

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Skutan Ski Lodge

Switzerland

Best Ski Resort 2018: Verbier

Best Ski Hotel 2018: W Verbier

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Romantik Hotel Chesa Grischuna

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Chalet Les Anges, Zermatt

Argentina

Best Ski Resort 2018: Chapelco Ski Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Loi Suites Chapelco Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Charming Luxury Lodge & Private Spa

Canada

Best Ski Resort 2018: The Lake Louise Ski Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Summit Lodge Boutique Hotel

Best Ski Chalet 2018: Bighorn, Revelstoke

Chile

Best Ski Resort 2018: Nevados de Chillán

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Gran Hotel Termas de Chillan

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Hotel Antumalal

U.S.

Best Ski Resort 2018: Deer Valley Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2018: Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2018: Goldener Hirsch Inn

Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-6467293/World-ski-award-winners-revealed-Val-Thorens-getting-gong-best-resort.html

The Daily Mail: World Ski Award winners are revealed with Val Thorens scooping the gong for best resort and W Verbier is ranked the No1 ski hotel

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