Ski Asia: Rusutsu dominates at 2019 World Ski Awards, but it’s a Niseko hotel that stuns the world

Tue 03 December 2019

Fittingly, Kimihito Kamori – the Owner and Chairman of Kamori Kanko, which owns Rusutsu – was recognised for his outstanding contribution to ski tourism.

Ki Niseko, World's Best Ski Boutique Hotel

But perhaps the story of the night for Asia was Ki Niseko, which claimed the award for Japan’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel and was subsequently named World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel ahead of country winners from 17 other nations. The hotel has a strong history at the awards; it was a nominee for World’s Best New Ski Hotel in 2015 and has been put forward for Japan’s Best Boutique Ski Hotel every year since, taking it out for the first time last year.

Rounding out the list of Japanese award winners was Hakuchozan, which claimed Japan’s Best Ski Chalet for the second year in a row. Remarkably, it meant an entirely unchanged lineup of Japanese winners from 2018.

The story was much the same in the China and Korea categories, as the 2018 winners extended their dominance for another year. YongPyong Resort and Vanke Lake Songhua Resort took top gong for South Korea and China’s best ski resorts receptively, while InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort was named South Korea’s Best Ski Hotel.

The World Ski Awards have been running since 2013 and are held in Kitzbuehel each year, attracting the industry’s top businesses and personnel from the snowiest corners of world. Winners are decided by a vote that is open to ski industry professionals and members of the public.

2019 World Ski Awards Results (Asia)

World

World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel: Ki Niseko

Outstanding Contribution to Ski Tourism 2019: Kimihito Kamori

JAPAN

Japan’s Best Ski Resort: Rusutsu Resort

Japan’s Best Ski Hotel: The Westin Rusutsu Resort

Japan’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel: Ki Niseko

Japan’s Best Ski Chalet: Hakuchozan

SOUTH KOREA

South Korea’s Best Ski Resort: Yongpyong

South Korea’s Best Ski Hotel: InterContinental Alpensia Pyeongchang Resort

CHINA

China’s Best Ski Resort: Vanke Lake Songhua Resort