News this season in Åre – 08/09

An increasingly international resort

Last winter season treated us to excellent snow conditions, world-class events and more guests than ever before. The number of guests from other countries increased by as much as 20 per cent, thereby setting a new record. We expect the interest of international guests to grow further and have worked hard to adapt and facilitate for our non-Swedish speaking visitors. One example is changing the sign systems in the ski area, with instructions in English and by using pictograms to overcome interpretation problems. The long-term work of attracting major international events continues and the frequency of charter flights to Åre is expected to grow.

New FIS World Cup competitions

This winter will see two FIS World Cup events in Åre – another spectacular Freestyle World Cup event and also the FIS Ski World Cup Finals.

Hospitality training

Since several years, Åre has organised hospitality training programmes for all employees who are in contact with guests. For the hospitality to keep up with the large increase in international guests, the training programmes will be complemented by an international module, including cultural differences and language training.

Unique nightlife

From Åre Björnen in the east to Duved in the west there are now in total some 60 restaurants, bars and nightclubs of very high standard. A dozen or so of Åre’s restaurants feature in the prestigious White Guide where the best restaurants in Sweden are reviewed. The buzzing nightlife lasts from December until the end of April and can only be summarised as one extremely long party and a club culture of high international class. The nightlife with fashion, trends, stage acts, small cosy bars, special appearances, and theme nights is active seven days a week.

Star chefs move in

One of the most interesting news this coming winter in Åre is the take over by star chefs Melker Andersson and Markus Aujalay of the restaurant previously called Marmite. The plan is to create a relaxed and cosy mountain restaurant with great ambience. The new restaurant will open when the winter season starts, however no later than mid-December.

Accommodation for every taste

In Åre today there is accommodation for every taste and budget, ranging from hostel style at new Hotell Åre Torg to the spectacular Copperhill Mountain Lodge which will be opening before the new season. Traditional favourites such as Fjällgården, Hotell Granen and Åregården have all undergone radical facelifts over the past few years and Holiday Club is still building new timeshare apartments. There are also large numbers of apartments and chalets for self-catering accommodation centrally in Åre or on the slopes.

Copperhill Mountain Lodge

At the very summit of Mount Förberget the finals details are being completed at Copperhill Mountain Lodge, scheduled for opening in November. The exclusive hotel, designed by star architect Peter Bohlin will have 112 rooms and suites, spa, conference facilities, restaurants and bars; all this with spectacular views of the Åredalen valley and the surrounding peaks.

News in the ski area

New lift in Åre Björnen

A new lift is under construction connecting the ski area Åre Björnen with Copperhill Mountain Lodge.

Increased snow-making capacity

The existing snow-gun installations in Störtloppet (the downhill run) have been made more efficient to enable the production of more snow in shorter time.

Expansion of children’s areas & theme parks

The children’s area in Åre Björnen is being expanded and the theme parks Björnlandet and Vildmarksstigen are under development with more attractions for the youngest guests.

Snöflingeklubben

The very youngest of Åre’s visitors are welcome to Snöflingeklubben, offering child-minding when the parents want to take on the pistes on their own. In Snöflingeklubben activities range from storytelling, drawing and singing to tobogganing, snow-man making and other fun activities. Those who wish can try skiing on a playful first level

Permanent avalanche fences

Åre is the first Swedish ski resort to build permanent avalanche fences. To further the work of preventing avalanches and increase the safety of our guests, avalanche fences have been built on the south-facing slopes of Mount Mörvikshummeln, where avalanches have occurred on several occasions.

Renovation of old servants

The lifts Tusenmetersliften and WC-liften are under radical renovation before the new season to safeguard operations and increase capacity. The chairs on both lifts are being changed to improve comfort and WC-liften will see the addition of a loading belt.

Cross-country skiing

To complement the great pistes in Åre there are cross-country tracks and trails in Åre Björnen, Duved and Ullådalen. Åre Björnen is now offering cross-country skiing lessons, including how to wax the skis and the best technique of skiing.

News at Skistar.com

Additional languages at skistar.com

Skistar.com is already available in Swedish and Norwegian, with English, Danish and Finnish pages. This autumn some of the pages will also be published in Russian.

Map system at skistar.com

Using the online map booking module, the guests will be able to view the different areas in Åre to better understand the location and accommodation.