At the dawn of a new winter season, La Plagne is preparing to write a new chapter in its history with the arrival of Thomas Saison as General Manager of its Tourist Office. At the helm of one of the world's busiest resorts, he inherits an immense territory and equally vast challenges: maintaining its international appeal, supporting the climate transition and continuing to invent the mountain experience of tomorrow.
With just a few weeks to go before the slopes open, he shares with us his vision and priorities for the winter ahead.
You've just taken over the management of La Grande Plagne Tourist Office. What are your priorities for this first winter season?
It's an area I know well, as I've been working there since 2015. After eight years as the ski area's marketing director, I changed hats last March to take on the role of ski area manager. more from Rémy Counil. The strategy remains first and foremost one of winter and skiing. It's important to remember that despite everything we hear, La Plagne is defending its DNA, with major investments in its ski area. This winter, renovation of the Roche de Mio cable carthe backbone of the resort, will be at the heart of the news. It's a major project that puts skiing and technical modernisation back at the heart of our strategy.
How would you define La Plagne's identity in relation to other major Alpine resorts?
La Plagne has a unique multi-sites identity: eleven resorts, three atmospheres - valley, villages and altitude - that complement and feed off each other. Our vision is to defend an area that is alive all year round, not just in winter.
Of course, skiing is a big part of life at altitude. But we're also working on diversification, particularly in the summer, with sporting and cultural events. The hosting of the first Comedy Club at altitude this summer is a good example of this: we want to promote culture, heritage and sport at all levels and at all altitudes.
What is your medium-term vision for tourism development in the destination?
We need to position ourselves more strongly in the summer. It's not the same clientele, but it's a complementary clientele that can come back in the winter. We need to do this through well-programmed events and by raising the profile of the valley, which is very much alive and kicking in the summer. Our marketing strategy is increasingly integrating the valley and its inhabitants, with a year-round cultural and sporting programme. Visitor numbers were very good this summer, confirming the growing appetite among holidaymakers for a four-season Plagne.
What are this winter's highlights and events in La Plagne?
We're kicking off the season with a big weekend of'opening on 13 December. Then there's the return of a much-anticipated event: the Night of the Red Pompon on 31 December, combining concerts and fireworks. It's an emblematic event that used to attract up to 14,000 people, and it's back with a vengeance. In addition, we'll be putting on a host of events in the villages, including the night-time race. Ladies and Gentlemen in February, and for spring, the return of the Mega Bell CourseA major ski race is planned for the Easter weekend, with concerts, festivities and even a soapbox race to kick off the school holidays.
What new features are you expecting in the ski area or in the resort?
The major project is the renovation of the backbone of La Plagne, with the new 10-seater gondola lift between Plagne Bellecôte and the glacier. Faster and more comfortable, it will provide modern access to the highest point in the resort. At Bellecôte, a new multi-service building will bring together a sales outlet, gondola departure point and commercial services. On the resort side, we should also mention the opening of a new hotel at Plagne Centre, the Pop Alpwhich borrows the codes of lifestyle establishments to attract a new clientele. It's a great way of diversifying our accommodation offering.
How do you expect visitor numbers to develop this winter?
Bookings look very good. Our customer base is made up of 70 % French people, and this proportion remains stable. As early as July, we saw a strong advance on winter bookings. Everything points to a particularly successful 2025-2026 season.
La Plagne is one of the busiest resorts in the world. How do you deal with the issue of sustainability and mass tourism?
La Plagne has 58,000 commercial beds, making it the world's largest resort in terms of capacity. By modernising our infrastructure, we can better manage the flow of visitors and preserve the customer experience. The ski area is vast, and despite peaks in visitor numbers, such as New Year's Eve, we are able to keep things flowing smoothly. Our strength also lies in our own online travel agency, which enables us to market our entire territory and activities.
How important are off-ski activities in your winter strategy?
They are becoming increasingly important. For several years now, we have been developing a wide range of complementary activities From snowshoe walks to wellness spas, ski yoga and aerial yoga. This winter, we're also boosting our cultural calendar: theatres, cinemas, stand-up and comedy clubs will be adding to our off-ski offering.
Are you working on new partnerships to raise La Plagne's profile?
Yes, we're continuing to develop strategic partnerships, like the one we've had with Puy du Fou for 13 years. It's an example of successful synergy, enabling us to exchange talent and think together about the challenges of seasonality and visibility. We will be pursuing this dynamic in the years ahead.
La Plagne is also about local life. How can we involve local residents, seasonal workers and economic players in this dynamic?
Our communication has evolved: it's no longer just seasonal and aimed at holidaymakers. Today, we're talking to the whole region. This summer, half the spectators at our shows were locals. This proves that our strategy benefits locals and visitors alike. Involving local people, seasonal workers and economic players is essential: it's what gives La Plagne its authenticity and strength.