Christopher Diericx, Director of La Plagne MontalbertIn an interview with us, he looks back on the summer season and looks ahead to the coming winter season in the La Plagne resorts.
How would you sum up the summer of 2024?
Compared with 2023, there has been a slight drop in visitor numbers, between -3% and -5% depending on the different sites in La Plagne. This trend has been observed nationwide and is not specific to the mountains. It can be explained in part by a capricious spring, which delayed bookings, particularly in May and June, the key months.
"July was particularly difficult, with a drop of -7% to -8% compared with previous years".
The mediocre weather dampened holiday appetite. July was particularly difficult, with a drop from -7% to -8% compared with previous years. Fortunately, August was better, but this was not enough to make up for the delay in July.
How do you see the summer season developing in La Plagne?
This summer, the big news was theAeroliveYou'll be able to take off immediately for Live 3000. It's a unique experience, where you suspend yourself to admire the scenery, particularly from the Roche de Mio and the glacier cable car. The public were very receptive, and this boosted attendance.
Two other flagship activities also marked the summer: Mountain Karting at Plagne Centre, with a new, more accessible, family-friendly track at Montalbert, with a 650 metre vertical drop, and the Bike Park, which is very popular with mountain bikers. The Bike Park attracts many downhill enthusiasts every year. The leisure centre in the valley, with its tree climbing and supervised swimming, has also been a great success.
How will the station come alive during the autumn?
During the off-season, events will be concentrated in the valley, with the Heritage Days on 21 and 22 September, for example, giving visitors the chance to discover the built heritage of Montchavin and Les Coches.
"We've noticed that many holidaymakers from neighbouring resorts come to La Plagne to ski, where the snow cover is more reliable.
The cultural season will also get underway, with shows at Aime's auditorium and cinema screenings starting in October. The "Explore" festival, scheduled for the autumn holidays, will feature a selection of films about mountains and landscapes.
What new products are announced and expected this winter?
The resort will open on 14 December and the season will end on 21 April for the villages, and 27 April for the high altitude sites such as Plagne Centre, Bellecôte and Aime 2000. This winter, the glacier gondola, currently being replaced after the first part of the renovation, will not yet be ready. The new section linking Bellecôte to the Roche de Mio will be operational for the winter of 2025-2026. But the lift will of course remain operational in its current configuration.
We are also focusing on promoting spring skiing, with a redesigned event for April, the 12th edition of "Subli'Cimes". At Christmas, the "Neige de Feu" show, in partnership with Puy du Fou, will mark New Year's Eve with a fireworks display at the top of Plagne Centre, visible from several mountain resorts, accompanied by live music.
How would you sum up the recent winter holidays?
Our aim is always the same: to satisfy our customers as much as possible. With climate change, small resorts are suffering from a lack of snow. We've noticed that many holidaymakers from neighbouring resorts, such as Valmorel and La Clusaz, come to La Plagne to ski, where the snow cover is more reliable. Our slopes, with 70% of the area above 2000 metres, offer security in terms of snow. This influx has been good for us, and we hope it will continue this winter.
READ MORE: Rémy Counil: "The success of La Plagne? Its snow, its activities and its villages".
In recent years, we have anticipated these changes. At Montalbert, we have created 1,500 beds in four years, and other investments have been made, notably to improve traffic flow. We have also renovated our infrastructure, such as the Montalbert cable car, to accommodate this new clientele and cope with the increase in visitor numbers.