The ski resorts affected are Sälen, Trysil, and Vemdalen. The so-called snow guarantee applies to people who have a trip booked now this week and provides full repayment for ski passes, accommodation, ski school, and ski rental. Even customers who arrived on Easter Day are included. However, you cannot activate the snow guarantee after half a week or request money back afterwards.
If you get up now, you know about the conditions. But if you choose to cancel before or right at arrival, then you can use the snow guarantee, says Niclas Sjögren Berg, responsible for all destinations at Skistar.
Dissatisfied customers are not affected
This week, there have been reports of several critical visitors to Skistar's facilities. Skiers have testified about closed slopes and hills full of water. But skiers who came home dissatisfied from their ski trip last week will not be affected by Skistar's decision.
No, they will not do so. Because we fulfilled and still fulfill the snow guarantee, says Sjögren Berg.
According to Sjögren Berg, 15 downhill slopes need to be open in Sälen for the snow guarantee to be fulfilled. Currently, 29 are open. But next week will be warm.
Our assessment is that there is a risk that we will not be able to clear those 15 downhill slopes during the week.
"Extremely snow-poor"
Sjögren Berg emphasizes that the ski resorts are still open. A total of 99 lifts and 120 downhill slopes are open at Skistar's resorts, including Hemsedal and Åre further north, which are not affected by the decision.
Some slopes and downhill slopes are closed – but that is common at the end of the season when it starts to get warmer, says Sjögren Berg. But activating the snow guarantee has Skistar only done once before.
It has been an extremely mild and extremely snow-poor season. It was also mild in the middle of the season, so the snowmelt started earlier.
In total, there are 700 accommodation bookings at the three ski resorts affected, according to Sjögren Berg, a small part of the season's total number. How much money Skistar can lose is unclear.
It depends entirely on what the guest chooses to do. It is not a significant amount if you look at the whole season.
Skistar is a Swedish listed company that owns and operates ski resorts in Sälen, Åre, Vemdalen, and Hammarbytoppen in Sweden, Hemsedal and Trysil in Norway.
