VIP SKI
VIP SKI is a UK-founded, French-Alps-focused luxury ski holiday operator running ~40 catered chalets and the Bear Lodge boutique hotel across four high-altitude French resorts, serving affluent families, couples, and groups with all-inclusive, ski-in/ski-out experiences and integrated childcare.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What VIP SKI does
VIP SKI is a UK-headquartered, founder-led luxury ski holiday operator founded in 1989 by Andy Sturt, specialising in catered chalet and boutique-hotel experiences in the French Alps. The company runs a portfolio of approximately 40 luxury property units across four high-altitude resorts: 16 chalets in Val d'Isère (Espace Killy domain), 7 chalets in Avoriaz (Portes du Soleil domain), 16 suites at the new Graciosa complex in La Plagne (Paradiski domain), and the 30-bedroom Bear Lodge hotel in Arc 1950 (Paradiski domain). All properties average 1,967m altitude with every bed above 1,800m, positioning the company in the snow-sure segment of the luxury ski market.
The core product is an all-inclusive catered chalet experience built around private chefs, dedicated British hosts, in-house childcare (Bear Cubs for ages 4 months to 7 years and private ski nannies), ski-in/ski-out access, complimentary ESF-guided skiing, and bundled ancillaries (equipment hire, lift passes, lessons, Geneva airport transfers). The platform also hosts premium sub-brand experience weeks with Olympic skiers Graham Bell, Chemmy Alcott, and Henry Druce. The underlying technology stack is a standard luxury hospitality booking and concierge platform supporting direct website, phone, and WhatsApp sales, supplemented by an exclusive retail agency partnership with Ski Solutions for flight-inclusive Bear Lodge packages.
The business operates seasonally (December through April) with revenue generated from per-person accommodation pricing (ranging from £1,063 to £4,003 pp), add-on services, and a 10% group discount for parties of 12+ adults. Customer segments are primarily families with children, couples, and groups of friends, with secondary segments in corporate retreats, beginner skiers, and pet-friendly travellers. Marketing runs through the website, email newsletters, and a broad social media footprint (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok), supported by celebrity-led experience weeks and earned media. The company remains privately held under founder Andy Sturt with no disclosed external funding.
VIP SKI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VIP SKI
- Legal name
- VIP SKI
- Website
- https://vip-chalets.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- VIP SKI is a UK-founded, French-Alps-focused luxury ski holiday operator running ~40 catered chalets and the Bear Lodge boutique hotel across four high-altitude French resorts, serving affluent families, couples, and groups with all-inclusive, ski-in/ski-out experiences and integrated childcare.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where VIP SKI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
VIP SKI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Luxury Chalet Accommodation: Core revenue stream from renting luxury catered ski chalets and hotel rooms across four French Alpine resorts. Pricing is per-person based on 2 sharing, with supplements for premium rooms, peak seasons, and larger groups. Revenue is seasonal, concentrated in winter months (December through April).
- Childcare Services: Revenue generated from Bear Cubs kids club and private ski nanny services. Bear Cubs provides supervised childcare for children 4 months to 7 years, while private nannies offer personalized family childcare across all resorts.
- Ski Equipment and Extras: In-house ski equipment rental, lift pass sales, ski lessons, ski guiding, and pamper/spa services. Equipment is fitted on-site with heated lockers for convenient ski-in/ski-out access.
- Bear Lodge Hotel: 30-bedroom boutique hotel operation at Arc 1950 offering catered accommodation with restaurant dining, spa facilities, and ski-in/ski-out access. Combines traditional chalet hosting with hotel facilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | CLUB 21Forty - Ultra-luxury standalone chalet |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bear Lodge Hotel - Boutique hotel experience |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Bellecote Suite - Luxury family chalet at Graciosa |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Val d'Isère Chalets - Premier resort collection |
| Subscription | Multi-year contract | Avoriaz Chalets - Portes du Soleil access |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels10 records
VIP SKI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VIP SKI operates luxury catered ski chalet holidays across four French Alpine resorts (La Plagne, Arc 1950, Val d'Isère, and Avoriaz), offering a portfolio of 16+ chalets and the 30-bedroom Bear Lodge boutique hotel. The company provides all-inclusive experiences with private chefs, dedicated hosts, ski-in/ski-out access, in-house childcare, ski equipment hire, lift passes, and airport transfers bundled into a single booking.
Product overview
VIP SKI is a luxury ski chalet holiday company offering a unified booking platform for catered chalet holidays across four French Alpine resorts (La Plagne, Arc 1950, Val d'Isère, and Avoriaz). The core product is the portfolio of 40+ luxury chalets and the Bear Lodge boutique hotel, supplemented by integrated add-on services including childcare (Bear Cubs and Private Nanny), ski guiding, equipment hire, lift passes, and ski lessons. The company also offers exclusive athlete experiences (Ski with Graham Bell, Chemmy Alcott, Henry Druce) as premium sub-brands. All properties feature ski-in/ski-out locations averaging 1967m altitude, VIP catering service, dedicated hosts, and access to the Paradiski, Espace Killy, and Portes du Soleil ski domains totaling over 1,300km of pistes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Bear Lodge: A luxury ski-in/ski-out hotel in Arc 1950 with 30 bedrooms, pool, spa, cinema room, and restaurant, combining chalet hosting with hotel facilities.
- Graciosa
- Bear Cubs
- CLUB 21Forty
Products and services
- Bear Lodge Hotel A 30-bedroom luxury ski-in/ski-out hotel in Arc 1950 combining chalet hospitality with boutique hotel facilities including pool, spa, cinema room, and restaurant. Targeted at individual travellers, couples, families, and groups seeking luxury accommodation in the French Alps.
- The Graciosa Brand new luxury ski-in/ski-out property in La Plagne at 2003m altitude, featuring 16 suites with private hot tubs, bar, ski shop, massage room, and childcare facilities. Targeted at families and groups seeking ultra-luxury alpine accommodation.
- Catered Ski Chalets Luxury catered chalet holidays in French Alps featuring dedicated hosts, chef-prepared meals, champagne welcome, and exceptional service at every property. Available across Val d'Isère, Avoriaz, Arc 1950, and La Plagne for individuals, couples, families, and groups.
- CLUB 21Forty Ultra-luxury standalone chalet at 2140m in Arc 2000, accommodating up to 14 guests. Winner of 'World's Best New Ski Chalet 2018' and named among The Times' top ten 'sexiest chalets' of all time. Includes scheduled Geneva coach transfer, VIP catering, and exclusive use.
- Bear Cubs Childcare Dedicated childcare service for children aged 4 months to 7 years at Bear Lodge and Graciosa, featuring fully-equipped playrooms, qualified nannies, and activities including arts, crafts, treasure hunts, and snowball fights. Targeted at families with young children.
- Private Ski Nanny Service Flexible personalized childcare service with qualified nannies available in all VIP SKI resorts and chalets, allowing parents to enjoy slopes while children are professionally cared for. Targeted at families with young children across all resort locations.
- Ski with Graham Bell Experience Week Special experience week featuring Olympic skier Graham Bell, combining skiing with a five-time Olympic downhill racer alongside VIP SKI luxury chalet hospitality at Bear Lodge. Targeted at skiing enthusiasts seeking expert-guided experiences.
- Ski with Chemmy Alcott Experience Week Special experience week featuring Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott, offering VIP SKI holiday with world champion skier guidance and mentorship at Bear Lodge. Targeted at skiers seeking elite-level coaching and premium experiences.
- Ski with Henry Druce Experience Week Ski experience week with professional skier Henry Druce combined with VIP SKI chalet accommodation. Targeted at skiers seeking professional coaching.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 99% of guests would recommend VIP SKI to friends
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use VIP SKI
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
VIP SKI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
VIP SKI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- ESF (Ecole du Ski Français)coreVIP SKI partners with ESF for complimentary ski guiding on guests' first two mornings at Bear Lodge. ESF instructors help guests discover the best runs with like-minded guests of similar ability, enhancing the overall ski experience and providing professional instruction integration.
- Ski SolutionscoreExclusive retail agent partnership for flight-inclusive holidays to Bear Lodge Hotel. Ski Solutions handles complete holiday packages including flights, making VIP SKI holidays accessible to customers preferring package travel arrangements.
- Graham BellflagshipFive-time Olympic downhill skier Graham Bell partners with VIP SKI for exclusive ski experience weeks at Bear Lodge. These events create premium marketing opportunities and unique guest experiences, positioning VIP SKI as a leader in luxury ski holidays.
- Chemmy AlcottflagshipFormer Olympic skier Chemmy Alcott hosts experience weeks at Bear Lodge, creating premium marketing events that generate buzz and bookings. Her involvement is described as 'the BEST way to end the season' by returning guests.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
VIP SKI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Scott Dunn: UK-based luxury tour operator offering high-end ski holidays in the Alps (including chalets and hotels) alongside family-friendly and experiential packages. Closest direct competitor on positioning, luxury ski chalet product, UK customer base, and premium-price direct-to-consumer model.
- Ski Solutions: UK ski holiday specialist and VIP SKI's exclusive retail agent partner for flight-inclusive Bear Lodge packages. Direct competitor in luxury catered chalet holidays across the French and wider Alps, with overlapping customer base and similar price tiers.
- Meriski: Luxury catered chalet operator in Méribel and the wider French Alps offering comparable price points, in-chalet chef and host service, and a direct-to-consumer booking model for affluent UK and international guests.
- Oxford Ski Company: UK-based luxury ski chalet specialist operating premium catered chalets across the French Alps with a similar high-touch service model, family-friendly positioning, and direct booking channel.
- Powder Byrne: Luxury family ski holiday operator offering premium chalet and hotel packages in the Alps with a strong family-segment focus. Direct peer in the premium family ski niche and similar UK customer base.
- Le Ski: Boutique catered chalet specialist operating in multiple French Alpine resorts with comparable chef-catered service, UK clientele, and direct booking model — comparable scale and product fit to VIP SKI.
Broad incumbents
- Inghams: Long-established UK ski tour operator offering a broad portfolio across the French Alps and beyond, at varied price points. Wide-portfolio incumbent competing for premium ski bookings alongside mass-market segments.
- Crystal Ski (TUI): Mass-market ski holiday brand within TUI Group serving UK customers across French and other European resorts. Overlaps with VIP SKI on French Alps geography but operates at lower price points with a much wider portfolio.
- Alpine Elements: UK operator offering ski chalet and hotel holidays across the French and Austrian Alps with self-catered and catered options. Larger-portfolio competitor with broader price range and mass-to-mid-market positioning.
Emerging players
- Ski Yogi: Smaller premium catered chalet operator in the French Alps offering a similar service-led luxury experience but with a narrower portfolio. Niche competitor intersecting with VIP SKI at the luxury catered-chalet tier.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
VIP SKI social profiles
Digital presenceVIP SKI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VIP SKI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
VIP SKI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VIP SKI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VIP SKI
What does VIP SKI do?
VIP SKI operates luxury catered ski chalet holidays across four French Alpine resorts (La Plagne, Arc 1950, Val d'Isère, and Avoriaz), offering a portfolio of 16+ chalets and the 30-bedroom Bear Lodge boutique hotel. The company provides all-inclusive experiences with private chefs, dedicated hosts, ski-in/ski-out access, in-house childcare, ski equipment hire, lift passes, and airport transfers bundled into a single booking.
Is VIP SKI a public or private company?
VIP SKI is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was VIP SKI founded?
VIP SKI was founded in 1989. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is VIP SKI based?
VIP SKI is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does VIP SKI make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Luxury Chalet Accommodation is the primary driver. The others are childcare Services, ski Equipment and Extras and bear Lodge Hotel.
Who are VIP SKI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Scott Dunn, Ski Solutions, Meriski, Oxford Ski Company, Powder Byrne and Le Ski. Broad incumbents are Inghams, Crystal Ski (TUI) and Alpine Elements. Ski Yogi is listed as an emerging player.
Does VIP SKI have an API?
No public API is recorded for VIP SKI.