portes du soleil

What portes du soleil does

Portes du Soleil is a cross-border Franco-Swiss alpine tourism association that coordinates and promotes one of the world's largest interconnected ski domains, spanning 12 stations across France and Switzerland with 650+ km of ski slopes and a unified lift pass. It is operated by the non-profit Association Internationale des Portes du Soleil (headquartered in Châtel, France), with the GIE des Remontées Mécaniques des Portes du Soleil handling lift operations and ticketing; the entity has approximately 60 years of operating history dating to the 1960s.

The core commercial offering comprises two flagship products: the winter Portes du Soleil ski lift pass (Forfait), sold in durations from 5 hours to seasonal/annual, and the summer Multi Pass, which provides lift-served access to 600 km of mountain bike trails, 22 lifts, and 5 interconnected bikeparks (Avoriaz 1800, Châtel, Les Gets, Morzine, and Région Dents du Midi). The technology stack supporting these products is conventional rather than AI-driven: live webcams, interactive trail maps, real-time lift/piste status, an online purchasing system, and a reusable 'hands-free' smartcard (sold at €3) that auto-recharges with online purchases. Distribution is primarily direct-to-consumer via portesdusoleil.com and skipass-pds-ch.ch, supplemented by physical ticket offices at each station and regional tourism partnerships.

The business model combines lift-pass sales (the dominant revenue stream), event-generated revenue (the Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB event with 8,000+ riders and 95% satisfaction, the Rock The Pistes music festival, and UCI Mountain Bike World Cup hosting including 2022 World Championships), ancillary products (Snowrisk insurance at €59/€69 via Mondial Assistance, branded merchandise via SumUp Store), and content monetization through documentary series such as INSPIRE, La Relève, and Gravity Girls. Pricing is tiered by duration, age category, and segmentation (Pass Famille, Pass Tribu, Border Pass, youth -12ans offers, early-booking flash sales). Customer segments span winter sports enthusiasts, summer outdoor sports enthusiasts (mountain bikers, hikers, trail runners), families, and event attendees.

Name

portes du soleil

Legal name

Association Internationale des Portes du Soleil

Website

https://portesdusoleil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Alpine Ski Resort Operations

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (71392), Skiing Facilities (713920), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski Areas & Lift Operations (Independent Mountains) (THAAAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Winter Adventure & Mountain Resorts (Ski, Snowboard, Snow Activities) (THAAAAAK), Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing) (THAAALAF)

Keywords

• Ski lift passes
• Cross-border ski domain
• Mountain bike bikepark
• Summer multi activity pass
• Alpine resort operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Gometz-le-châtel

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ski Passes (Winter Season): Lift passes for downhill skiing and snowboarding across the Franco-Swiss ski domain. Passes available in various durations: hourly (5h), daily, multi-day (up to 15 days), and seasonal/annual passes. Passes are tiered by validity start country (Swiss vs French stations have different rules for multi-day passes).
2. Summer Multi Pass: Single pass for summer activities including mountain bike lift access across 5 bikeparks, hiking, trail running, and other summer mountain activities. Access to 22 lifts and 600km of trails.
3. Mountain Bike MTB Tour: Specialized 80km enduro mountain bike tour package utilizing 10 lifts for 7000m vertical descent across all 12 stations.
4. Ski Pass Insurance (Snowrisk): Optional insurance product (59€ for season pass, 69€ for annual pass) covering ski accidents and personal circumstances preventing pass use. Sold as an add-on through the online sales platform, underwritten by Mondial Assistance/Gritchen Affinity.
5. Events and Sponsorships: Hosting major events (Rock The Pistes, UCI MTB World Cup, Pass'Portes MTB) that generate direct ticket revenue, sponsorship income, and broader economic impact for the region.
6. Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB Entry Fees: Registration fees for the annual mountain bike event that attracts 8,000+ riders, including access to the full domain tour with 15 lift assists.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels12 records

Core offering

Portes du Soleil coordinates and sells access to a cross-border Alpine ski and mountain bike domain spanning 12 stations in France and Switzerland. The core commercial offering is the unified ski lift pass (Forfait) for winter and the Multi Pass for summer activities (mountain biking, hiking, trail running), distributed online and via 12 station ticket offices. The portfolio is rounded out by major events (Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB, Rock The Pistes festival, UCI Mountain Bike World Cup), optional insurance add-ons, and a branded merchandise boutique.

Product overview

Portes du Soleil is a cross-border ski and outdoor recreation domain spanning 12 French and Swiss Alpine stations. The core product is the unified ski lift pass (Forfait) providing access to the connected ski area, supplemented by the Multi Pass for summer activities. The offering is organized around five interconnected bikeparks (Avoriaz 1800, Châtel, Les Gets, Morzine, and Région Dents du Midi) collectively forming Europe's largest VTT domain with 22 lifts and 600+ km of trails. The portfolio includes signature events (Pass'Portes MTB with 8,000+ riders, Rock the Pistes music festival, UCI World Cup), video content series (INSPIRE, La Relève TV show, Gravity Girls documentary), and ancillary services including Snowrisk insurance and ski school partnerships. The company operates through the Association Internationale des Portes du Soleil as a promotional and development body.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Portes du Soleil Ski Pass (Forfait) Unified ski lift pass providing access to 12 interconnected French and Swiss Alpine stations, available in durations from 5 hours to annual passes with hands-free smartcard technology.
• Multi Pass (Summer Activity Pass) Summer multi-activity pass offering access to hiking, mountain biking, and other summer activities across the 12-station domain with 600km of trails and 22 dedicated lifts.
• Tour MTB des Portes du Soleil Approximately 80 km enduro mountain bike tour connecting all 12 Franco-Swiss stations, utilizing about 10 lifts for 7,000 m of descending and 1,000 m of ascending elevation.
• Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB Annual mountain biking event held in late June, featuring an 80 km enduro tour across all 12 stations with 15 lift assists, traditional refreshment stops, and a VTT trade fair, attracting over 8,000 riders with 95% satisfaction rate.
• Rock The Pistes Festival Music festival featuring live concerts directly on ski slopes, combining alpine sports and live music entertainment during the ski season.
• UCI Mountain Bike World Cup Hosting International UCI-sanctioned mountain bike competition held in Portes du Soleil featuring XCC (Short Track), XCO (Olympic Cross-Country), XCM (Marathon), DHI (Downhill), and EDR (Enduro) disciplines.
• Snowrisk Insurance Optional insurance covering ski accidents and personal circumstances preventing lift usage, offered at €59 for season passes and €69 for annual passes, provided by Mondial Assistance / Gritchen Affinity.
• Ski School Services Ski lessons offered through Portes du Soleil in partnership with local ski schools across the 12 stations.
• Official Online Store (Branded Merchandise) Official merchandise boutique operated through SumUp Store, offering Portes du Soleil branded apparel and products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ riders participate in the annual Pass'Portes du Soleil MTB event with a 95% satisfaction rate
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• MondrakercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortes du Soleil and Mondraker, a Spanish premium mountain bike manufacturer, have a strategic partnership. Mondraker vehicles are tested on the domain's terrain. Joint activities include events, product tests, competitions, and guided rides. The partnership emphasizes innovation, performance, and respect for nature.
• MovementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMovement (Swiss freeski company) partners with Portes du Soleil, sharing values of passion, innovation, and freedom. The collaboration began in 2022 and includes video productions (e.g., 'LES FROUZES' ski film featuring French team riders), events, and athlete activities. Both brands are pioneers in their respective fields.
• Montagne en ScèneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPortes du Soleil partners with Montagne en Scène for the Winter 2025 edition of the mountain film festival. The partnership shares values of Adventure, Mountains, Emotion, and Travel. Films featuring domain athletes and locations are screened in 250+ cities.
• Mondial Assistance / Gritchen AffinityminorOthersSnowrisk insurance product (59€ season, 69€ annual) sold as an add-on to ski passes, underwritten by Mondial Assistance operating under the Gritchen Affinity brand. Covers ski accidents and personal circumstances preventing pass use.
• Photos SportminorOthersOfficial photography partner for events like Pass'Portes du Soleil. Event participants can purchase personal photos through Photos Sport's platform.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Compagnie des Alpes: Publicly-traded French operator of ski resorts (including La Plagne, Les Arcs, Tignes, Avoriaz) and amusement parks. Comparable as a major European ski lift operator and parent of one of PDS's station members (Avoriaz).
• Ski Amadé: Austrian ski alliance covering 5 regions and 760km of pistes with a single pass. Comparable as a large multi-region ski network, though broader and less integrated than PDS's tightly interconnected model.
• Dolomiti Superski: Italian ski consortium covering 12 ski areas and 1,200km of pistes under a single pass, including Sellaronda circuit. Comparable as a large multi-station ski network, though operating in a different market (Italian/Dolomites) and stronger as a regional incumbent framework.
• Jungfrau Ski Region: Swiss ski region (Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren) with 213km of pistes under a unified pass. Comparable as a Swiss multi-station interconnected ski domain with similar go-to-market and Alpine positioning.

Direct peers

• Les 4 Vallées: Swiss ski domain connecting Verbier, Nendaz, Veysonnaz, Thyon, and La Tzoumaz with 410km of pistes. Closest geographic and structural peer as a Swiss-led interconnected ski area with single-pass access.
• Paradiski: French ski area combining Les Arcs, La Plagne, and Peisey-Vallandry with 425km of pistes under a unified lift pass. Highly comparable as a multi-station French Alpine ski domain with integrated ticketing and similar GIE/cooperative structure.
• Les 3 Vallées: The world's largest linked ski area spanning 600km of pistes across multiple French resorts (Courchevel, Méribel, Val Thorens, etc.). Direct peer as a similar large interconnected ski domain with unified lift pass and dominant European ski market position.
• Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn (Skicircus): Austrian interconnected ski area with 270km of pistes and a single-pass system across four villages. Comparable as a multi-station linked ski domain with strong summer mountain biking positioning.
• Matterhorn Ski Paradise (Zermatt-Cervinia-Valtournenche): Cross-border Swiss-Italian ski area connecting Zermatt and Cervinia under a single pass. Most direct peer to PDS's cross-border model, demonstrating the same international ski-pass concept across two countries.
• Tignes-Val d'Isère (Espace Killy): Two-station interconnected French ski area totaling 300km of pistes. Direct peer as a unified multi-station ski domain with cooperative ticketing and 4-season activity offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PDS_officiel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/portesdusoleil
• Facebookfacebook.com/lesportesdusoleil
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/portes-du-soleil
• Instagraminstagram.com/portesdusoleil
• TikToktiktok.com/@portesdusoleil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about portes du soleil