France A La Carte Launches 2008 Ski Programme

Incoming ski operator for France, France à la carte, has launched its biggest ever programme of ski breaks in both the Pyrenees and the Alps. The web-based tour operator has increased its range of resorts on offer to include top resorts in the '3 Valleys' region of the Alps as well as all the best-known Pyrenean resorts. End Quote

You find the flight - we do the rest

(1888PressRelease) September 15, 2007 - The company's Director, Ms Sylvie Butler, said at the launch: "With our extended offer we are now the biggest incoming agency in France dealing directly with the UK and Irish market". She drew attention to the fact that France à la carte had moved quickly to position itself in the chalet market - the fastest growing sector of alpine skiing: "We have a selection of large, authentic wooden chalets - suitable for families or groups - in the resorts of Isola 2000 and Serre Chevalier", she announced.

The unique business model invented by France à la carte is particularly well suited to the short ski break market: the company does not supply flights but tailors its products around low-cost airlines' arrival airports. In this way Londoners can fly from Stansted to Grenoble, for example, and be on the slopes at Chamrousse barely an hour after touching down. With the spread of the budget airlines network customers from Belfast, Manchester, Dublin and Leeds as well as London can now enjoy 3 night breaks - long weekends - in exotic resorts such as St Lary in the Pyrenees and Valfréjus in the Alps which were the preserve of the leisured classes only a few years ago.

Ms Butler is proud of her 3 night breaks: "When we introduced the 'long weekend ski package' two years ago people in the trade thought we were mad," she says, "but we were only responding to a demand. Some customers now take a weekend break in the Alps in January and another in the Pyrenees in March!" The secret to a good short break, she revealed, is the provision of a hire car at the airport with every package. "Competitors who operate transfers from airports often fail to tell clients that there's only one bus for the whole day's flights - our customers pick up their car and are free immediately to get to the slopes, explore the local region or head for a good restaurant while the others are still waiting for the transfer bus to fill up."

As well as a hire car each package contains a ski pass for each member. Ski equipment hire is a dawdle with on-line reservation on the company's site in partnership with Skiset, the biggest French provider. France à la carte customers get a healthy 20% discount.

Asked to name her favourite resort Sylvie Butler hesitates and admits finally: "It has to be St Lary in the French Pyrenees. It's a spa with a genuine village feel, a choice of restaurants and nightlife ... and some excellent skiing. I have been going there with my family for years and never tire of the atmosphere."

A vos skiis!

http://www.francealacarte.com

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