 Poster: A snowHead
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Apologies if this has been done to death already but I just received this..
Dear Mr red 27,
We are writing to you regarding your forthcoming holiday to Saalbach.
For Information Only.....No Action Required
The following does not affect any ski/board school or tuition booked as part of a Skiers/Boarders Pack.
Due to local restrictions being imposed by mountain authorities, it is with great regret that we are withdrawing our free ski leading service for intermediate and advanced skiers and boarders from our winter programme. Having pioneered this service in the 1970's, Neilson paved the way for tour operator led mountain guiding, but unfortunately, the recent threat of legislation has forced us to stop.
If you would like to change your holiday to one that does offer free guiding, the Neilson Collection range of hotels and chalets in Andorra, Austria, France and Italy offer a free Mountain Experts guiding and coaching service to all guests over 18. At least twice throughout the week, you'll be guided around the mountain and offered advice on your technique by professional instructors local to the area. These aren't structured lessons but a fun and informal way to get your winter legs back, make the most of the mountain and improve your technique at the same time.
If you would like to swap your holiday to take advantage of our free Mountain Experts service, we will waive any amendment fees so you simply pay, or receive a refund, for any difference in price. Just call 01273 666106 Monday to Friday between 9am & 5.30pm
Kind regards,
The Neilson Team
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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It says that you can change to another country of destination that offers the guiding..and it lists austria, i was under the impression that sallbach was in austria. 😳
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Only the "Neilson Collection " hotels using local instructors, it says.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| yorkshirelad wrote: |
| It says that you can change to another country of destination that offers the guiding..and it lists austria, i was under the impression that sallbach was in austria. 😳 |
Doesn't say it's banned in Austria, only Saalbach...
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Doesn't say it's banned in Austria, only Saalbach.
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The clear message seems to be that it's available only in certain hotels (in Austria and elsewhere) where local instructors are used as guides.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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But they don't go as far as saying that TO guiding is legally prohibited everywhere in Austria they are just using it as an opportunity to move customers who view it as an essential to a more premium product. Smart but a real test of whether the punter guide is really an essential part of peoples' holidays.
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But they don't go as far as saying that TO guiding is legally prohibited everywhere in Austria
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they don't specify what they mean by "local" but it seems improbable that there is a separate set of binding laws just in one resort in one part of Austria. They don't say it's legally prohibited in France or Italy either, come to that but are now only offering ski guiding as part of their premium holidays in all three countries.
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..and being cynically minded even if they were on more solid legal footing in Austria and Italy it wouldn't do to make their offering there look too attractive relative to their considerable portfolios in France.
I think we can safely take this as a sign that TO guides are a late parrot. To be followed by SCGB*?
*(apologies to all for summoning the spectre of the Goldfish)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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being cynically minded even if they were on more solid legal footing in Austria and Italy it wouldn't do to make their offering there look too attractive relative to their considerable portfolios in France
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that's sounds exceedingly far-fetched to me!
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OK if we are less cynical let's just say it would be law of diminishing returns to continue to ensure that they are within the law on a local/regional basis 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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or, straightforwardly, that as some customers want ski-guiding and are probably willing to pay for it, it would be worth the extra cost of offering it at "premium" locations only, using locally qualified instructors rather than risk even more hassle about evading local employment regulations.
Amongst the furore caused by the French clamping down on unqualified guiding some people suggested they were handing a competitive advantage to Austria. If that was the case, Neilson's seem unaware of the fact.
Truth seems to be that the "authorities" everywhere are trying to reduce the ability of UK tour operators to "undercut" services which locals would like to provide by employing very low paid Brits who enjoy doing a season, just for fun, and aren't bothered about low wages. Some UK catered chalets in Italy have also ceased to operate, presumably for similar reasons.
TOs are struggling to hold on to their comparative advantages, now that the internet has made DIY holidays so easy.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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IMHO the days of leading/hosting/repping/guiding by anyone without an officially recognised qualification are coming to an end.
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As, @skilegs, is the overwhelming dominance of large package tours, at least to easily DIYed places in Europe.
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You know it makes sense.
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I don't really believe in the demise of the TO hol. Snowheads are atypical in their snow days and travel patterns and there is no doubt that TOs hold a significant advantage in volume aggregation and the no hassle travel factor is hard to beat. 1 price and you're sorted no messing with finding a transfer or renting a car or worrying if the transfer will wait when your scheduled flight is delayed or if the car has snowtyres.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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@Dave of the Marmottes, "overwhelming dominance" and " easily DIYed places"
I just see what's happened in, e.g. Morzine and Chamonix. Back in the day, even small chalet companies (such as I worked for) offered "self-drive" but typically arranged transfers and flights.
These days I would be astonished if more than 50% of occupied beds arrived without having booked their own transfers and flights.
How many reps in uniform do you see hanging around these days? 25 (gulp) years ago, they were like flies around a poo.
Summer holidays may be a different animal.
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Poster: A snowHead
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| pam w wrote: |
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But they don't go as far as saying that TO guiding is legally prohibited everywhere in Austria
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they don't specify what they mean by "local" but it seems improbable that there is a separate set of binding laws just in one resort in one part of Austria. |
'Laws' maybe not, but apparently it's just 'restrictions from the mountain authorities.' I wouldn't be that surprised tbh. It's been the same in St Anton for yonks, for example.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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would those be the same kind of "restrictions" which prevent foreigners from opening a ski school? Or a competitive ski hire shop?
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FAQ
