ÉDITO« GO TO THE FRENCH PYRENEES - SAISON II ».

La saison de ski n’est pas finie, tant s’en faut, mais les moyens prévus sur la Grande Bretagne pour promouvoir notre destination ont à ce stade été largement déployés. Inutile de s’attarder sur la complexité d’une saison démarrée tardivement du fait d’un enneigement qui s’est fait désirer.

Nous en analyserons les conséquences en fin de saison. Pour l’heure, faisons un point factuel sur les actions menées et les résultats obtenus à ce jour. Retombées presse, campagnes de pub en co-branding avec nos partenaires TO, commercialisation et réservations.

Arrêt sur images et en chiffres en ce début d’année.

É D I T I O N S P É C I A L EM A R C H É B R I T A N N I Q U E

CONFÉDÉRATION PYRÉNÉENNE DU TOURISMENEWS

JANVIER 2016

F L A S H

PARTIE 1ZAP’ PRESSE2 RETOMBÉES PRESSE & ÉDUCTOURS

2 VOYAGES DE PRESSE

3 RENDEZ-VOUS

PARTIE 2ZOOM SUR LES PARTENARIATS TO4 ERNA LOW, LE NOUVEAU PARTENAIRE

5 PEAK RETREATS & PYRENEES COLLECTION

WAZZUP ! * (QUOI DE NEUF)

POINT D’ÉTAPE JANVIER 2016

A M A G A Z I N E F O R T H E G E T - U P - A N D - G O G E N E R A T I O N

J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 6

F R E E T O T A K E H O M E

A. Of course they willTh e season’s most pressing questions answered in our 2016 winter sports guide

Q. Will people laugh at my ski tan?

COVER_FINALFINAL.indd 008

10/12/2015 14:54

When we think of skiing in the Pyrenees, if we think

of it at all, our first thought is often of Andorra, as

that’s where most Brits used to head if they did

go to the mountains that form the natural border

between France and Spain in south-western

Europe. But in fact Andorra is just a small part of

what the Pyrenees have to offer, and in recent

years Brits have become increasingly aware of

the French side of the Pyrenean mountain chain

as an alternative to the Alps.

If you take a closer look, you’ll find the French

Pyrenees have an awful lot going for them.

They’re easy to reach on scheduled services

(including by rail) from the UK, and they’re

typically warmer, lighter and usually that little bit

friendlier and cheaper than many resorts in the

Alps, but despite their southern latitude, their

proximity to the Mediterranean means abundant

snowfall is the norm. The icing on the cake for

skiers and boarders is that the resorts here have

058 // NOV15 // INTHESNOW.COM

WORDS & IMAGES: DEBBIE GABRIEL

059 // NOV15

also invested in some fast modern chairs and

gondola uplift, so for most skiers, the area not

only ticks all the boxes for a good ski holiday, it

also makes a pleasant change.

Although most of the areas are “mid-sized”

compared to the French Alps, without the giant

ski regions with hundreds of kilometres of piste,

there’s plenty to keep you entertained at each of

the larger areas for a few days or even a week,

or you can visit a few within a week if you prefer.

There is even a major off-piste ski area, the Pic Du

Midi, which is firmly positioned on the bucket list

of all serious freeride skiers and boarders.

But when I visited at the end of last season,

I was on a more relaxed family holiday. As I

arrived, I was struck by the contrast and blend

of the traditional French alongside the Spanish

influence, as well as the relaxed Mediterranean

vibe, which gave the area a laid-back feel.

I was also surprised by the spectacular scenery

of the French Pyrenees, which I found more

dramatic and “Alp-like” than when I had visited

Andorra.

As I say, there are more good ski areas in the

French Pyrenees than you might realise, with at

least ten good-sized resorts to choose from, each

with their own unique attractions. We visited two

of them: Saint Lary and Peyragudes.

We drove first to Saint Lary and enjoyed a

beautiful drive into resort, winding through the

small roads to the village. It’s a very gentle climb

but there are not the steep mountain hairpins of

the Alps.

Saint Lary (full name is Saint Lary Soulan, created

when the municipalities joined in the early 1960s)

is a traditional village, and one of the larger ski

areas in the region has over 100km of piste

divided into more than 50 runs suited to all

abilities and reached by a fast gondola from the

heart of the resort. This is one of 30 lifts, about

a third of which are high-capacity quad and

six-seater chairlifts. It has three interlinked high-

altitude ski zones and has been given the “Family

Plus Mountain” label for excellence in services

and facilities for families. Half of the ski area has

snowmaking cover. There’ve been ski lifts here

for many years, but the old village has a longer

history as a spa town – which is also the case with

several other of the region’s ski areas – so we

can add “ski and spa” to the region’s long list of

attractions too!

We enjoyed the wide, sunny slopes and the

relaxed atmosphere as the centre wound down

for the season. Apart from the skiing, I was struck

by the great authentic food which was very much

influenced by the Spanish, and we enjoyed some

excellent tapas.

Another interesting opportunity was to take a

cat-ski tour of the slopes. This was good fun with

around ten people sat in the back of a cat tractor

which took us on a tour of the mountain. It was

a great way to show around those who don’t ski

and give them a flavour of what it’s like up the

mountain. I got to sit in the front on the way up

and was mesmerised by the number of levers

and buttons involved with the driving of such a

piece of machinery! It was great to get a different

perspective on touring the slopes, and I came

back really appreciating what an amazing job

the mountain maintenance teams do to keep the

mountains safe and fun for us all to enjoy.

Staying in the convenient 4★ Mercure Saint Lary

Sensoria Hotel, we had just a short walk across

the car park to get on the gondola up to the

slopes, and it was also well placed for pedestrian

access to the heart of Saint Lary’s restaurants and

shopping area (both were only 50m away in fact).

We moved on to Peyragudes, which we found

to be fantastic for families. All accommodation

was apartment based, many with pools, saunas

and hammams as well as some slopeside

accommodation with doorstep skiing.

We found there were great facilities for après-

ski, and the layout of the slopes makes it easy to

watch beginner skiers – a real bonus for families

with younger children. It’s almost like a seaside

promenade except the sea and sand part is snow

and chairlifts, lined with great restaurants and

cafés. It is a lively and interactive place for families

and children to ski and sledge.

Situated in the Pyrenees National Park, close to

the Spanish border, Peyragudes straddles the

mountains between the picturesque valleys of

Louron and Larboust, and although the ski area

was smaller than Saint Lary’s, there was again

a modern high-speed lift network, so we were

whisked back up the slopes quickly for more on-

slope time.

One highlight here was Spassio – a well-being

centre inspired by the expertise of world-

famous Balnéa, which had great spa facilities

although more suitable for adults than children.

The building’s attraction lies in its minimalist

architecture, constructed primarily from glass and

other natural materials, giving it clean lines and

large picture windows which let the light flood in

from the mountain summits outside.

Once inside, you can immerse yourself in a

Scandinavian-themed spa world with wonderful,

relaxing hot-water pools and all other spa facilities

and treatments on tap.

Another must-do is a visit to the Cabanou

restaurant for an evening meal. This is a very

special experience as you are transported there

by snowmobiles. This is a super experience for all

the family, young and old; we took our 70-year-old

grandparents up on the snowmobiles along with

our small children, and everyone had such fun.

We watched the sun set behind the mountains

before sitting down to dinner. The meal was a

lively, buffet-style meal offering as much as you

could eat, with a live band playing music too.

Anyone visiting Peyragudes should definitely try

this.

FURTHER INFO

On The WebSaint Lary: saintlary.com/en

Peyragudes: pyreneescollection.co.uk/ski/Peyragudes.htm

Balnéa: balnea.fr

Pyrenees Collectionpyreneescollection.co.uk | 0844 576 0176

The Pyrenees Collection offer 3 nights half-board in

the Mercure Saint Lary Sensoria Hotel in St Lary from

£306pp based on two sharing a large double room

including midweek ferry crossing.

FB.COM/INTHESNOW

É D I T I O N S P É C I A L E M A R C H É B R I T A N N I Q U E 2

PARTIE 1ZAP’PRESSE

EASYJET MAGAZINE PLANETSKITHE GUARDIAN THE INDEPENDENTWELOVE2SKIIN THE SNOW SKI+BOARD MAGAZINE ADVENTURE TRAVEL MAGAZINEFAMILY TRAVELLER MAGTHE EXPRESSFRANCE MAGAZINE

L E S T I T R E S

VOYAGES DEPRESSE

La Confédération a confié à Vanessa Fisher, attachée de presse spécialisée dans le tourisme et basée à Londres, la mission de faire feu de tout bois auprès des medias anglais. Objectif déclaré : renforcer de manière significative la présence pyrénéenne dans les colonnes des tabloïds, magazines et autres sites web britanniques. Dossier de presse, communiqués, opérations d’incentive, rencontres et organisation de voyages de presse sont autant d’actions menées par Vanessa depuis le mois d’octobre. Les résultats sont d’ores et déjà au rendez-vous avec une nette amélio-ration tant qualitative que quantitative de la présence des Pyrénées dans les sujets traités par les journalistes.

Morceaux choisis :

RETOMBÉES PRESSE& EDUCTOURS

PYRÉNÉES

www.completefrance.com

FRANCE MAGAZINE 59

At the top I am in a world of

total snow and my guide

shoots off down a blue run

Looking down from the cable car whisking

me to the Plateau de Bonascre at

1,400 metres I get a bird’s-eye view of

Ax-les-Thermes. Lying low in a wooded

valley by the River Ariège are the twin green-topped

towers of its fin-de-siècle thermal spa, the medieval

core of narrow streets and tall stone townhouses

that evoke the days when it was a frontier town en

route to Andorra. I can also see the smattering of

holiday apartment blocks built to catch the first

wave of mass winter tourism in the 1960s.

To me it looks like a typical Pyrenean town that

has retained its authentic mountain character where

traditions persist despite its role as a thermal spa and

modern ski resort. However, my ski guide Jacques

plans to show me why the town and its ski station,

Ax-3-Domaines, are not entirely typical.

Within ten minutes I have climbed through

700 metres. My ears pop with the change in

pressure and my cheeks tighten with the obvious

drop in temperature. There is no snow in Ax, but

the purpose-built resort has plenty.

�

TOP: The lower slopes of Les Angles with the village on

its knoll; LEFT: Time for refreshments on the Plateau de

Bonascre in Ax-3-Domaines

PH

OTO

GR

AP

HS

: PA

UL

LAM

AR

RA

Plateau de Bonascre, basking in the mid-morning

sun, lies at the heart of Ax-3-Domaines and is the

access point to 80 kilometres of pistes spread over

three distinct ski areas.

Skis now on, I make a short slide over to the

Lièvre Blanc six-seat chairlift. This modern

apparatus would confound the prejudice among

Alpine skiers that the lifts in the Pyrénées are old

and slow. Indeed, there is hardly any time to take in

the panorama now opening up. Across to my left is

the fine snowy ridge dominated by the Dent d’Orlu

and beyond that the Pic Carlit and just maybe a

glimpse of the Pic du Canigou, a mountain that is

considered almost sacred to the Catalans inhabiting

the lands on each side of the border with Spain.

Jacques leads me via a short, easy green piste to

another chairlift and I am once again seated for the

final climb to the Tute de l’Ours at 2,255 metres.

At the top I am in a world of total snow and,

without pausing, Jacques shoots off down Savis,

a long, slightly harder, blue run that he assures me

I will enjoy.

This is the Campels ski area; with its wide-open

slopes facing south and east, it is where to start

Parallel Trails 12 janv.

@ParallelTrails

Really enjoyed #skiing @LesAngles66 with a little bit of fresh

#snow. Great terrain and varied runs.

voir la photo

AWE365 12 janv.

@AWE365

Great snowboard today @LesAngles66 #frenchpyrenees

excellent views & empty pistes @Skipyrenees @nessfisher

pic.twitter.com/sAn8UgSFaw

voir la photo

Parallel Trails 12 janv.@ParallelTrails

Riding the magic carpet tunnel @LesAngles66 beginner zonevoir la photo

SARAH TUCKER19>22 DECThème : Pic du Midi Publication : Family Traveller Magazine (print)

JAMES COVE10>13 JAN Thème : Ax-3-domaines /Les AnglesPublication : Planetski (online)

BENMOORE10>13 JANThème : Ax-3-domaines /Les AnglesPublication : Parallel Trails and Where to Ski and Snowboard (online)

LUKE REES10>13 JANThème : Ax-3-domaines /Les AnglesPublication : AWE 365 (online)

DANIELWILDEY16>23 JANThème : Peyragudes/ St Lary/Pic du Midi/CauteretsPublication : Snow Magazine (print)

WILL HIDE23>26 JANThème : Lourdes and Ski Pic du Midi/Cauterets Publication : The Times (National print)

STEPHENWOOD26>28 JANThème : Cauterets and Grand TourmaletPublication : The Telegraph (National print)

CATHERINECOOPER29>30 JANThème : Ski weekend Grand TourmaletPublication : Take the Family & Family Traveller (print)

ANDREWDENT5-9 MARCHThème : Grand Tourmalet /Pic du Midi/PeyragudesPublication : Family Traveller Magazine (print)

58 FRANCE MAGAZINE www.completefrance.com

In the south-west corner of France, Paul Lamarra seesif three ski resorts really do offer something different

Triple treat inthe Pyrénées

3

LES RENDEZ-VOUS

CONFÉRENCE DE PRESSE

FRANCE MONTAGNES LONDRES - 8 SEPTEMBRE 2015

Vanessa Fisher nous a représenté. 45 journalistes étaient présents ; La présentation à la presse a été mise en scène sous

forme de vol aérien avec pour destination les 17 partenaires présents sur place. Cette première partie a été suivie d’un

workshop et d’un diner dans letout nouvel hôtel tendance design M by Montcalm.

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA

MARKETPLACE LONDRES - 14 MARS 2016

L’IMM est établi comme le 1er salon presse/pro de l'industrie du tourisme en Grande Bretagne. L’an dernier, ce rendez-vous a

accueilli : 460 journalistes, 230 exposants et près de 3 000 réunions entre professionnels ont été réalisés. Pour la première

fois, la destination Pyrénées sera présente sur place. La Confédération a décidé en effet d’inscrire Vanessa Fisher à ce

rendez-vous et d’étendre du même coup sa mission au lancement de la saison estivale pyrénéenne auprès des medias UK.

Nouveau, les Pyrénées pour la 1re fois à l’IMM.

LONDON SKI & SNOWBOARD SHOW

LONDRES - 5 NOVEMBRE 2015

Ce fut pour Bénédicte Lapeyrère, présentée par France Montagnes l’année dernière et reconduite cette saison directement par la Confédération sur une mission de lobbying auprès des TO, l’occasion d’entretenir les relations commerciales avec les professionnels rencontrés, mais surtout de détecter de nouveaux partenaires TO susceptibles de densifier notre réseau de distribution la saison prochaine. À ce jour, deux TO que sont Ski weekends et Powderbeds ont manifesté leur intérêt.Bénédicte Lapeyrère représentant le collectif

« Go to the French Pyrénées » au London Ski Show.

VOYAGES DEPRESSE

É D I T I O N S P É C I A L E M A R C H É B R I T A N N I Q U E 4

Erna low, TO spécialisée dans la commercialisation de séjours au ski depuis plus de 85 ans, est depuis cet hiver partenaire de la Confédération et des Pyrénées dont elle a décidé de programmer, pour une première année, les stations de Cauterets, Grand Tourmalet, Saint-Lary et Peyragudes. Plusieurs opérations « push » via son propre site et ses propres réseaux sociaux ont été lancées - une page 100 % Pyrénées dédiée a été montée qui comptabilise depuis le mois de novembre 7 000 visiteurs uniques. Des campagnes orchestrées par son service marketing réputé très performant dans l’univers du digital ont par ailleurs été menées et continuent de l’être. L’idée était de mettre en avant des offres « short break » et de dire aux anglais : venez tester les Pyrénées françaises le temps de quelques jours ; quand vous y aurez goûté, vous voudrez y revenir plus longtemps. Zoom sur ces actions…

L’inauguration à Londres en juillet dernier de notre ERNA LOW SKI WALL en présence de la Team Pyrénées a marqué le début de notre partenariat avec la Confédération et ses stations partenaires. Une collaboration que nous avons voulue dans un premier temps centrée sur un lot d’offres « snow short break ». Avec plus de 7 000 connexions sur la page dédiée Pyrénées que nous avons créée entre octobre et décembre, les statistiques de fréquentation du site sont d’ores et déjà satisfaisantes.

Les actions digitales que nous avons menées nous ont permis de collecter entre octobre et décembre, 2 664 adresses mails de gens qui se sont déclarés heureux de recevoir des informations et des offres « french Pyrenees ». Certes les ventes fermes à ce jour ne représentent que 70 nuits pour une dizaine de séjours, mais je suis optimiste pour l’avenir.

La mayonnaise prend et nous pensons que les Pyrénées ont une vraie carte à jouer sur le marché anglais dans les années à venir. Ma venue l’année dernière et pour la première fois dans certaines de vos stations m’a convaincu de l’intérêt que représentaient les Pyrénées françaises pour le marché anglais. Je le demeure aujourd’hui.

Je vous donne rendez-vous en fin de saison pour confronter nos analyses de la situation et notre décryptage des résultats définitifs qui auront été enregistrés.

ERNA LOW, LE NOUVEAU PARTENAIRE

PARTIE 2ZOOM SURLES PARTENARIATS TO

4 EMAILINGS :

15 777 NOMBRE D’ENVOIS

2 375 NOMBRE D’OUVERTURES (15%)

418 NOMBRE DE CLICS (2,6%)

16/10/2015SAINT-LARY

15 821 NOMBRE D’ENVOIS

2 257 NOMBRE D’OUVERTURES (14,2%)

321 NOMBRE DE CLICS (2,1%)

20/11/2015PEYRAGUDES

15 788 NOMBRE D’ENVOIS

2 219 NOMBRE D’OUVERTURES (14%)

300 NOMBRE DE CLICS (1,9%)

11/12/2015LE GRAND TOURMALET

15 111 NOMBRE D’ENVOIS

2 878 NOMBRE D’OUVERTURES (19%)

548 NOMBRE DE CLICS (3,6%)

08/01/2016CAUTERETS

JOANNA YELLOWLEES Directrice d’Erna Low

WEBWTSS (Where To Ski & Snowboard) WELOVE2SKI.COM online ads TELEGRAPH SKI e-newsletter ads SKI CLUB package IN THE SNOW package

PRESSE SKI AND SNOWBOARD MAGAZINE

RÉSEAUX SOCIAUXTANMEDIAworks with the largest network of news media publishers, leading blogs and social media influencers for the UK Online display/content • PPC • SEO

50

GREATGETAWAYS

WINTER ON THE MEDP&O Cruises has offers on winter sun trips. A 14-night Med cruise aboard Aurora costs £649pp, departing on 5 December. � e cruise departs from Southampton, calling at Valencia, Barcelona, Ajaccio, Rome, Naples, Cagliari, and Gibraltar (pocruises.com).

TIGNES SPIRIT Alpine Elements has a deal on a pre-Christmas ski trip to Tignes. It costs £498pp and includes Germania fl ights from Gatwick to Lyon on 13 December, transfers, seven nights’ half-board at the Hotel Hauts de Tovière and a lift pass (alpineelements.co.uk).

TANTALISING TANZANIA Intrepid Travel is offering an eight-day safari for £835pp, departing 9 January. � e trip starts in Kenya, travels through the Great Rift Valley, and includes a safari in Serengeti National Park. � e price includes accommodation and most meals . Flights are extra (intrepidtravel.com).

Travel

Ireland has every challenge a golfer could hope for.North and south. I am, of course, a little biased, but my home courses of Royal County Down and Royal Portrush are just fantastic. My home town, Holywood, Northern Ireland, is a picturesque little coastal town with very welcoming people, superb restaurants and homely pubs. It’s really worth a visit.

Some of the best beaches in the world are in Ireland.Especially on the north and west coast. I’m not saying the weather is always perfect for swimming or a picnic but they are dramatic and beautiful. There is so much on my doorstep that I’ve yet to explore, so I’m really going to try and get to know it in more detail.

Going to Dubai for the fi rst time was a real eye-opener for me.I was 15 years old. I wouldn’t say it was a culture shock,

but coming from a small town I’d never seen so many nationalities within one city. That’s probably why Dubai has a great atmosphere and works so well, and why I now go there as often as I can. I’ve spent so much time in Dubai since turning pro that it feels like a second home to me. It must be one of the most vibrant cities anywhere at the moment. It also has great weather and great golf courses.

I bring back trophies from my trips.I have been fortunate enough to win a few in my career, so it’s always satisfying to take one of them home in the suitcase. The trophy for winning the Dubai World Championships sticks out in my mind – it is almost as tall as I am.

I’m really excited to be going to Rio for the Olympics next year.I never thought, growing up, that I’d be an Olympian,

especially not for golf. I think the Games will give a great boost to golf and help it grow; there’s now a wonderful opportunity to showcase the game and introduce it to countries not traditionally associated with it. There are exciting times ahead for golf.

Some of my best sleeps have been on planes.I always try to get a night fl ight if I can, so I can sleep through. I’ve been lucky not to have had many bad travel experiences. But if anybody could share how to travel without creasing shirts or losing stuff, I’d appreciate it.

� e most memorable hotels have friendly staff and a great atmosphere.I’m lucky enough to stay in a lot of great hotels doing what I do, and it’s impossible to pick the best. Where I stayed in Turkey last week there was free ice cream, though – that’s defi nitely one for my list.

I won the Gourmet Golfers cooking challenge while I was in Turkey for the Turkish Airlines Open and I was up against the South African Charl Shwartzel. Somehow my dish was named the winner. It was great fun to show off my culinary skills – or, rather, my lack of them.Golfers always like to add a bit of competition to things.

Sports biographies are my usual holiday reading.It doesn’t have to be golf, either: I’m a big fan of football, rugby, tennis and NFL. As long as it’s a good read, I’m hooked.

I’d love to travel with Muhammad Ali.I think his journey to greatness, his confi dence and humility, is one of sport’s fi nest stories.

Rory McIlroy supported the Turkish Airlines Open’s #CheckInToGolf campaign (turkishairlinesopen.com)

Ireland has some of the best beaches

MY LIFE IN TRAVEL RORY McILROY

Rory McIlroy, in Dubai, which feels like a second home to him DAVID CANNON/ GETTY

A breath of French air.

cAuterets / grAnd tourmAlet / sAint-lAry / peyrAgudes /Ax-3-domAines / Font romeu / les Angles

cAll us todAy: 02392 836 580pyreneescollection.co.uk

self-drive or accommodation only packages

©Kudeta.Photos:JN

H,HP

TE,Corbis

Q U A L I T Y

SK

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AP A R T M E N

TS

80F r o m

Ski between theAtlantic and theMediterranean.

Large, unspoilt snow-sure ski areas.Charming villages with first-class family amenities.The finest Pyrenean traditions of genuinehospitality and relaxing spas.

toulouse, tArbes/lourdes, pAu,cArcAssonne, perpignAn

resorts top height – 2100m to 2877m

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Family safarisin Africa

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We can create a tailor-madesafari just for you. Or join a smallgroup - your children will lovetravelling with other children.

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51

BLENHEIM’S ALL-YEAR OPENINGBlenheim Palace will open all year from 13 February . Since 1950, the Oxfordshire country house has closed for the winter for a clean, which will now be done when it is open. blenheimpalace.com

LET THERE BE LIGHTAmsterdam Light Festival kicks off on 26 November, running until 1 February 2016. � e theme is friendship. amsterdamlight festival.com

Ghent48 HOURS IN...

Beer, bicycles and battlements are just three elements of this multi-dimensional Belgian city, writes Simon Calder

AGENDAWHERE TO GO & WHAT TO KNOW

1ROYAL PAVILION,

BRIGHTONWith the former Royal pleasure palace as the backdrop, this gem of a

rink (pictured below) is best visited at night when it is

beautifully lit up. Open daily until 17 January. From £10 (royalpavilionicerink.co.uk)

---------

2NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM, LONDON

Set in the grounds of one of London’s most iconic

buildings, visitors can skate around a 12-metre tall

Christmas tree in the centre of the rink. Open daily until

3 January. From £12.65 (nhmskating.com)

---------

3HAMPTON COURT, SURREY� is rink offers truly spec-

tacular views of this magnif-icent Tudor palace on the

banks of the � ames. Open daily from 20 November

until 3 January. From £11.50 (hamptoncourticerink.co.uk)

---------

4PRINCES STREET

GARDENS, EDINBURGH� is stunning location beneath the castle, and

with a backdrop of the city’s famous skyline, is hard to

beat for setting the perfect winter tone. Open daily from 20 November until 4 January. From £12.50

(edinburghchristmas.com)

---------

5MANCHESTER ICE RINKLocated in New Bailey,

just over the bridge from Spinningfi elds, this rink is perfectly placed for combining skating and shopping. Open daily from � ursday until 3 January. From £8

(manchestericerink.co.uk)

FIVE BESTOUTDOOR ICE RINKS

A host of spectacular outdoor ice rinks are popping up in picturesque locations from this week onwards. Get

your skates on before the Christmas crowds and enjoy a

glide around one of our favourite rinks

7-8 November 2015iweekend

DialAFlightABTA & ATOL protected

0844·556·6004

Europe fr £65

Africa/Mid East fr £239

USA/Canada fr £309

Caribbean fr £479

Far East/Asia fr £329

Australasia fr £539One call. All the answers

www.dialaflight.com/flights/asia/thailand/phuket

fr £875Valid 11 Apr - 30 Jun 2016

Price per person

·5* Centara Grand Beach Resort, Phuket ·Bed & Breakfast·8 nights for price of 4·Transfers and fl ights included

SAVE 50%on Thai beach bliss

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Take Off

TRAVEL E� ENTIALSWhy go now?� is beautiful and accessible Flemish city has a colourful heritage, and all the indulgence you could want. November is low season, meaning good rates for accommodation. In December there’ll be a Christmas market.

Getting there� e main station, Sint Pieters, is half an hour by train from Brussels Midi, where Eurostar services arrive. Buy a Eurostar ticket from London to the Belgian capital (eurostar.com) and extend it to Ghent for £5 each way. Direct trains from Brussels airport take about an hour. From Sint Pieters, tram No 1 runs into the centre for a fl at fare of €2 (£1.40) or buy a CityCard at €30 for 48 hours’ free transport, plus entry to Ghent’s classiest attractions and a day’s bike rental. Buy it at De Lijn, or at the tourist offi ce inside the Old Fishmarket (visitgent.be).

Get your bearingsGhent is the heart of Flanders between Brussels and the coast. Its medieval core occupies a thumb of territory in a loop of the River Leie. Of the many squares, the main focus is Korenmarkt. To the north lies Patershol, an old quarter with places to eat nd drink. To the south is Kunsten-kwartier, the cultural quarter. See the city by bike. Biker (biker fi etsen.be) rents them for €6.50 a half-day.

Check in� e Ghent River Hotel at Waais-traat 5 (ghent-river -hotel.be) links a Renaissance townhouse, and a former sugar refi nery and cotton mill. Doubles from €90, room only. � e Hostel Uppelink, right by the bridge at Sint-Michielsplein 21 (hosteluppelink.com) has rooms from €21, including breakfast.

DAY ONETake a viewFrom the top of the 14th-century Belfry (belfortgent.be) you get a 360-degree view over the city. Window shoppingAt Yuzu at Walpoortstraat 11a, the chocolatier Nicolas Vanaise creates dense, delicious designer chocolates. � e Groot Vleeshuis, the city’s former meat market, is now a showcase for East Flanders regional specialities.

Lunch on the runOutside the Groot Vleeshuis, Frituur Filip serves up the fi nest Flemish frites with stoverij - a winter warmer of beef - topped with mayonnaise, for €3.50.

Take a hikeAt this time of year, late after-noon/early evening is an excel-lent time to take a walk through Ghent, because the city lights up its historic treasures. Start at St Michael’s Bridge then head to Vrijdagmarkt. From there aim for the river to fi nd the Grand Cannon – an enormous gun that is now a civic ornament. Don’t miss Ghent’s Castle of the Counts (gravensteen.stad.gent) and the spectacular facades of Graslei.

An aperitifIn 2012, the creative cocktail came to Ghent in the shape of Jiggers – a speakeasy-style bar at Oudburg 16 (jiggers.be). For Belgian beer, visit De Dulle Griet at Vrijdagmarkt 50 (dedullegriet.be).

Dining with the locals“All senses cuisine” is the promise of Naturell at Jan Breydelstraat 10 (naturell-gent.be). � e menu is short, seasonal and topical.

DAY TWOOut to brunchPain Perdu at Walpoortstraat 9 (painperdugent.be) serves cold meat and cheese with fresh bread and strong coffee.

Take a ridePedal (or take bus No 38) to the Flemish Cycling Centre Eddy Merckx at Zuiderlaan 8 (bloso.be). For just €16.50 you can rent a track bike and go round in circles on the velodrome for two hours.

A walk in the parkCitadelpark is dotted with attractions such as the spectac-ular University Botanic Gardens, containing 10,000 species of plant.

Cultural afternoonBesides nature, Citadelpark is full of art – notably at the Museum of Fine Arts (mskgent.be). SMAK, the Municipal Museum of Contem-porary Art (smak.be) includes works by Andy Warhol. Go to churchSt Bavo was a sixth-century aristocrat who atoned for his excesses by devoting himself to helping the poor. A place of worship was created in his honour a millennium ago, and it is now the city’s Cathedral – with a world-renowned altarpiece, the van Eyck Adoration of the Mystic Lamb.

Icing on the cakeFinish your weekend with a tutored tasting at at the only remaining brewery in the city: Gruut, by the water at Grote Huidevettershoek 10 (gruut.be).

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Les actions marketing/communication portent leurs fruits dans le sens où l’on assiste à un accroissement significatif des visites sur le site « Pyrénées collection », ce qui est le premier pas vers le développement commercial.

C’est une confirmation des éléments déjà ressentis en 2014/15 : le travail mené pour accroître la notoriété de la destination et en améliorer son image auprès de la clientèle britannique, but essentiel du partenariat avec la Confédéra-tion, porte ses fruits. Malheureusement, le contexte de ces derniers deux mois rend plus difficile l’appréciation de la performance dans son ensemble. Le calendrier de Noël fut peu favorable et bien entendu les aléas météo de la saison passée à cette période, conjuguées au manque de neige déploré à nouveau cette année en début de saison, ont for-tement perturbés la courbe des réservations pendant les mois traditionnellement forts.

Autant de raisons pour lesquelles les objectifs commerciaux ambitieux que nous nous étions fixés ne seront probable-ment pas atteints. Cela dit, nous ne sommes pas encore à la fin de la saison et il est trop tôt pour établir un bilan définitif. Comptez sur nous pour vous communiquer tous les indica-teurs qui nous permettront, ensemble, de réfléchir sur les inflexions éventuelles à prévoir pour la saison prochaine.

OLIVIERLEPOUREAUDirecteur associé de Peak Retreats

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1• PRESSE SPÉCIALISÉE 3 CAMPAGNES CO-BRANDÉES

WTSS GUIDE, TELEGRAPH SKI & SNOWBOARD MAGAZINE, ACTIVE TRAVELLER: SNOW MAGAZINE

2• PRESSE NATIONALE

CAMPAGNES CO-BRANDÉES

THE I, INDEPENDENT

3• CAMPAGNE DIGITAL

10 CAMPAGNES CO-BRANDÉES

PLANET SKI, WE LOVE 2 SKI, GUARDIAN

4• 1 NEWSLETTER TELEGRAPH SKI

& SNOWBOARD

PEAK RETREATS & PYRENEES COLLECTION

À l’automne 2014, le 1er site anglais 100 % Pyrénées (www.pyneescollection.co.uk) avait été lancé par ce TO qui fut le premier « pyrénéen » à plusieurs titres : premier à s’être vraiment investi dans les Pyrénées et dans les années qui ont précédé principalement aux côtés d’HPTE ; premier à développer un outil commercial dédié ; et enfin premier partenaire « naturel » de la Confédération la saison dernière dans le cadre du lancement de l’opération « Go to the french Pyrenees ». Quelques chiffres : depuis la création du site, le nombre de visiteurs uniques a augmenté de 85 %. 168 devis ont été enregistrés avec un taux de transformation à ce jour de 15 %.

Afin de promouvoir cette vitrine commerciale sans nulle autre pareille outre manche, des opérations de communication ont été orchestrées, notamment dans la presse, depuis le mois de novembre dernier.

É D I T I O N S P É C I A L E M A R C H É B R I T A N N I Q U E

© Kudeta. Photos : Shutterstock, J. Canal, Stand-Pub, X-droits réservés.

CONFÉDÉRATION PYRÉNÉENNE DU TOURISME 7, rue des Prêtres - 31000 ToulouseTél. : 05 34 40 78 40 - contact@lespyrenees.net www.lespyrenees.net

GRAND SKI 26 & 27 JANVIER 2016LE MONDE ENTIER ÉTAIT À GRAND SKI,LES PYRÉNÉES AUSSI...Le salon vient de fermer ses portes et un premier bilan de tendance peut d’ores et déjà être esquissé. 459 tour-opérateurs ont débarqué du monde entier pour faire leur marché dans ce plus grand événement professionnel dédié aux sports d’hiver. Un rendez-vous incontournable pour les acteurs français de la montagne et notamment pyrénéens qui préparent déjà la saison prochaine. Le manque de neige du début de saison, les attentats de Paris et la douceur annoncée ne semblent pas avoir douché l’optimisme à toute épreuve des professionnels présents sur le salon. Côté Pyrénées, les 8 partenaires de la Confédération présents sous la bannière « Go to the French Pyrenees » (HPTE / Pic du Midi / Cauterets / Peyragudes / Saint Lary / Ax 3 Domaines / Les Angles / Font Romeu Pyrénées 2000) ont cette année encore plus que les précédentes mouillé la chemise en enchaînant plus de 250 rendez-vous sur deux jours. Un stand inédit, haut en couleur et idéalement positionné à l’entrée du salon avait été conçu et réalisé par la Confédération pour permettre à chacun de travailler dans les meilleures conditions. Ne reste plus qu’à exploiter et transformer un maximum de ces contacts et à se donner rendez-vous, peut-être encore plus nombreux, pour continuer de vendre sans faiblesse et sans complexe les stations de notre massif à des clientèles internationales, en quête d’alternatives de qualité, de bon rapport qualité prix et de solutions personnalisées.