DRMumbai: GCC residents looking to escape the desert heat will have the opportunity to explore an upscale alpine destination at International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Arabia 2019 in the form of Flims-Laax, a snow-sure ski resort and summer getaway located in the Graubünden region of eastern Switzerland. Flims-Laax is only a 90-minute car or train journey from the city of Zurich, which can be reached in less than seven hours from Dubai International Airport. The resort is also accessible via helicopter for guests who wish to arrive a little sooner.
Set against the backdrop of the majestic Swiss Alps, Flims-Laax boasts breath-taking natural beauty and adrenaline-filled activities. Destination named World’s Best Freestyle Resort by World Ski Awards. Luxury accommodation includes Design Hotels’ rocksresort, Peaks Place and The Hide Hotel Flims
The stunning destination offers a wide range of family-friendly activities throughout the year, with summer temperatures of 20-25°C. Guests in the mood for some retail therapy can take a 20-minute drive to the nearby Landquart Fashion Outlet, which is open seven days a week. For those looking to venture a little further, the resort is just a three-hour drive from either Munich or Milan.
Gilles Repond, Business Development Manager, Flims-Laax, said: “While Flims-Laax is famous across Europe for its world-class skiing, it also offers a selection of high-end hotels and year-round, family-friendly activities in a beautiful natural environment. This is why we have decided to showcase the resort at ILTM Arabia 2019. In terms of positioning, it’s a perfect fit.”
“With luxury accommodation, mouthwatering food and beverage offerings and a jam-packed programme of adrenaline-filled activities, we are well placed to cater to the exacting standards of luxury travellers from the GCC and wider Middle East.”
Visitors to the resort can choose from a wide range of accommodation, including three upscale properties from Design Hotels.
rocksresort, the current holder of the World’s Best Green Ski Hotel crown, features 121 units with up to six bedrooms, plus six restaurants and two bars. A short walk away, Peaks Place features 102 units of up to four bedrooms, as well as a relaxing spa area. The Hide Hotel Flims – the newest of the trio – offers 47 units, an adjacent mall and a Lebanese restaurant for Middle Eastern guests looking for a taste of home.
Flims-Laax boasts a selection of family-friendly activities that are perfect for those looking to spend a little time away from the slopes during the summer months. From high-octane mountain biking and lake-based water sports to golf, tennis and tranquil nature trails, the resort offers something to suit every taste.
For families with young adventurers keen to do some exploring of their own, Flims-Laax offers both daycare services and the ever-popular summer retreat Junior and Teen Camp Switzerland (JTCamp).
Nature lovers of all ages are in for a treat. Set against the backdrop of the majestic Swiss Alps, Flims-Laax boasts breath-taking surroundings including the crystal-clear lakes of Caumasee, Crestasee and Laaxersee. The resort is also on the doorstep of Sardona, also known as the ‘Grand Canyon of Switzerland’ – a tectonic arena that became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008.
Repond said: “Those who witness Flims-Laax’s spectacular scenery first-hand will soon come to realise why the area is sometimes referred to as the ‘Caribbean of Switzerland’.”
For GCC travellers looking for a winter adventure, the destination offers world-class skiing in an award-winning setting. With more than 224 kilometres of slopes, Flims-Laax has been voted Switzerland’s best ski resort on numerous occasions and is currently theWorld’s Best Freestyle Resort, according the World Ski Awards.
The resort offers activities suitable for all ages and abilities. Not only is it home to the LAAX OPEN – an annual competition that attracts the world’s best snowboarders – but it also features an international ski school that specialises in helping beginners to hone their skills.
“Whether you’re an experienced skier or you’re looking forward to your first experience on the slopes, you will find plenty to see and do at Flims-Laax,” Repond added.“Our resort has activities suitable for all ages and abilities, and our premium accommodation and entertainment facilities are among the best on the planet.”
The Middle East market represents an important component of both Flims-Laax and the state of Graubünden’s long-term growth strategy. Earlier this year, the Swiss canton launched an initiative to increase its visibility in the GCC, deploying a permanent team member to its new regional base in Dubai.
The Flims-Laax team will be on hand to showcase the resort and answer questions during ILTM Arabia 2019, which will take place from 28-29 April at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC). Co-located with Arabian Travel Market, ATM Holiday Shopper and CONNECT MEIA, the luxury travel show forms part of Arabian Travel Week 2019.
