The 2020 World Ski Awards names the best chalets, hotels and resorts

The 2020 World Ski Awards names the best chalets, hotels and resorts, from a £50,000-a-week lodge to the French destination that’s seemingly unstoppable

• Val Thorens in France claimed the title of ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ for the seventh time in eight years 
• The five-star W Verbier in Switzerland was ranked as the ‘World’s Best Ski Hotel’ for the fifth consecutive year 
• Chalet Zermatt Peak, which starts from £50,000-a-week in winter, was named the ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’

Val Thorens in France was named the ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ for the seventh time in eight years.

The ski resort, which is the highest in Europe at 10,560 feet, was handed the gong at the 2020 World Ski Awards, which are voted for by industry experts and members of the public in a range of categories, including best resorts, hotels, chalets and tour operators.

Other big-ticket winners at last week’s online awards ceremony included the five-star W Verbier in Switzerland, which was ranked as the ‘World’s Best Ski Hotel’ for the fifth consecutive year; Chalet Zermatt Peak, which starts from £50,000 a week in the winter and was the winner of the ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’ award and Austria’s sumptuous Aurelio Lech, which collected the ‘World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel’ gong. Deer Valley was again named as America’s best ski resort while Thredbo took the ‘Australia’s best ski resort’ crown.

Chalet Zermatt Peak in Switzerland, which has been named the ‘World’s Best Ski Chalet’ at the World Ski Awards 2020

The spa terrace at Chalet Zermatt Peak, where stays start from £50,000 per week during the winter season 

One of the bedrooms at Chalet Zermatt Peak. The chalet sits in the shadow of the mighty Matterhorn mountain 

Inside the spa at Chalet Zermatt Peak. The chalet is set over six floors, with each having floor-to-ceiling windows 

The five-star W Verbier in Switzerland, which was ranked as the ‘World’s Best Ski Hotel’ for the fifth consecutive year

According to the awards, W Verbier has a ‘sleek urban design’. Pictured is one of the bedrooms 

The relaxing pool in the spa at the award-winning W Verbier hotel in Switzerland  

THE WINNERS AT THE 2020 WORLD SKI AWARDS

World winners

Best Ski Resort 2020: Val Thorens (France)

Best Freestyle Resort 2020: Laax (Switzerland)

Best Ski Hotel 2020: W Verbier (Switzerland)

Best New Ski Hotel 2020: Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono (Japan)

Best Green Ski Hotel 2020: Valsana Hotel & Appartements (Switzerland)

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Aurelio Lech (Austria)

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Chalet Zermatt Peak (Switzerland)

Best New Ski Chalet 2020: Chalet Marmottière (Switzerland)

Best Ski Resort Company 2020: Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel

Best Indoor Ski Resort 2020: Ski Dubai (UAE)

Best Ski Tour Operator 2020: Tui

Best Ski Travel Agent 2020: Leo Trippi

Best Heli-Ski Operator 2020: Bella Coola Heli Sports (Canada)

Best Ski Transfer Operator 2020: Schneebeben  

Australia

Best Ski Resort 2020: Thredbo

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Hotel Pension Grimus

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Astra Falls Creek

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Sequoia Penthouse Thredbo

China

Best Ski Resort 2020: Vanke Lake Songhua Resort

Japan

Best Ski Resort 2020: LOTTE Arai Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2020: The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel Hokkaido

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Ki Niseko

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Hakuchozan

New Zealand

Best Ski Resort 2020: Mt Hutt

Best Ski Hotel 2020: The Rees Hotel, Luxury Apartments & Lakeside Residences

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Matakauri Lodge

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Porters Lodge

South Korea

Best Ski Resort 2020: YongPyong Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Dragon Valley Hotel

Andorra

Best Ski Resort 2020: Grandvalira

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Sport Hotel Hermitage & Spa

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Màgic Ski

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Ski Chalet Alpine Residence

Austria

Best Ski Resort 2020: Kitzbühel

Best Ski Hotel 2020: A-ROSA Kitzbühel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Aurelio Lech

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Hahnenkamm Lodge

Bulgaria

Best Ski Resort 2020: Bansko

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Alpin Hotel

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Villa Gella

Czech Republic

Best Ski Resort 2020: Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Harmony Club Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Savoy Špindlerův Mlýn

Finland

Best Ski Resort 2020: Levi

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Break Sokos Hotel Levi

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Iso-Syöte

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Rukan Salonki Chalets

France

Best Ski Resort 2020: Val Thorens

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Fahrenheit Seven Val Thorens

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Pashmina

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Le Chalet Mont Blanc 

Germany  

Best Ski Resort 2020: Garmisch-Partenkirchen 

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Kempinski Hotel Berchtesgaden

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Staudacherhof

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Country Home Pitzner

Italy

Best Ski Resort 2020: Dolomites Val Gardena

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Cristallo, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Cortina d’Ampezzo

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Saint Hubertus Resort Luxury Hotel & Spa

Best Ski Chalet 2020: White Deer San Lorenzo Mountain Lodge

Norway

Best Ski Resort 2020: Geilo

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Fýri – Resort of Hemsedal

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Nermo Hotell

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Havsdalsgrenda

Poland

Best Ski Resort 2020: Kotelnica Bialczańska

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Nosalowy Dwór Resort & Spa

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Crocus

Romania

Best Ski Resort 2020: Sinaia

Russia

Best Ski Resort 2020: Rosa Khutor 

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Sochi Marriott Krasnaya Polyana Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Grand Hotel & Spa Rodina

Slovakia

Best Ski Resort 2020: Jasná Nízke Tatry

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Grand Hotel Praha

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel FIS Jasná

Slovenia

Best Ski Resort 2020: Krvavec

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Hotel Golte

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Hotel Krvavec

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Apartment Trije ploti

Spain

Best Ski Resort 2020: Boí Taüll

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Rafaelhoteles By La Pleta

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Meliá Royal Tanau Boutique Hotel

Sweden

Best Ski Resort 2020: Funäsfjällen

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Hotel Bügelhof

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Eriksgårdens Fjällhotell

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Skutan Ski Lodge

Switzerland

Best Ski Resort 2020: Laax

Best Ski Hotel 2020: W Verbier

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Romantik Hotel Chesa Grischuna

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Chalet Zermatt Peak

Argentina

Best Ski Resort 2020: Chapelco Ski Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Loi Suites Chapelco Hotel

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Charming Luxury Lodge 

Canada

Best Ski Resort 2020: Revelstoke Mountain Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: The Josie

Best Ski Chalet 2020: Whiteworth Chalet

Chile

Best Ski Resort 2020: Nevados de Chillán

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Hotel Portillo

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: MI Lodge Las Trancas

U.S.

Best Ski Resort 2020: Deer Valley Resort

Best Ski Hotel 2020: Stein Eriksen Lodge Deer Valley

Best Ski Boutique Hotel 2020: Goldener Hirsch Inn 

 Source: World Ski Awards  

According to the awards, which are now in their eighth year, Val Thorens scooped the top prize thanks to its ‘snowsure pistes and extensive slopeside accommodation’.

Since the launch of the awards, only Kitzbühel has managed to once snatch the main title away from the French resort, which is based in the famous Les 3 Vallées area.

To add to the resort’s allure, the four-star Fahrenheit Seven hotel in Val Thorens was named ‘Best Ski Hotel in France’ for 2020.

It has a hip 1970s retro design and is described as ‘mixing both industrial and cosy elements, with an unmissable fireplace lodge atmosphere’.

The exterior of Aurelio Lech in Austria, which collected the ‘World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel’ gong at the World Ski Awards

The awards described Aurelio Lech as being ‘sumptuous’. Pictured is one of the bedrooms 

Inside the spa at Aurelio Lech, which includes a 23-metre swimming pool, pictured, and a hot tub

Vincent Lalanne, director of the Val Thorens Tourism Office, said: ‘The fact that we’re selected again as World’s Best Ski Resort is both an honour and responsibility to meet the needs of our clients and our local community who are the driving force behind the resort’s success.

‘We remain focused on our pursuit to reinvent ourselves each season and impatiently await the return of holidaymakers as soon as the situation allows it.’

In the newcomer categories, Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono took the ‘World’s Best New Ski Hotel’ award and the ‘divine opulence’ of Verbier’s Chalet Marmottière was acknowledged by the ‘World’s Best New Ski Chalet’ accolade.

The French ski resort of Val Thorens , which is the highest in Europe at 10,560 feet, was named as the ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ 

Inside Fahrenheit Seven in Val Thorens, which was named as the best ski hotel in France for 2020 

Fahrenheit Seven has a hip 1970s retro design and is described as ‘mixing both industrial and cosy elements, with an unmissable fireplace lodge atmosphere’

Deer Valley in Utah landed the gold medal in the ‘best ski resort in the United States category’

The award for the best ski resort in Australia went to Thredbo, which is located in the Snowy Mountains of southeastern Australia

Winners also included Switzerland’s Laax – home of the world’s biggest halfpipe (‘World’s Best Freestyle Resort’); Ski Dubai (‘World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort’); Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel (‘World’s Best Ski Resort Company’); Bella Coola Heli Sports, Canada (‘World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator’); Valsana Hotel & Appartements, Switzerland (‘World’s Best Green Ski Hotel’); Schneebeben (‘World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator’); Leo Trippi (‘World’s Best Ski Travel Agent’) and Tui (‘World’s Best Ski Tour Operator’).

Awards were also announced on a country level, with the best resorts and hospitality providers from the world’s leading ski tourism destinations honoured.

Among the country-level winners were Grandvalira, which was named Andorra’s best ski resort; the Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena Bansko, which scooped the title of Bulgaria’s best ski hotel; Country Home Pitzner, which took home the award of best ski chalet in Germany and Dolomites Val Gardena, the recipient of the best ski resort in Italy award.

The ‘best ski resort in Italy’ crown was taken by Dolomites Val Gardena, pictured 

Yet again Switzerland’s Laax resort, pictured, home to the world’s biggest halfpipe, was named as ‘World’s Best Freestyle Resort’

In Bulgaria, the award for the best ski resort went to Bansko, pictured, which can be found in the south-west of the country 

Sion Rapson, managing director of the World Ski Awards, said: ‘Our winners represent the very best of the global ski travel and tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them. 

‘They have all demonstrated remarkable resilience in a year of unprecedented challenges.

‘The World Ski Awards 2020 programme received a record number of votes cast by the public. This shows that the appetite for booking a ski holiday has never been stronger and bodes well for the industry as the global recovery begins.’

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