SAP (Development Corporation of La Plagne, Compagnie des Alpes) hits hard to modernize the ski area of the Savoyard resort and halt the decline in revenue.
The Societe d’amenagement de La Plagne (SAP) have announced a huge investment in the lift system of €146 million over the next ten years from 2015 to 2024.
Popular with British skiers
The ski region encompasses several different resorts including Plagne 1800, Plagne Centre and Belle Plagne is very popular with British skiers and snowboarders.
The resort recognises that investment is needed to address the recent fall in lift pass revenues and an ageing lift system.
To increase the lift capacity, the plans include upgrading and replacing many of the 48 existing gondolas and chairlifts to remove queuing blackspots and improve access to the Bellecote glacier.
The plans mean that with a more modern and faster lift system the target revenue for the resort will increased from €690,000 today to €1m.
New gondola to the Bellecote glacier
A key replacement lift will be with access to the glacier. The current lift was installed in the 1978 and can take up to 45 minutes to queue for in peak season.
In 2016: a new 10-person gondola will be installed from the start of the Chalet de Bellecôte chairlift and Roche de Mio, with a capacity of 2800 people per hour.
A new piste will also be created between Roche de Mio and le Col de la Chiaupe to allow skiers the choice to ski down from the glacier. A second phase is due to start in 2017, with a second 10-person gondola.
Le télèsiège Les Colosses, installed in 2014
Article by Iain Martin