Verbier Voted World’s Best Ski Resort

18th January 2022

Last modified on January 24th, 2022

The World Ski Awards claims to be the only global initiative to recognise, reward and celebrate excellence in ski tourism.

Votes are cast by ski industry professionals – including tour operators and travel buyers – and the public.

There are several categories including best resorts, hotels, chalets and tour operators.

Verbier came out on top as the World’s Best Ski Resort.

It’s the first time it’s achieved the accolade.

It was also named the best in Switzerland for the third time in four years.

Verbier – photo © PlanetSKI

“We would like to thank all the tourist partners of the destination who bring Verbier to life and make it shine internationally; without them, this award would not have been given to us,” said Simon Wiget, Director of Verbier Tourisme.

“This victory is that of the entire destination, of shopkeepers, hoteliers and other professionals in Verbier and Val de Bagnes; it is also that of our day-to-day ambassadors, secondary and annual residents, seasonal workers, and even our loyal customers”.

Verbier is also home to the hotel voted the World’s Best Ski Hotel, W Verbier.

It’s the sixth consecutive year that the W has been voted both best in Switzerland and best in the world.

Another Swiss resort, LAAX, which has the world’s biggest halfpipe, has been named the World’s Best Freestyle Resort.

And its innovative rocksresort is the World’s Best Green Ski Hotel.

rocksresort, Laax – photo © PlanetSKI

Val Thorens,  which has been seven times been voted the world’s best has this time picked up the gong for the Best Ski Resort in France.

It’s the ninth time the resort in the vast Les3Vallees ski area has received that accolade.

This victory is especially welcome as Covid-19 restrictions closed the lifts in France last season and few people were able to visit.

Val Thorens – photo © C Ducruet Val Thorens Tourism Office

“We are really honored to be awarded the accolade of ‘Best Ski Resort in France’, thanks to our community of Val Thorens fans,” said Vincent Lalanne, Director of the Val Thorens Tourist Office.

“We also want to congratulate Verbier for winning the ‘World’s Best Ski Resort’ title which we’ve achieved 7 times.

“The WSA scheme recognises and rewards excellence and we will try everything to win it again next year by continually improving our products and services for our valued guests.”

Val Thorens says the World Ski Awards has rewarded the close teamwork at Val Thorens in place for many years and based on its communal philosophy of ‘Live United’.

“We are also delighted to once again be able to receive and welcome British visitors now that the French Government has allowed leisure travel to resume.   Proof of a negative Covid test is still required with travel permissible as of January 14, 2022,” Vincent Lalanne said.

Val Thorens, – photo © PlanetSKI

The resorts chosen as the best in their country for 2021 are:

• Australia – Thredbo
• China – Vanke Lake Songhua Resort
• France – Val Thorens
• Japan – Rutsutsu
• New Zealand – Mt Hutt
• South Korea – YongPyong
• Andorra – Vallnord-Pal Arinsal
• Austria – Kitzbühel
• Bulgaria – Bansko
• Czech Republic – Skiareál Špindlerův Mlýn
• Finland – Levi
• Germany  – Oberstdorf
• Italy – Dolomites Val Gardena
• Norway – Geilo
• Poland – Kotelnica Bialczańska
• Romania – Sinaia
• Russia – Rosa Khutor
• Slovakia – Jasná Nízke Tatry
• Slovenia – Krvavec
• Spain – Baqueira-Beret
• Sweden – Åre
• Switzerland – Verbier
• Argentina – Chapelco
• Canada – Lake Louise
• Chile – Portillo
• USA – Deer Valley

The World Ski Awards has been going since 2013 and is the sister organisation of the World Travel Awards.

“Our winners represent the very best of the global ski tourism sector and my congratulations to each of them,” said Sion Rapson, MD of the World Ski Awards.

“The 9^th annual World Ski Awards programme received a record number of votes from ski consumers across the world.

“This shows that the appetite for ski tourism has never been stronger and bodes well as the global recovery gathers momentum.”

A full list of winners is on the World Ski Awards website.