Industry News
A group of major international ski resort operators has joined forces to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing their industry: climate change. On May 7, 2025, at the Interalpin trade show in Innsbruck, Austria, leading resorts from across Europe, Scandinavia, and even New Zealand formally launched the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance, marking the first global effort of its kind in the ski world.
The founding members include some of the most well-known names in the industry, including Compagnie des Alpes, France; KitzSki, Austria; Kronplatz, Italy; Flims-Laax-Falera, Switzerland; Levi Ski Resort, Finland; NZSki, New Zealand; Oberstdorf Kleinwalsertal Bergbahnen, Germany; and SkiStar, Sweden. Together, these companies run more than 800 ski lifts and welcome around 25 million skier visits per year.
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Their shared goal is to reduce carbon emissions, modernize infrastructure, and promote sustainable practices across the ski tourism sector. While many of these resorts have already taken individual steps toward sustainability, this alliance formalizes their commitment and creates a platform for sharing ideas, data, and strategies.
“As an industry directly impacted by climate change, it’s our responsibility to help lead the transition,” said Dominique Thillaud, CEO of Compagnie des Alpes, in a press release. “We’re focusing on cutting emissions in our operations and pushing our supply chains to do the same.”
“By working together, we can speed up innovation and make more meaningful progress,” said Stefan Sjöstrand, CEO of SkiStar. “The climate challenges are too large to tackle alone.” Levi Ski Resort’s CEO, Jouni Palosaari, echoed that sentiment, noting that the alliance is about protecting the future of winter sports and preserving “White Winters” for generations to come.
Concrete Steps Toward Change
The alliance has identified several areas where coordinated efforts can make a real difference. These include electrifying infrastructure, improving energy efficiency, and switching to 100% renewable energy sources.
At Flims-Laax-Falera in Switzerland, for example, the resort is already focused on reducing emissions while maintaining respect for the natural environment. “We’re upgrading infrastructure and energy systems to be as efficient and clean as possible,” said Reto Gurtner, CEO of the Weisse Arena Group and ownder of Flims-Laax-Falera. KitzSki board members Anton Bodner and Christian Wörister added that meaningful change requires rethinking supply chains and infrastructure from the ground up. Their company is working closely with suppliers to prioritize low-carbon solutions and invest in cleaner technologies.
Standardized environmental data and performance metrics will be used to measure progress. According to Andreas Dorfmann, CEO of Kronplatz, this consistent tracking will help ensure transparency and accountability across the alliance.
Beyond the Environment
The alliance isn’t just focused on reducing emissions. Its members are also committing to social and economic sustainability by supporting the local communities where they operate. “We are part of these regions,” said Henrik Volpert, CEO of OK Bergbahnen. “It’s about making sure our impact is positive—on jobs, the economy, and quality of life.”
To make this contribution tangible, members are sharing best practices for measuring and communicating their local impact.
Paul Anderson, CEO of NZSki, called innovation and collaboration the alliance’s two guiding principles. “Our strength lies in working together, sharing what works, and scaling it,” he said.
By launching the Global Sustainability Ski Alliance, these resorts are making a public statement: sustainability in ski tourism isn’t just possible—it’s necessary, and it’s already underway. Through shared knowledge and joint action, they hope to set a standard the rest of the industry can follow.
