Ski hosting dispute goes to high court

CHALET holiday firm Le Ski is taking its case against the ski hosting ban in France to the supreme court in Paris after losing its initial appeal in Chambery.

“This is only possible with the continuing support of our fellow tour operators,” said Le Ski’s boss Nick Morgan.

The roots of the case go back decades, but focus on British firms offering clients free advice and tours of the slopes during their stay.

The service is offered around the world – often provided by resorts themselves in North America – but ski organisations in France claim it breaks French law as the hosts are, they say, essentially paid ski guides who don’t have proper qualifications.

Le Ski was taken to court in 2013 and all British tour operators stopped ski hosting in France. But 10 companies, including the UK’s largest operators, have backed Le Ski’s case arguing that the verdict breaks European law and is also inconsistent with French law, because unqualified people such as schoolteachers are allowed to lead groups on French slopes.

The ruling at the Court of Appeal in Chambery confirmed the original verdict – that ski hosting is illegal in France – but slashed the amount of damages awarded to the Ecole du Ski Français. Meanwhile, ski hosting stays banned – at least for the time being.