Turning the Ordinary into the Extraordinary with VIP SKI
Last winter, VIP SKI opened the doors to their spectacular, new at the giddying altitude of 1,950 m, in Arc 1950. It’s the culmination of seven years’ design and development, during which VIP SKI has created the ultimate ski experience. It’s a 30-bedroom hotel with 12 apartments, together, of course, with a full-sized pool, a spa with Hamman, sauna and hot tub, piste-side kid’s space, gym, cinema and small conference room.
For this season, VIP SKI has commissioned interior experts, The Snug in association with Laughland Jones to add some pizazz and a little sparkle to Bear Lodge, using their brand’s homeware and art collections. Andrew Laughland of The Snug is bringing in some carefully curated brands that fit with both companies’ values and style.
Andrew Laughland said, “This is an exciting time for us as over the past thirty years we have partnered with VIP SKI using our own produced textiles across their portfolio. We furnished the chalets in Avoriaz: Chalet Ipaka, Chalet Kipnuk and Chalet Sakami, which have all been nominated for “World’s Best French Ski Chalets 2022” at the World Ski Awards*. These three chalets are stylish, whilst retaining the inviting feel of an alpine retreat”
Laughland continues, “We now run three shops in the UK and this year we are opening our Alpine headquarters, The Snug in the centre of Chamonix. Our stock is our own-design products which are not massed produced but are on trend and are produced in-house with our products created in the wild villages of the Himalayas and Kashmir”.
The new additions will bring the look and feel of the property bang up to date. To bring the suites to life, we will be injecting some colour and vibrancy into the furnishings, and selecting eclectic, funky and occasionally thought-provoking pieces, the result will be one of understated luxury with an emphasis on comfort.
The finished effect will create a happy and uplifting environment in which to relax after a day on the mountain. The aim if for guests to walk in and smile, and hopefully want to take design influences back to their own homes which they can purchase at The Snug.
The new look will be very contemporary with pops of colours – think pattern, colour, designs to make you smile. With uplifting splashes, colour will be present – furniture will be chic and sleek but comfortable.
No expense has been spared in the project – VIP SKI have privately commissioned over 300 pieces of art to adorn the property. There will be an unusual use of textile art, ranging from Kuba textiles – unique for their surface decoration, enchanted by geometric designs and excited in linear embroidery to grass wall mirrors inspired by the likes of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the tribal art from the savannas of Africa. The works will create stylish, colourful accents throughout the property as well as some tongue in cheek fun with the Tresor Paris Crystal Ice Skates
VIP SKI’s Bear Lodge has been nominated for “World’s Best New Ski Hotel 2022” at the World Ski Awards* which take place in November. Andy Sturt, owner of VIP SKI, says: “We are very happy that our work is being recognised and we will continue to offer luxury and exceptional locations, continue with our service for its unrivalled attention to detail. The Bear Lodge is run by welcoming hosts, famous for their charming, attentive, yet unobtrusive service. We are very proud of what we do, and we really care about our clients’ ski holidays”.
VIP SKI’s brand-new complex is located on the piste, next to the ski lifts and a short walk across the slope to the centre of the village. A seven-night stay, from 8 January 2022, costs from £1,244 pp (with £100 early booking reduction before 31 October 2022. Or a week’s stay, from 19 March 2023, costs from £1,359 pp. Prices include cooked breakfast and dinner with choice of menu on seven days and return transfers from Geneva Airport.
VIP SKI (0203 6660 0808, www.vip-chalets.com)
