Temperature difference from norm 1961 to 1990<\/strong><\/p>\n Lofty Goals: Stepping forward<\/strong><\/p>\n Despite this poor performance, Weisse Arena did not come unprepared. To date 35km [7] of slopes are permanently equipped with snow cannons. This required overcoming Graub\u00fcnden government regulation from 1990 allowing coverage of maximum 5% of resort area with artificial snow [8] as locals feared the cannon\u2019s energy consumption. Only as worries about the areas major employer surfaced and energy needs could be met increasingly by renewable sources did the regulation get lifted.<\/p>\n In fact, this environmental focus has led to lofty goals: The Group\u2019s vision is to become \u201cthe world\u2019s first self-sufficient winter resort\u201d [9]. Today, 100% of the resorts energy needs are covered by CO2 neutral energy from Swiss hydro plants (~75%) and the resort\u2019s own solar panels (~25%) [10] [11]. Furthermore, a wind farm project will bring renewable energy to 5,000 households in the region. Renewed lifts (such as 2015s La Siala chairlift) reduced energy consumption by 5%.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Laax aims at a zero waste policy having implemented a functional recycling system and reduced waste through the KeepCups initiative [12]. Sourcing local, eco and Fairtrade ingredients for the gastronomy is another step towards reducing Laax\u2019 ecologic impact [13].<\/p>\n However, pressures remain high. The resort continues to invest in its summer infrastructure attracting hikers and other outdoor tourists (increasing share of summer guests from 7 to 11% since 2002) [14], and discounts encourage winter tourists to buy tickets months in advance in order to smooth revenue. However, still 95% percent of revenue is generated during the winter season and discounts have a direct impact on the top line. Furthermore, improving conditions through artificial snow coverage (with estimated costs CHF 1 million per km) [15] and making slope adjustments as well as active snow management remain expensive. And global warming is predicted to continue\u2026<\/p>\n What\u2019s next?<\/strong><\/p>\n So what can be done? US ski resorts such as Washington School House have invested more aggressively in diversifying their offer through theme parks, spa offerings and introducing new outdoor activities [16]. This will also increase average revenue per guest. Whilst Weisse Arena was already able to increase average spending from CHF 93 to 106 over the last four years, this will be a trend likely to continue as servicing the resort will become more cost intensive [17]. Additionally, Weisse Arena will have to become more considerate in how it expands its network. In particular, this means shifting lifts and slopes to higher altitudes. In order to reduce personal and energy costs the company will need to focus on improving utilization of lifts and slopes, closing some of them temporarily when few people are on the mountain.<\/p>\n Another, albeit ambitious, initiative may be to shift the main ski season altogether. Most German states do not have a week of \u201cski holidays\u201d for schools in February when conditions are best, restricting families to coming over Christmas and New Years and hence before snow coverage has reached its maximum. Such a movement however will most likely only succeed when even the highest ski resorts in the Alps will fully experience the impacts of global warming.<\/p>\n Until then the solution remains to invest in artificial snow and alternative attractions, and hoping that the rest of the world starts taking its eco-footprint as seriously as the Weisse Arena Gruppe. Happy skiing!<\/p>\n (792 words)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Footnotes<\/strong><\/p>\n [1] Weisse Arena Gruppe. 2016.\u00a0Gesch\u00e4ftsbericht 2015\/2016<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.weissearena.com\/fileadmin\/user_upload\/pdf\/Geschaeftsberichte\/Geschaeftsbericht_2015-2016.pdf<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [2] Qualit\u00e4t GR. 2013.\u00a0Macht der Klimawandel Graub\u00fcnden zum Alpenresort f\u00fcr Wintersportler?<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.qualitaet-gr.ch\/uploads\/files\/BT_Klimabericht_310813.pdf<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [3] Weisse Arena Gruppe. 2015.\u00a0Company Portrait<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.weissearena.ch\/en\/company\/portrait\/<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [4] see [2]<\/p>\n [5] see [1]<\/p>\n [6] vzsb. 2015.\u00a0Der gekaufte Winter<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.vzsb.de\/media\/docs\/Der_gekaufte_Winter_-_8.12.2015.pdf<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [7] see [3]<\/p>\n [8] see [2]<\/p>\n [9] Laax.com. 2016.\u00a0Greenstyle<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.laax.com\/en\/experience-resort\/greenstyle<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [10] Laax.com. 2016.\u00a0Energy<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.laax.com\/en\/experience-resort\/greenstyle\/energy<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [11] Das Lamm. 2016.\u00a0Laax serviert Mediterrane S\u00fcnden<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/daslamm.ch\/laax-serviert-mediterrane-sunden-3000-meter-uber-meer\/<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [12] Laax.com. 2016.\u00a0Zero Waste – Recycling<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.laax.com\/en\/experience-resort\/greenstyle\/recycling<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016].<\/p>\n [13] Laax.com. 2016.\u00a0Water Food Purchasing<\/em>. [ONLINE] Available at:\u00a0https:\/\/www.laax.com\/en\/experience-resort\/greenstyle\/water-food-purchasing<\/a><\/u>. [Accessed 4 November 2016]<\/p>\n [14] see [1]<\/p>\n [15] see [5]<\/p>\n![\"screen-shot-2016-11-04-at-15-27-31\"](\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2016\/11\/Screen-Shot-2016-11-04-at-15.27.31.png\")
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