Rising number of cross-country skiers

Surveys and statistics show that Germans (the largest tourist demographic to Austria) are developing a growing interest in and passion for cross-country skiing.

This statement is particularly supported by a trend study carried out by the market research company Kantar TNS and the Olympiaregion Seefeld “Winter Sports in Germany 2018”. The managing director of the Olympiaregion Seefeld, Elias Walser, confirms the results of the survey based on his own observations in everyday working life as well as the interaction with visitors: “We have been observing the growing popularity of cross-country skiing for several years and meet our guests’ needs comprehensively. We start the new cross-country season around the 11th November as one of the first winter sport destinations and most traditional cross-country skiing locations in the Alps. ”

At the ISPO Munich, the world’s largest multi-segment fair for sports, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Ralf Roth from the German Sport University Cologne summarised the study “Winter Sports Germany 2018” and gave a presentation at the symposium of “Your Winter. Your Sport.”

The sponsors of “Your Winter. Your Sport. ” discussed the results together with other presidents of ski and sports associations in Germany (including the German Ski Instructor Association DSLV, the Federal Association of the German Sporting Goods Industry & Managing Director Marmot Europe) and CEOs of international sports retailers (including the Uvex sports group).

Furthermore, the experts addressed questions about future procedures, methods and campaigns of all sectors involved, in order to guarantee the practice of winter sports and to increase the enthusiasm for an active, healthy lifestyle among the population.

Cross-country skiing: More than just a trend

The study shows that more than half of the German population above the age of 18 (51% = approx. 35 million) expressed a general interest in cross-country skiing. It demonstrates that actually 10% more people who are actively into winter sports would prefer to start or resume cross-country skiing rather than alpine skiing or snowboarding.

Even those who had only tried cross-country skiing once before in their life emphasised their wish to pick it up again, according to the survey (7%).

In 2017, around 5.7 million cross-country skiers were active on the trails. Although alpine skiing is still at the top with a total of 8 million skiers in 2018, general developments show that alpine skiing could be overtaken soon, especially since cross-country skiing is cheaper than skiing. Another result of the study shows that snowboarding is practiced almost exclusively by younger generations as their main choice of sport and is generally recessive. 30% of those Germans who are sporty in principal but who have not yet done any regular exercise in the winter can imagine starting to do a specific winter sport.

“Winter sports are as popular as ever before,” assures Dr. Roth from the Cologne Sports University. Based on the study it’s evident that sports enthusiasts try and carry out several different winter sport activities over many years of their life. However, this is dependent on subjective tendencies and preferences as well as external circumstances.

On average, German citizens practice about 2.2 snow sports. Around 5.82 million prefer, in addition to other well-known winter sports (alpine skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, ski tours, tobogganing or sledding), above all cross-country skiing as their main sport. To underline these statistics, Prof. Dr. Roth and his team introduced the “Winter Sports Days” (“Wintersport-Tage”) as a new numerical value. The main sport of the Germans was also taken into account in order to collect more data for the study. According to this, German citizens spend a total of 300 million days a year doing different winter sports.

When it comes to winter holidays, factors such as relaxation, family time and extensive outdoor activities play a very big part in the decision making process for Germans. German winter sports enthusiasts spend an average of 14.6 days actively in the fresh air in order to escape everyday stress and to relax. 77% usually try to focus on those things that are neglected in everyday life and for 76% being active with family, partners or friends is very important. The focus lies on spending time in nature, exercising in the fresh air as well as a low risk of danger (e.g. terrorist attacks). According to the Kantar TNS study, cross-country skiing falls under extensive trend categories and can meet the multifaceted needs of visitors. Promoting health including endurance and fitness (67%) is the greatest motivating factor for practising cross-country skiing. A report by the AWA (Allensbach market and advertising media analysis), which determines the habits of consumption and media usage of the German population based on a wide range of sources and statistics, stated that in 2019 around 710,000 Germans (from the age of 14) did cross-country skiing in their leisure time.

Seefeld-Leutasch: a Mecca for Cross-country skiing

The Olympiaregion Seefeld-Leutasch in Tyrol with its municipalities of Seefeld, Leutasch, Scharnitz, Reith bei Seefeld and Mösern is and remains one of the most popular cross-country skiing destinations in the Alps. The Seefeld-Leutasch region has 280 km of perfectly prepared cross-country trails for all levels of difficulty and a Nordic competence center (Nordisches Kompetenzzentrum) including a World Cup arena with ski jumps, biathlon and snow-making facilities. Cross-country skiing in Austria is particularly popular among Germans with a percentage of over 60%.

Compared to Seefeld-Leutasch there aren’t many other regions which are as popular in the summer as well as in the winter. As a cycling and hiking center (460 km) and a hotspot in the golf region center with 6 golf courses (including an 18-hole golf course in Leutasch), more and more holidaymakers choose Seefeld-Leutasch for their summer holiday destination in the Austrian Alps. With 30 ski lifts at 1,200 to 2,064m and  Seefeld-Leutasch has a lot to offer for skiers and snowboarders.

Everyone is talking about Seefeld-Leutasch

The snow-sure Olympiaregion Seefeld-Leutasch isn’t just famous for its cross-country skiing among holidaymakers. In the winter and summer high seasons of 2014/15, 2015/16 and 2016/2017, there was a general increase in arrivals and overnight stays. The number of arrivals increased especially in the summer between 2014/15 and 2016/17. In the summer of 2014/15, 221,000 arrivals and in the following summer season 2016/17 a total of 278,000 (plus 57.000) arrivals were recorded. In winter 2015/16 there were significantly more arrivals than in the previous year. According to records from the Seefeld Tourism Association, there were a total of 235,333 arrivals and 991,719 overnight stays in the 2018/19 winter season.

On the list of most important tourism communities in Tyrol, Seefeld came in 10th place with the following key figures in the winter season of 2018/19: 127,264 arrivals, 526,457 overnight stays, 77 commercial occupancy days and 153 overnight stays per inhabitant. (Source: www.tirol.gv.at/fileadmin/themen/statistik-budget/statistik/downloads/Tourismus/Der_Tourismus_im_Winter_18_19.pdf ).

All-Suite Resort Leutasch

Kristall Spaces is delighted to introduce the marketing phase of our latest aparthotel project, All-Suite Resort Leutasch, near Seefeld.

These 86 new apartments are being built in a dream location with a breathtaking 360 degree view and a 500 m² spa including a heated outdoor pool, gym, restaurant and bar. A professional operator will rent and market the apartments for you and thanks to the strong year-round tourism in the Olympiaregion Seefeld high returns can be achieved.

Contact us today so that we can register your interest in this project and keep you up to date. We will be happy to send you floor plans and pricing as soon as they are available.

All-Suite Resorts appoints Michelin Star COO

As our associate operator company, All-Suite Resorts Österreich GmbH, prepares to open All-Suite Resort Ötztal on 7 July, we are delighted to announce the appointment of Jürgen Weitzer as the new Chief Operating Officer for All-Suite Resorts Österreich GmbH.

Jürgen has had a distinguished career working for some of the most prestigious names in hospitality including El Bulli, Alain Ducasse and Gordon Ramsay, not to mention earning his very own Michelin Star on two separate occasions https://www.linkedin.com/in/juergen-weitzer-17946642/

Jürgen will oversee operations for All-Suite Resorts in Oetz, Fieberbrunn, Paznaun & Karwendel and develop the new aparthotel concept which in keeping with customer demand is moving away from the traditional Tirolean half-board business model towards a freer and more individual experience that today’s traveller seeks.

This desire to create their own more memorable experiences has resulted in a significant rise in the number of holidaymakers choosing Gewerbliche Ferienwohnungen or professionally managed apartments which is the fastest growing accommodation category in Austria with an 18% increase in bookings in Winter 2018 (source: Urlaub in Ferienwohnungen boomt https://tirol.orf.at/news/stories/2904521/)

Guests rely more on technology: with the opening of Delis, All-Suite Resorts’ new bistro and in-house shop, guests are no longer tied to a faceless half or full board experience and will be able to order breakfast, lunch or dinner in the restaurant, to be delivered to their apartment or by the swimming pool.

And the menus are quite a departure from the traditional fayre found in Tirol with emphasis on a wide choice of lighter and international cuisine … but the old favourites are in there too with some clever variations like the Tiroler Gröstl made with octopus.

The unspoken objective is to become the best restaurant in Oetz and hopefully the Ötztal valley.  Download Delis All-Suite Resorts sample menu.

More control and freedom: ingredients including organic fruit and vegetables can also be sourced through the Delis app and delivered to the apartment when guests want to cook in the privacy of their own kitchen / dining room.

“Today’s traveller wants more control and ‘me time’. The new aparthotel proposition pioneered by All-Suite Resorts gives customers more flexibility and breaks from the tradition of the standard hotel model,” said Jürgen Weitzer.

“I am delighted to be part of the story and help roll out these initiatives across the All-Suite Resorts locations: Oetz first and then Fieberbrunn, Paznaun and many other locations to follow. Flexibility and innovation is at the heart of our business,” he added.

About All-Suite Resorts Österreich GmbH:

All-Suite Resorts is a new but highly professional team with vast experience of international hotel operation, sales and marketing and rental management.  Their collective background experience spans leading hotel industry consultancies such as www.michaeler-partner.com to international hotel chain operation (e.g Falkensteiner) as well as numerous hotels and restaurants in Tirol.

It is their responsibility to deliver the maximum possible profit for apartment owners through careful occupancy management (i.e. renting to the highest possible number of guests in the most expensive / high demand holiday weeks) whilst ensuring a first-class customer experience.

Expert partners include hotelpartner-ym.com for yield management, Limendo (in-house Bistro / shop app) and Mindpark.at for demand generation.

Bellevue Best Property Agents 2018

Kristall Spaces has been awarded the Bellevue magazine Best Property Agents 2018 seal of approval.  Only a select group of international real estate agents are awarded this title.

Branson Atterbury, Marketing Director at Kristall Spaces AG commented: “We had a compelling proposition for the Bellevue panel of judges.  We are the developer, agent and operator and thus provide a rare, end-to-end service: construction, marketing in German, Dutch and English, legal and financial advice to buyers and maintenance and a rental service on behalf of owners. Our key personnel are court sworn experts for the Bundesministerium für Justiz in planning, construction, engineering and property consultancy.”

It is this end-to-end proposition that allows us to understand all parts of the value chain and makes us even more effective at advising customers on acquiring their dream lifestyle investment.

Kristall Spaces AG has a current pipeline of developments worth in excess of €100m and an impressive portfolio of projects including:

  • All-Suite Resort Fieberbrunn (Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang / Kitzbühel Alps) All-Suite Resort Karwendel
  • All-Suite Residence Kühtai
  • Silva Peak Residences, Ischgl
  • All-Suite Resort Paznaun, Ischgl
  • All-Suite Resort Ötztal
  • Residenzen Gasthof Zwieselstein, Sölden
  • Mountain Spa Residences, St Anton
  • Mountain Lake Resort, Zell am See
  • Residenz Zwieselstein, Sölden
  • Residenz Sölden

Buying new build property in Austria

Austria is already the first choice for affordable ski properties, higher rental yields and authentic hospitality when compared to France and Switzerland but how does one decide on the type of property to buy: new-build or resale?

Here are some options to consider:

New-build or off-plan property in Austria normally comes with a higher price tag per m² and will further increase in value as soon as you take ownership.  Typically, we see a 4 to 5% annual growth on our ski apartments and this can be higher in some locations in Tirol thanks to scarcity restrictions to avoid the “cold beds” trends found in France and Switzerland.  According to the UBS Alpine Property Focus 2017, St Anton delivers best growth in the Alps at 8.2%.

So, you might have to increase your budget for a new-build but here’s a few reasons why it’s worthwhile.

New developments present an opportunity to buy into the project early increasing your chances of securing one of the best units at the lowest price and improving capital appreciation.  Note that developers can increase their prices year-on-year and as the project gains interest demand starts to rise.

Importantly, smart new build projects are carefully chosen by a developer for their location and access to ski lifts / pistes and restaurants and can command a rental premium over resale properties.

New property buyers aren’t in a chain and there is less reliance on the current owner / vendor which means less chance of the sale falling through.

Buying off-plan offers attractive payment schemes which don’t exist with resale properties: you pay for your apartment in stages.  The trustee will notify you in good time when each stage payment is due so you have time to prepare the transfer of funds – no need to transfer all at once.  This can be particularly advantageous when using a currency service.

There is also flexibility when dealing with the developer over factors such as parking spaces and choice of furniture packs and when there is joint ownership of the operating company for your apartments, it is possible for the developer to guarantee rental returns for a period during the operating agreement e.g. guaranteed 4% return on net purchase price for first 5 years.

When you buy off-plan in Austria, you get a certain amount of control over the interior of the apartment.  There is range of interior themes and styles to choose from and because you are dealing with the developer it is possible to make minor changes to the floor plans in the early stages of the project.

All new properties built in Austria use state-of-the-art, energy efficient methods and materials that you will simply not find in resale buildings.  Greener energy solutions, more efficient heating systems and some of the highest recycling standards in Europe not only reduce your carbon footprint but lower bills.

All Kristall Spaces’ developments use automatic central heating systems with air or water sourced heat pumps.  Energy is also captured from the spa and bathrooms areas to generate warmth in the underfloor heating systems via heat exchangers and our ventilation systems use the same heat recovery principles to pump fresh air into the apartments at the correct room temperature.  All this results in monthly heating cost savings for owners when compared to oil or gas and delivers a greener, more sustainable solution.

New properties in prime Austrian ski resort locations that come with a rental obligation when owners are not staying there themselves are exempt from VAT.  You can save a whopping 20% on the sales price when you opt for one of these apartments.

New properties come with building guarantees.  For example, we negotiate with tradesmen and suppliers for the following:

  • 10 years for the roof covering
  • 5 years for the mechanical systems (heating, electrics, lifts)
  • 5 years for the remaining works including the shell of the building
  • 2 years for electrical goods

Furthermore, Austrian Building Law allows for a 30-year Statute of Limitations for all hidden defects.

Please see our generic FAQ about buying and owning property in Austria or why not Contact us for advice on your Austrian property search.

Kristall Spaces Projects Update – Ski Properties in Tirol Winter 2017/18

Please click the links below for more information on each project.

St Anton – completion date December 2017.  Ready to occupy.  Over 70% sold out.  Award-winning ski-out apartments.   Some of the best views in the valley.  St Anton delivers best growth (8.2%) in UBS Alpine Property Focus 2017.

Kühtai – 2 apartments left. Ready to occupy now. Highest customer satisfaction in Kühtai on Booking.com: 9.6 Exceptional.  Ski in and out.  Highest ski apartments in Austria – 2,020 metres.  35 minutes from Innsbruck airport.

Ötztal – dual season resort. 100 metres to the ski lift. Full pricing and availability. 8% return on capital invested when taking out a 55% mortgage or a guaranteed 4% return on net purchase price for first 5 years.  25 minutes from Innsbruck airport.   Prices from 215.000€.  19 apartments sold.

Sölden – revised pricing post tendering.  Adjacent to family-run Gasthof Zwieselstein.   Guaranteed 4% return for the first 5 years.   Sölden and Obergurgl-Hochgurgl now offer a joint lift pass for 3+ days. 4 apartments left.

Fieberbrunn – 270km of pistes – will soon connect with Zell am See. Prices from 225.000€. Up to 8% return on capital invested when taking out a 55% mortgage or a guaranteed 4% return on net purchase price for first 5 years.  Some of the highest snowfall in Tirol.  Excellent off-piste skiing.  10 apartments reserved.

Ischgl – prices start at 5,000EUR per sq metre.  Full pricing available in April 2018.  Contact us today for a preview of the plans.  Already taking unbinding reservations.

Karwendel – pricing available in April 2018.  Contact us today for plans.  No rental obligation.  One of the most beautiful places you will ever visit.

Kristall Spaces develops and sells ski property in Tirol and now we manage and rent apartments on behalf our owners through our operator business, All-Suite Resorts.

17 January: update on Kristall Spaces projects

The Austrian Alps are nicely covered with snow and as much 229cm in Sölden.  We at Kristall Spaces are busy handling dozens of enquiries each day and managing site visits for prospective EU and non EU based buyers.

We have 4 key projects with pricing & availability

St Anton apartment for sale – construction is underway and one of the buildings containing half the apartments has all the floors in place and the roof on.  It is possible to enter the building with one of our representatives and get a feel for the floor spaces and different views.  Of the 28 upper luxury apartments in this project, 14 are still available.  Voted Best Apartment in Austria & Europe.

Kühtai 2020 Residences – construction was completed last month. There are 5 apartments (out of 17) left but we expect them to sell in the next few months.  There are quite a few buyers who have reserved or are about to reserve in this development, the highest in Austria.  Come and look round one these fully furnished luxury apartments which are ready to occupy now.

Sölden – we will start construction after this ski season. 3 of the 8 apartments have been sold or reserved and there is good interest for the last 5.  It is easy to set up appointments in the Gasthof Zwieselstein where you can meet the developer and the Gstrein family who will manage the rental business of your apartment.

Mountain Lake Resort Ötztal – we have just finalised floor plans and pricing for this exciting dual season location. 100 metres from the ski lift and in a prime location to make the most of the Ötztal’s strong summer season facilities.  State of the art spa and choice of swimming pools for summer. Restaurant and bar on-site.  We already have 7 reservations!

Coming soon – new projects

We will soon release floor plans for Galtür (Ischgl) and Fieberbrunn, so keep your powder dry if you want your own apartment in one of these locations!

Galtür (Ischgl) – floor plans for Mountain Spa Resort Paznaun coming in February 2017.  We will update all our prospects with a newsletter.

Fieberbrunn – floor plans coming in February 2017 also.  Again, all our previous enquiring customers will receive a newsletter.

Karwendel – 28 leisure residences with no rental obligation although we provide a rental service if owners would like to rent their apartments.  Swimming lake & on-site wellness.  On-site brasserie restaurant & bar. 1 hour from Munich & 40 minutes from Mittenwald.

Register your interest 

Contact us today if you are interested in any of these locations and we will keep you updated with progress.