In addition to improvements in the ski systems, several new features are being introduced, ranging from continued digital solutions, the new SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället to investments in sustainable mountain destinations with better offerings and activities for guests.

Despite the pandemic, we have managed to launch several major projects, including digital solutions that already gave very good results last winter season and were appreciated by our guests. This creates both security and safety for our guests but also a more worry-free stay that we are now continuing to develop with the goal of all check-in and SkiPass sales being digital, says Stefan Sjöstrand, President and CEO of SkiStar.

More people have discovered the Scandinavian mountain world during the pandemic and the importance of being outdoors and having an active holiday with alpine skiing in focus. As a complement, SkiStar is therefore developing the SkiStar Cross Country Arena in Sälen, which already exists in a similar form in Åre, similar to other ski resorts in Sweden: high-quality cross-country skiing and several new services and products such as floodlit trails, parking, toilets and paddocks at the arenas as an addition to SkiStar's SkiPass.

Living better away than at home
New guests and new holiday habits also place other demands on comfort and living better away from home and also a wider range of restaurants, preferably with sustainable local ingredients and ingredients from the village. SkiStar is therefore opening the new SkiStar Lodge Hundfjället in December – state-of-the-art accommodation with a high cosiness factor and the best ski-in-ski-out location together with two brand new restaurants signed by restaurateur and entrepreneur Pontus Frithiof. It is part of SkiStar's new initiative to develop SkiStar Lodge. Since July 1, SkiStar has been operating five mountain hotels with a focus on apartment hotels in Trysil, Sälen and Hemsedal.

Sustainable mountain destinations

Another important part is sustainable mountain destinations, where more guests are demanding everything from better on-site recycling to more opportunities for charging electric cars. For the winter, SkiStar will therefore introduce a number of innovations in sustainability:

• increased number of charging stations for electric cars at all destinations
• better information for guests about recycling via the SkiStar app and new recycling bins are being developed. They can be collected at check-in stations and will also be available in SkiStar's own and brokered accommodations
• In Norway, renewable diesel (HVO) is being introduced to all piste machines, which has already been made in Sweden. This will reduce SkiStar's own climate impact from operating with the 45%.
• Thanks to SkiStar's new cooperation agreement with Jämtkraft, all facilities in Sweden and Norway (Scandem A/S) are powered by renewable energy from solar, wind and hydropower, and in Sweden the electricity is also labeled "Good Environmental Choice".”
• The two hotels Radisson Blu Mountain Resort & Residences and Radisson Blu Resort in Trysil, which SkiStar now operates, are environmentally certified according to Miljøfyrtårn - a work we will continue with and conduct an analysis to environmentally certify all hotels.
• The new SkiStar Concept Store in Lindvallen at the shopping center will open in June 2022. The building is environmentally certified with "Eco-friendly building silver". SkiStar has begun the journey with self-produced electricity and is installing solar panels on the facade of the building. The entire project with the new SkiStar Concept Store in Lindvallen aims to become a pioneer for how SkiStar can work more circularly and climate-neutrally with everything from operation, rental and recycling.

– I am really looking forward to the winter season and welcoming new and old guests back. I am proud that we can offer several improvements to our ski systems with a focus on children's areas and also investments in high-quality accommodation combined with sustainable and memorable mountain experiences, concludes Stefan Sjöstrand, President and CEO of SkiStar.