Another earlybird New Zealand option, that includes a free night and one days free car hire, is a seven night twin share package at the Wanaka Hotel from $539 per person. Also included in this well-priced Kiwi snow adventure is seven days car hire and a three day ski lift pass valid at Cardrona and the iconic Treble Cone.

For those who prefer an on-snow holiday in an Australian Alpine Resort, Skimax has a five night twin share package to Mt Hotham in the heart of the Victorian Alps. The cost is from $739 and includes five nights in a self-contained apartment and a five day Hotham Ski Pass.

These are just a couple of suggestions amongst an extensive line-up of Earlybird specials created by the very experienced team at Skimax. The team can tailor-make the perfect holiday to any New Zealand, Australian or South American alpine resort. Skimax Holidays can also assist in obtaining the best airfares to the key gateway airports in New Zealand’s North and South Island.

For more information contact Skimax 1300 136 997 or visit www.skimax.com.au. Conditions apply.

The More FM Opening Party on Saturday night (August 25) kicks things off with a celebrationary glass of Veuve Clicquot before things get serious on the slopes and amongst the hottest night spots of Queenstown.

Organiser Sally Whitewoods of Queenstown says stamina will be key for those who want to take in all the events AND ski each day.

“There’s a Rocky Horror Night, the Broken Shed ‘Casino Royale’ evening, Karaoke at SKYCITY with Family Bar’s Miss Ribena, a ‘Frolics’ evening, the Wine Down Winery Tour and a final fling with the GAYDAR Mystery Dance Party, plus participants will be expected to spend a little time on the snow,” she said.

The event is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Winter Pride event and is owned and operated by Queenstown wife and wife team Sally and Mandy Whitewoods who are highly appreciative of the support of sponsors and Queenstown business partners.

“This event is well established on the national and international Gay & Lesbian calendar and offers a fabulous opportunity for people who come to let their hair down and don a feather boa just for the fun of it.  It’s also an opportunity for Queenstown to host the rainbow sector which typically enjoys a high disposable income.”

Tickets are on sale and the Whitewoods invite people to take advantage of early bird tickets available at discounted prices for the next three months.

“We’re trying to encourage people to get organized and start thinking about making their arrangements – it’s always so much easier if things are confirmed as early as possible.”

More details about the programme, events and accommodation suggestions are available at www.gayskiweekqt.com.

DNA Gay Ski Week is proudly supported by DNA magazine, Broken Shed, SKYCITY Queenstown Casino, KIRRA Holidays, GAYDARgirls.com, Gaydar.com.au, LOTL, iSITE, curve, Winedown Central Otago, More FM Queenstown, rainbow warehouse, Nautilus Wines, Cardrona Alpine Resort, puregaynz.com and Veuve Clicquot.

Recent record snow falls have ensured that the 8-week helicopter season, due to kick off in mid-February, will provide enthusiasts with unprecedented and exhilarating snow conditions, and a chance to fully experience the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness. 

While APD offers half- or full-day heli-skiing experiences, popular choices are the all-inclusive weekend or weeklong packages at Adlersheim Wilderness Lodge. The five-star, 9-acre waterfront site accommodates up to 20 guests either in rustic bunk cabins or luxury suites with private spa bathrooms. An FAA-approved heli-pad provides easy access to the mountains on A-star helicopters and a private boat dock services the departing adventurers embarking on water activities.

According to Sean Janes, APD’s co-owner and lead guide, most guests combine their heli-experience with a mix of sea kayaking, marine wildlife viewing and a sampling of the local Eaglecrest Ski Area, known by locals for its challenging terrain, record snow pack (140 to 180 inches on average) and unexplored back country. “Our lodge packages allow guests to experience Alaska to the max,” he says, noting that a 5% discount is offered to guests who book weekend or weeklong trips for the spring season.

APD guests will average eight runs with heli-descents ranging from 2,500 to 6,000 vertical feet, depending on the zone. “But there’s nothing average about our terrain and it’s tough to describe a typical guest experience,” Janes says. “We have steep lines (5,000 foot descents) that may take an hour to navigate, while other runs may only be 15 minutes. There are many variables involved on a given day including a group’s capabilities and snow pack conditions.”

While weather is foremost in APD’s minds, flight and snow safety concerns are constantly monitored and evaluated by APD’s certified (American Avalanche Association) ski guides and experienced helicopter pilots. APD’s operations are modeled after the standards and protocols established by the Heli Ski US Association. APD’s guests are briefed in safety and transceiver practices and required to carry full avalanche safety equipment. APD holds extensive safety briefings including beacon search practice, mountain awareness, helicopter procedures, and communications in the field prior to any heli-ski activities.

“Safety is our number one priority, while fun is a close second,” Janes says.

Alaska Powder Descents (APD), based in Juneau, AK, is a helicopter skiing and snowboarding company providing outdoor enthusiasts with access to over one million acres of pristine Alaskan mountains. APD holds one of the largest commercial use permits in the nation, servicing the Coast Mountains and Chilkat Range bordering Glacier Bay National Park. Skiers and boarders enjoy world-class snow terrain on APD’s half- or full-day heli-trips, or weekend and weeklong all-inclusive lodge packages.

“It’s not too late to book a ski trip to Japan and make the most of incredible snow conditions in Niseko,” says SkiJapan.com general manager, Marcus Williams. “There’s never been a better time to go skiing in Japan. There are less people this season, plenty of accommodation and great deals including free nights’ accommodation is a huge incentive.”

Niseko received record-breaking snowfall in December and current conditions are perfect with more than 10 metres of snow falling so far (two-thirds of a full season average) and fantastic powder across all of Niseko’s four ski areas.

For more information, visit www.skijapan.com or phone (in Australia) 1300 137 411.

Resort Maps App from Complete-Ski.com

The app uses your GPS location to map the restaurants, bars, hotels and ski lifts you’re near; as well as showing your current location and the routes to your destination. It is already proving a huge success with travellers as it provides help with everything – from finding the nearest ski lift, to the closest places to have dinner or a drink once the light begins to fade. Whilst the app currently features detailed resort guides for 22 of the most popular tourist resorts; including St. Anton, Chamonix, Aspen and Whistler, plans are in development to extend the App further. Initially plans are to launch a paid “roaming free” version for all the currently released resorts; which will allow users to avoid network costs whilst using the App abroad

The global app market is blossoming and, despite the recession, smart phone sales are rising exponentially. The market overall is expected to exceed a total value of just over 12 billion pounds by the close of this year (TechCrunch.com) and the number of apps on the market is set to exceed ten million within the year. The majority of apps are still free with around 40% of the market being taken up by paid for apps. The opportunities for businesses in terms of marketing are quickly being picked up on and have created a huge new platform for direct sales and marketing. The potential to reach new customers and interact with them on a daily basis through apps has come to dominate the minds of many marketers and companies. However, apps have to have a core degree of utility – either making things easier for customers or providing a service that many people will want to use. The trade-off between utility and marketing is of paramount importance when creating a successful app and companies who manage to capitalise on this see thousands of downloads on a monthly basis.

With the increase in marketing apps companies face an increasing struggle to leverage a gap in the market and at the base level – get their app noticed. Complete Ski’s “Resort Maps App” manages to fill a gap in the market and provide users with a comprehensive resource for their winter holidays; as the app developers commented “We wanted to provide users with something more useful than the standard ‘snow’ apps currently on offer – we feel that the resort maps app achieves this and will be useful for all ski enthusiasts.” The app is available now from the iPhone store and will remain as a free download for users.

For more information on Complete-Ski.com and the “Resort Maps App” please contact Carolyn Monchouguy or Yelena Palmer using the details on this page.

Website: http://www.complete-ski.com/

From budget accommodation right through to luxurious resorts, Skimax has something for every type of snow enthusiast. Let the experts at Skimax tailor-make the perfect ski holiday for your clients. For brochures contactwww.tifs.com.au or call 1300 136 997.

This season, offers are available in Colorado’s Rocky Mountain Region, as well as some of Europe’s most sought after ski destinations in Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic.

Home to nearly 70 winter Olympians, this year’s U.S.-based offer brings guests to the beautiful mountain village of Steamboat Springs, Colo. where world-class skiing and more than 70 restaurants and 250 shops, situated from the base of the ski area to its historic downtown, have impressed visitors year after year.

Through Feb. 15, 2012, Steamboat Resorts is offering guests a chance to receive up to a $200 VISA® gift card at any of its properties in Steamboat Springs, including, EagleRidge Townhomes, Trailhead Lodge and Timber Run. The $200 VISA gift card is for bookings valued above $1,500 and a $100 VISA® gift card is also available for bookings valued below $1,500 USD.

“All of the Steamboat Resorts properties offer a genuine and helpful staff,” said Bob Milne, president, Wyndham Vacation Rentals, North America. “But you’re also getting an impressive selection of amenities including a complimentary bottle of wine and in-room coffee, free WiFi, and parking and shuttle service through the mountain village to downtown. And with the VISA gift card, you’ll be able to stock the fridge in your rental.”

For a taste of skiing abroad this season, travelers can choose from beautiful European ski areas found throughout Austria, Germany, Switzerland and the Czech Republic by booking with Landal GreenParks, a leader in chalet-park management and rentals. Make a reservation by Feb. 18 or from March 3 to April 14, 2012, to receive a discount of up to 30 percent on bungalows or chalets within the Landal Ski Life portfolio.

“Landal’s parks are a wise choice for ski vacations abroad as they’re often optimally located for skiers and they offer a wealth of on-site amenities,” continued Milne. “Your friends and family will be impressed with this European-style of vacationing.”

Wyndham Vacation Rentals boasts more than 94,000 rental properties around the world including a well-developed portfolio in major U.S. ski destinations in Colorado, Utah and Idaho, as well as popular European ski locales.

To take advantage of the lodging offer at Steamboat Resorts, individuals should call 800-510-3094 or book online. Availability is limited, reservations go to the first 100 bookings and some restrictions may apply. More details, including terms and conditions, are availableonline. Travel must be completed by April 30, 2012. Lodging starts at $50 per person, per night.

To take advantage of the lodging discount at Landal Ski Life, individuals should book online. Availability is limited, and some restrictions may apply. More details, including terms and conditions, are available online. Lodging starts at approximately $229 USD per week, per unit.

In Colorado, with several storms this week, the new snow is allowing for more terrain to be open. At Keystone new trails in the Outback have opened, Breckenridge opened the T-bar, Vail opened portions of Blue Sky Basin, Sun Up Bowl and China Bowl and Beaver Creek opened more trails including Stickline, Goshawk, and more.

Additionally in Lake Tahoe at Heavenly Resort, skiers and riders now have access to 30 trails accessed by 24 lifts, featuring top-to-bottom skiing and riding on 3,500 vertical feet (1,067m) and more than 19 miles (30km) of terrain.

Northstar currently has 39 open trails accessed by 16 lifts, featuring top-to-bottom skiing and riding on 2,280 vertical feet (695m) of terrain. The resort has continued to open new terrain throughout the season, having just opened Iron Horse – one of the more popular advanced trails on the Backside of the mountain – as well as Woodchuck and Ax Handle, intermediate trails located on the front of the mountain, just prior to the storm’s arrival.

During the same 48 hours, 17 inches fell at Snowmass, 16 inches at Buttermilk, 15 inches came down at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and 14 inches covered Aspen Mountain and Aspen Highlands.

Just about a foot of snow fell at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort and Steamboat Resort, with both resorts reporting 11 inches in the last 48 hours. Telluride is enjoying 10 inches of new snow, Winter Park-seven-and-a-half and Monarch a solid seven.

More snow is expected in Colorado later this week. Meanwhile, skiers and snowboarders are able to take advantage of quintessential Colorado blue bird skies and deep powder conditions.

“Guests at the Mountain Club have always enjoyed convenient access to some of the finest skiing and year-round activities in New England – now they will do so in added luxury and comfort,” said Ken Lowe, President of the Mountain Club on Loon Management Board, which owns and operates the resort. “The extensive renovation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to provide a superior level of service and premium experience to our guests, matching the awe-inspiring views of the White Mountain peaks with fresh, well-appointed spaces ideal for families, couples and groups alike.”

The 234-room hotel resort and spa, nestled on a slope-side bluff overlooking the Pemigewasset River in Lincoln, New Hampshire, has 117 suites that sleep up to six guests, each dividable into separate Club rooms with king beds and Studios with queen/double beds, a full kitchen and dining area. Four larger two-bedroom Grand Suites can accommodate between 8 to 12 guests.

Visitors can enjoy ski-on, ski-off access, convenient garage parking, the Black Diamond Bar and Grille and the Viaggio Spa & Health Club, which features two heated pools (one indoor, one outdoor), a whirlpool and saunas, Yoga/Pilates studios, a weight room, and indoor racquetball and basketball courts. The Club’s conference-meeting room facilities, accommodating 20 to 250 people, was a recipient of the prestigious 2011 “Best of the East” Award from Meetings Focus East magazine and Smart Meeting’s “Platinum Choice” award.

The $9 million dollar floor-to-ceiling renovation, launched in 2007, significantly upgraded the resort’s interior furnishings, common areas and operating systems. Enhancements include:

• Remodeled Club room, Studios and Suites with new kitchen appliances and cabinets, carpeting or furniture, and fully renovated bathrooms;
• Expansive new views, courtesy of brand new windows and balcony door sliders;
• Flat screen TVs in every room and free Wi-Fi connectivity throughout the resort;
• Beautiful new hallways featuring new carpeting, wood paneling, lighting and wallpaper;
• New exterior cedar trim and ambient lighting enhancements; and,
• A more comfortable environment year-round thanks to a new heating and cooling system that provides more precise temperature control.

“Among New Hamphshire’s storied White Mountain Hotels, only The Mountain Club offers ski-on, ski-off access to Loon Mountain, one of New England’s premier ski destinations,” add Bob Bielan, General Manager of the resort. “With this renovation complete, our guests will now enjoy ambiance, amenities and a fresh look to rival the grandeur of our setting.”