Ski specialist ceases trading after 20 years

ski specialist Powder White cease trading
By Lisa James
06/02/2024
Home » Ski specialist ceases trading after 20 years

London-based ski specialist Powder White has collapsed, blaming Brexit, COVID and the cost-of-living crisis.

The Powder White website has been taken down and replaced with a message from its directors, who say they are ‘urgently contacting customers’ to tell them their options.

The message says: “We are sorry to announce that Powder White has ceased trading today. Despite our very best efforts, we have regrettably been unable to navigate the extraordinary challenges our industry has faced over recent years.

“The immeasurable combined impact of Brexit and COVID, which has more recently been compounded by the cost of living crisis, has resulted in us not being able to fulfil our obligations and most importantly, our valued guests’ ski holidays.

“We are in the process of urgently contacting customers with forthcoming ski holidays to lay out the options available to them. We aim to advise everybody within the next three days.

“We would like to thank all our customers and suppliers who have showed us such loyalty over the last 20 years. Our thanks too go to our incredible team of staff who have supported us throughout. We are so hugely sorry for everyone affected by our failure.”

Powder White launched in 2003 as a catered chalet tour operator but started trading as a travel agent after Brexit. Several customers have posted online to say the company, run by Director Claire Freeland and Chief Operating Officer Fraser Ewart-White, closed suddenly.

Online agent Ski Line has been rebooking Powder White customers. Managing Director Angus Kinloch told Travel Gossip: “We found out on Friday from some Powder White clients in resort. News travels very quickly in the bars of the ski resorts.

“We have had lots of enquiries over the weekend and enquiries are picking up today [Monday]. Many customers are only just starting to hear the news. A lot of them are bookings for the February half term. Most of them have been chalet bookings, there have been some hotels and apartments.

“A lot of clients are telling us that they had paid balances to Powder White in the last few weeks. Where the client has paid the deposit, we’re trying to take the booking over where we can.”

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