Set in the heart of Austria’s Otztal valley at just an hour away from Innsbrusk airport, the power resort of Sölden is still seldom-known/experienced by much of the UK Market following a recent incentive ski trip, here is what I discovered and why we think you should consider the resort for your next Corporate MICE trip.
Snowsure: This ski resort of Sölden, boasts three skiable peaks higher than 3000 metres and is the only resort in Austria with two accessible glaciers. If you are considering booking either early or late on in the season, the snow here is nearly always plentiful!
Shorter Transfer Time: Like with most Austrian resorts the drive from Innsbruck Airport is little over an hour, perfect for a mini corporate trip or a weekend on the slopes.
Food and Drink
Whether you a looking for traditional Austrian cuisine in the form of sausages and schnitzels, or seeking a cool bar serving trendy burgers and flat pizzas, Solden does offer a large variety. One very welcome surprise was the cost; The average price for half a litre of beer is €3.50 whilst most main meals were between €10 and €20. Great value for money and a far cry from the sting of so many Swiss/French resorts so many of us have become accustom to. This also can make it more appealing for companies looking to offer an incentive retreat but who are concerned about the potential and often high in-resort expenditure.
Apres
The party scene is Sölden is very much what you would expect from a large traditional Austrian Resort. Loud Euro Dance Music with cheesy pop anthems thrown in for good measure. Think dancing on tables in umbrella bars, cheap beer and shots, and singing along in a mixture of English and German to all the classics. As long as you don’t take yourself too seriously the whole vibe is a lot of light hearted fun and silliness. There is nothing remotely pretentious about the apres scene here, it’s all about skiers and boarders of all ages coming together for a good old fashioned knees up.
Fun Fact:
Scenes from the James Bond film Spectre were shot in Sölden’s ski area and a new ‘007 ELEMENTS’ exhibition sits at the top of the Gaislachkogl. The spectacular 1,300 sqm building is built on two levels at 3,050m and is designed to blend in with the surroundings. An absolute must see for all 007 fans, it is used to tell the story of making Bond films.