Club Med,  a global leader in snow holidays, has unveiled the results of a recent survey on travel motivation for snow holidays. The study delves into key considerations and trends, uncovering useful insights that shape demand for snow holidays with over 3,500 respondents across seven markets in Asia—China Mainland, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets.  
The survey brings to light six key findings on the evolving trends in snow holidays. From essential motivations behind choosing a winter holiday to preferred destinations and budget considerations, the survey revealed useful information about the forces driving demand from Asia-Pacific (APAC) travelers. 
For precision of insights, the findings will reference collectively markets Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan as East and South Asia, and Pacific (ESAP), and ESAP and China Mainland collectively as Asia Pacific (APAC). 

What travelers want 
Snow holidays have become increasingly popular among Asians, with over 50 percent of respondents citing a desire for exhilarating winter sports and captivating snow-covered landscapes as their primary motivators. 
Beyond this, travelers are also seeking to escape the monotony of daily life (45 percent) and explore new cultures and cuisines (30 percent). Excursions to local sights, indulging in spa treatments, tasting local delicacies, and convenient ski gear rentals are among the top desired additional services for snow holiday enthusiasts. 
For snow holidays in APAC resorts, travelers are expecting to travel on average eight days while 12 days was the anticipated length of travel for long-haul snow holidays in Europe.

Destination is key
The foremost consideration when planning a snow holiday is choosing a destination that boasts a wide variety of winter activities. Subsequently, finding appropriate lodging and factoring in the current weather conditions are crucial. These aspects hold significant weight for travelers planning their winter holidays. 
Japan tops the chart as the most popular snow holiday destination, with 40 percent of respondents choosing it as one of their top two choices. Switzerland is a close second at 39 percent, followed by Canada at 27 percent. China Mainland follows in fourth place at 24 percent mainly driven by the domestic market as well as Hong Kong and Taiwan markets.

The thrill of snow sports
Fifty-four percent of the respondents said that the primary appeal of snow sports lies in the thrill and pleasure they offer. This is especially true for people in the 25-44 age group, who also perceive snow sports as social currency to enhance their personal image of being successful. 
Three in four respondents indicated experience in skiing and/or snowboarding, with skiing being the more popular winter sport. In fact, Japan (95 percent) and South Korea (90 percent) showed high levels of snowboarding or skiing experience, attributed to the proximity of snow slopes within both markets and hence the likely familiarity with winter sports. 
For families with children, six to eight years old is considered as the ideal age to start learning winter sports.

Booking accommodations
APAC travelers tend to start planning for a snow holiday 3.4 months ahead, except for China Mainland and South Korea indicating a shorter window of less than a month while Singapore and Malaysia plan four to six months ahead, much more in advance than the others.
Travel inspiration is significantly acquired through digital channels and social media (48 percent) and online travel agencies (44 percent), followed by online blogs and communities (26 percent). Recommendations from family and friends exude a strong influence (38 percent) while other notable channels of travel inspiration are offline travel agencies (31 percent), TV travel shows and channels (29 percent), and travel/lifestyle publications (24 percent).
The top two factors when planning snow holidays center around the destination and winter activities available, followed by type of accommodation and facilities. 
Over 68 percent of the respondents prefer to stay in hotels and resorts for their snow holidays, with higher preference of resorts seen among those with kids compared to couples or singles.  
Nearly half of travelers book directly their holidays on branded websites. This inclination toward both owned websites and offline travel agencies underscores the importance of maintaining a robust online presence and ensuring a seamless, personalized booking experience to cater to the varied booking behaviors of snow holiday makers across the diverse markets in APAC.

All-inclusive packages
Two in three respondents claim to be aware of the term “All-Inclusive,” with significantly higher awareness seen among those with kids. Across markets, awareness is strongest in Hong Kong and Taiwan, followed closely by Singapore and Malaysia. 
Over 80 percent of respondents find all-inclusive snow holidays appealing because they offer convenience, value, and peace of mind as they significantly reduce the risk of ill-planning, making them a preferred choice for those looking for a worry-free and enjoyable winter getaway. 
Travelers also value the dining experiences, return airfares, and airport pick-up services included in these packages. Access to specialty restaurants and bars and the availability of ski and snowboard equipment rental onsite also help make these packages even more appealing. 
For families with kids, the precedence of kids care facilities naturally remains an important element for snow holidays.

Easy planning 
All-inclusive snow holidays can be a great option for families, as they provide everything needed for a memorable experience in one package. 
Up to 86 percent of family respondents agree that an all-inclusive snow holiday is more convenient than buying and organizing different holiday elements separately, and that it provides the opportunity to enjoy different types of activities for one price. Additionally, 82 percent of family respondents agreed that all-inclusive snow holidays offer better value for money than à la carte holidays, and 83 percent agreed that they reduce the risk of ill-planning. 
When asked who they want to travel with, spouse and children were the top two options for respondents. This illustrates the importance of family-friendly amenities and activities when planning a snow holiday.

Meeting the growing demand 
Strategically, Club Med continues to develop its Mountain Resort portfolio with new openings in Asia, America, and the European Alps, in addition to renovating existing resorts to offer guests the best possible, premium snow holiday experience. 
Club Med is well-positioned to meet these expectations with its portfolio of mountain resorts in some of the world’s most popular winter destinations. Being the leader in mountain holidays for nearly 70 years, Club Med specializes in providing a variety of winter activities and all-inclusive packages.
Club Med Kiroro Grand, the fourth Club Med resort to open in Hokkaido, has achieved near full occupancy 12 weeks ahead of its opening this December while the other three Hokkaido resorts continue to show similar levels for the same period—a true testament and endorsement by travellers of their trust and expertise in Club Med to deliver exceptional mountain snow holidays.
This is enabled by the keen focus on ensuring 360 services that ensure a hassle-free, safe, and exceptional holiday experience. From easy transfers to and from the resort to the convenience of having your personal ski locker ready and warmed with personalized ski or snowboard equipment, and booking ski lessons complete with lift ski passes ready on-arrival, every snow holiday experience with Club Med enables guests to truly relax and enjoy their holiday, leaving all the planning and logistics to the resort team. www.clubmed.com.sg