Date: 08/09/2014
We’re expecting a big rush on holiday reservations in our La Tzoumaz chalets as news breaks that the 4 Vallees ski domain has been reunited after tense negotiations between lift operators TeleVerbier, TeleNendaz, TeleVeysonnaz and TeleThyon. The news emerged today that an agreement had finally been signed that would extend the agreement to provide 4-Vallees lift passes for another 18 years.
Here’s a rough translation of the local press articles:
After two-and-a-half months of uncertainty, and five sessions of mediation, an agreement has been signed by all the partners to continue the 4 Vallees ski domain, as announced Monday by a spokesman for the State Council. Jean-Marie Fournier of Televeysonnaz explained that he has obtained financial damages for “a non-respected right of pre-emption” and “the raising of oppositions to planned construction work on the telecabin of the Piste de l’Ours.”
In fact, the projects that emerged in the interim will stay virtual projects, such as “Verbier Grand Ski” and “Espace Mont-Fort”, according to Jean-Pierre Morand, president of Televerbier. He is relieved that the uncertainty has been lifted, even if it comes a little too late for most tour-operators.
The amendment, added to the agreement in force since 2006, leaves many things open to possibility, including a merge or fusion of domains. All partners have committed to strengthen the collaboration between them, and discussions are expected to continue over the coming months.
We are looking forward to skiing all over the famous 4-Valleys domain in the coming season, and are only a little bit miffed that we won’t have such an excuse to stay on the La Tzoumaz & Verbier pistes quite so often… Perhaps we will even manage to break our record for Time-to-Ski-from-LaTzoumaz-to-Verbier-to-Thyon-and-Back 🙂
And some more local news articles in French:
https://www.rts.ch/info/regions/valais/6126749-le-domaine-skiable-valaisan-des-4-vallees-est-sauve.html
https://www.lematin.ch/story/les-4-vallees-sauvees-pour-dix-huit-ans-523346199132