Long-term extension to important partnership between Ikon Pass and Zermatt

Zermatt Bergbahnen’s collaboration with the Ikon Pass offered by the US-based Alterra Mountain Company has allowed Zermatt to welcome many American visitors to the destination at the foot of the Matterhorn, generating over 50,000 Ikon-related skiing days per season. This partnership is now to be extended, ahead of schedule and for the long term, setting down an important marker for the future.

Zermatt Bergbahnen established its partnership with the Ikon Pass – the American ski and snowboarding season pass which gives access to over 50 legendary mountain regions across the world – in 2019. Zermatt was the first Ikon partner resort in Switzerland, laying the foundations for an important collaboration. Visitors from America, who come to Europe primarily from the regions of New York, Los Angeles, Boston, Denver and San Francisco, value the opportunity to use their American ski pass to enjoy five or seven day’s skiing or snowboarding in Zermatt. Over 50,000 days of skiing were recorded on the Ikon Pass in each of the recent winter seasons. American visitors usually stay in Europe for two to three weeks, revelling in the perfect lift and piste infrastructure in Zermatt, the culinary offerings of the mountain restaurants and the excellent accommodation. They provide much added value to the area as a result. They also benefit from the pricing policy for day passes for which Europe is renowned: in America, the cost of a day’s skiing can easily top 250 dollars.

“The Matterhorn is a true icon known around the world, so we are thrilled to continue to have Zermatt as a member of the Ikon Pass community,” said Matt Bowers, SVP of Marketing and Products for Alterra Mountain Company. “Ikon Pass holders can experience Zermatt’s incredible glacier skiing, traditional cuisine, and its famed European après ski.”

American Ikon Pass holders will now benefit from the addition of a second Swiss destination, with the recent announcement that St. Moritz has joined the Ikon family. Markus Hasler, CEO of Zermatt Bergbahnen, commented on the news: “For an American visitor, the two Swiss Ikon partner destinations are perfectly suited to a two- or three-week skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps. The destinations have good rail links from the airport and are also connected to each other via the Glacier Express. At Zermatt Bergbahnen we are certain that the early and long-term extension of the contract with Ikon is an important marker for the futures of the destination of Zermatt-Matterhorn and Ikon alike.”