FOUR sat down with The Chalet Edit Founder, Anna Sampson, to find out more about the company and its services…
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Can you give us a bit of background on the company and what it offers?
The Chalet Edit is a luxury ski chalet company that specialises in creating exceptional tailor-made ski chalet holidays in Europe’s leading ski resorts. Each chalet is hand-picked and vetted to meet our criteria, plus we work directly with owners or local property managers, so we can trust the service to meet our exacting standards.
We are a small team of passionate and experienced ski chalet specialists with a love for creating authentic, memorable experiences. Our focus is stylish, hand-picked, private luxury chalets with bespoke concierge services and exceptional customer service at heart.
We don’t do ordinary. We love hand-crafting luxury chalet escapes around the world for our clients. We understand that every client is unique, which is why we don’t offer a ‘one-size-fits-all’ service – each luxury chalet holiday is designed to meet each client’s needs and requirements, and nothing is too much trouble.
How and why was the company founded? What are its goals and core philosophies?
Founded by myself in 2018, The Chalet Edit was born from a long-lived passion for luxury ski travel and high-end service. The aim is to offer something more remarkable, unique and personal to the high-end chalet world – with undisputed luxury as standard and all of those tricky extras taken care of.
We believe that holidays should replenish and rejuvenate, so The Chalet Edit is here to guide and inspire guests, and remove the stress in finding and booking a luxury ski chalet.
What are the key elements that make The Chalet Edit’s service and its properties stand out?
Each chalet listed has been hand-picked and undergone a strict vetting process to ensure the edited portfolio comprises the best of the best. We take the time to get to know our chalet owners personally, so we know they will look after our clients as if they were friends. Great food is high on the experience list, and there are an impressive array of facilities that make a chalet truly WOW guests, including private spas, cinemas, helipads, dance floors, wine cellars, games rooms, grand pianos and more.
The carefully edited portfolio offers a mix of the best of the best properties for location, design, families, chefs and that something special. This is combined with a tailored, complimentary travel concierge service that ventures beyond the slopes and chalet walls and ensures every holiday is the best yet.
Tell us more about the additional services the company offers to its clients when booking their chalets?
A holiday with The Chalet Edit is so much more than simply staying in a beautiful chalet. The personal service starts right from the planning, and with expert knowledge of each destination, The Chalet Edit ensures every holiday is completely tailor-made. With a trusted network of tried and tested partners on tap, we can arrange anything from childcare to ski lessons, elaborate celebration dinners, private jet travel, and helicopter transfers. And we know it’s not just about the skiing; there is so much to see and do in the mountains that many clients simply don’t take advantage of.
We absolutely love planning something completely out of the ordinary to make lasting memorable experiences for our clients. We can organise incredible experiences across the Alps that will elevate a client’s holiday to another level and make it extra special. Think hidden mountain restaurant bookings, hot air balloon rides, snow-table dining experiences, plus VIP tables at the liveliest après ski stops as well as off-piste husky sledging, heli-skiing, and more. It is this attention to detail that produces The Chalet Edit’s ultimate ski holiday experience.
How does your experience in the industry give the company an upper hand?
I have lived and breathed high-end luxury since my first ever season with Scott Dunn in Val d’Isere in 2004. This first-hand experience has given me an insight into what makes a luxury ski holiday really work from a client’s perspective. Following this, I have spent more than 15 years immersed in the world of high-end ski chalet and luxury villa holidays, as well as taking a few myself.
I have worked for some of the best names in the industry and know the ins and outs of each resort, as well as personally vetting each chalet in the portfolio to ensure it meets The Chalet Edit’s strict criteria. I truly believe that exceptional service is in the detail.
What process do you go through when representing a property to make it worthy of the brand?
The chalets are hand-selected to my exacting standards and have undergone a rigorous reviewing process. The portfolio may not be extensive, but it has been edited that way for a reason. Not all luxury chalets meet The Chalet Edit’s strict criteria. This ensures the portfolio really is the best of the best. Our portfolio is continually checked and updated, as each season we see new benchmarks set, re-writing new definitions for luxury. This means we are always up to date on the latest travel trends, whether it be an indoor/outdoor swimming pool, private après-ski terraces, an in-house wellness area, or important for this year, the latest technology to make working from the chalet a possibility.
It is also key that I get to know our owners personally so I can ensure that guests feel confident that they will be incredibly well looked after and that their luxury chalet is exactly as they expect it to be.
What does ‘luxury’ mean to you, and how is this reflected in the service provided by the company?
We appreciate that the definition of luxury differs from person to person and that what luxury is to one person is not considered luxury to the next. Luxury can mean incredible facilities and architecture to one client, exceptional service to another, and a unique experience to someone else. At The Chalet Edit, we believe that it is the personalised service that makes a holiday truly luxurious. No client is the same, so why should every ski holiday be the same?
Our aim is to offer a truly ‘personalised experience’ for every client, impart our local knowledge and advice to create enjoyable, hassle-free private chalet escapes, with luxury as standard. It’s the personal touches, unique moments and lasting memories that are luxury to us.
Tell us more about the locations of the chalets and why these were chosen?
We specialise in luxury chalets in the leading European ski resorts, as well as some lesser-known resorts, such as Prageltao in Italy, where we have a stunning restored farmhouse close to both the slopes and resort centre.
The demand for ski-in/ski-out properties is always strong. One of the greatest luxuries on a ski holiday is being able to step out of your luxury chalet and straight onto the slopes, as well as the pleasure and convenience of skiing straight back to your door at the end of the day. We have a huge number of chalets right on the slopes, including a ski-in/ski-out chalet in Zermatt, which is a rarity.
Many of our chalets are near to the resort centre, as that brings so many benefits. You can enjoy the privacy of your luxury chalet whilst having the bustling and picturesque resort centres just a short walk away. This means the fabulous local restaurants are close by, as well as being close to the ski slopes, shops and cafes, all waiting to be discovered.
We also have private and secluded ski chalets hidden in amongst the valleys and forests to provide our clients with an initiate and private mountain getaway.
How has the company adapted as a result of the pandemic, and what can be expected as a result in the 2021/2022 ski season?
Client peace of mind is always our number one priority at a time like this; it’s been a hugely difficult year, and making sure they are happy to travel is always paramount. The Chalet Edit works closely with all our owners, all of whom are adapting chalets to protect clients and mitigate the COVID-19 risks they face. All are taking measures to ensure guests are safe by implementing:
- Tighter cleaning controls and changeover procedures, including contactless guest services.
- Offering accommodation only or self-catered services with minimal housekeeping.
- Working around meal service in ‘fully serviced’ chalets by allowing guests to serve themselves, but still ensuring staff are on-hand if required.
- Ensuring social distancing measures are maintained between staff.
- Testing of staff prior to guests’ arrival and during their stay if it is a prerequisite.
What’s so important is this shift we’ve seen by all of our chalet owners to offer clients more flexibility and protection moving forward. All chalets are providing flexible booking terms due to COVID-19, taking on the liability on behalf of the clients, as holiday insurance companies may not cover them for COVID-19 anymore. The chalets are kindly offering clients a change of date to the following season if bookings are affected by COVID-19 in any way.
All news is pointing towards the ski season running as normally as possible, whilst following each country’ COVID-19 policies, such as the Pass Sanitaire in France, and the Swiss Covid Certificate in Switzerland. The restrictions are constantly changing, and we imagine there will be more revealed about how ski resorts will work in the coming weeks in the lead up to the season. As always, we will keep our clients informed so that they can focus on the holiday itself and have no surprises at the resort.
What impression do you hope the company will leave on clients after making use of its services?
We like to think of ourselves as a private member’s club without the hefty price tag – our clients’ hassle-free ‘little black book of ski’, so to speak.
For us, it’s all about taking the hassle away and enjoying the journey. Undoubtedly the secret recipe is our team, who have a wealth of experience and knowledge, alongside our incredible luxury ski chalets and extensive network of contacts. We like to add those extra special touches to every stay to create truly remarkable tailor-made luxury ski chalet holiday experiences.
We offer honest and unbiased advice on the properties and resorts that clients are interested in to ensure that they are staying in the perfect luxury chalet and that the holiday is completely seamless and everything they dreamed of.
Anna shares some of her top chalets for the upcoming ski season…
Having stayed here previously, this has to be one of my all-time favourite properties. It’s a true home from home with flawless service and jaw-dropping views. It is serviced by the most exceptional team of staff; the Butler has been there for many years and knows exactly what you want before you have thought of it. It is perched on the side of the valley, within a truly magical setting, with majestic views of Matterhorn and Zermatt below – the views really are out of this world!
Sleeps:10 + 2
Key facilities:Hot tub, sauna, cinema room, massage room, games rooms with pool/snooker and a ski room with boot warmers.
Prices from 36,000 CHF per week, fully catered
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CHALET EDELWEISS, COURCHEVEL 1850
Chalet Edelweiss is the ‘King of Kings’ when it comes to super-luxury ski chalets in the Alps. There’s one word to describe it – palatial. It is comprised of a whopping 3,000 square meters spread over 7 floors. Chalet Edelweiss really delivers the utmost in luxury and indulgence – this chalets’ stunning swimming pool is a generous 13.5m x 4.5m, and the focus feature is a large waterfall surrounded by skylights. Not to mention the 100-guest nightclub complete with a DJ booth!
Sleeps: 16
Key facilities: Ski-in/ski-out, indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, gym, library, billiard table, cinema room, massage rooms, private nightclub, cinema room, car lift and a ski room with boot warmers.
Prices from 150,000 EURO per week, fully catered with driver
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We’ve tried and tested this incredible large-group ski chalet and anyone lucky enough to stay here will not be disappointed. With a team of 15 staff at your beck and call, an onsite bar and a vast Bamford-accredited spa area with a 10-metre swimming pool, it really does feel like a private boutique hotel and is sure to wow for any special occasion. Smores and toasted marshmallows around the firepit are a big hit with little ones. For us, the feature that really stands out is the 13 bedrooms/suites, all evenly sized with super-king beds, gorgeous modern bathrooms, sumptuously soft bed linen and a flat-screen TV for ultimate luxury.
Sleeps: 23
Key facilities: Indoor pool, 2 hot tubs, steam room, ice plunge pool, bar, cinema room, massage rooms, private nightclub, cinema room, car lift and a ski room with boot warmers.
Prices from 85,000 CHF per week, fully catered with driver
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A truly decadent retreat, Chalet Norte is one of Verbier’s premier luxury ski chalets with a swimming pool, spa, cinema room, wine cave and oodles of space to relax throughout the 5 floors. A stay provides the ultimate indulgence for all your senses, from beautiful aesthetics, exquisite food and wine, right through to its state of the art entertainment system. Its luxurious décor and furnishings come courtesy of one of London’s leading interior designers, and floor-to-ceiling windows provide a constant reminder of the beauty of your surroundings.
Sleeps: 12 + 4
Key facilities: Indoor pool, hot tub, sauna, steam room, gym, treatment room, cinema room, TV/games room, bar, wine cave and a ski room with boot warmers
Prices from 88,920 CHF per week, fully catered with driver
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To find out more about The Chalet Edit, its properties and service, visit the website, Instagram profile and Facebook page.
Images courtesy The Chalet Edit