Smart technology paves the way for more to enjoy the mountains

• 48% of the ski and snowboard market wants greater flexibility* The winter ski market has struggled to provide this
• To counter this, Heidi exploded onto the UK scene and thanks to its smart technology, is finally allowing travellers to book holidays on their own terms
• Since launching in the UK, over 40,000 passengers have taken ski trips with Heidi
• Now Irish customers can too!

Heidi has officially launched in Ireland, allowing ski and board enthusiasts to enjoy a completely fresh, flexible and innovative way to book their winter breaks this season! Heidi will now carry travellers from Dublin, Cork and Shannon to resorts right across Europe with a vast range of options to choose from.

Founded in Bristol, UK, by entrepreneurial siblings Marcus and Alexander Blunt, Heidi leverages cutting-edge technology to disrupt the traditional, rigid Saturday-to-Saturday booking model or the DIY option, which can be time-consuming, expensive and leave travellers stranded without connections or holiday protection.

“Heidi's strength lies in its expansive offerings, with access to over 100s of resorts, freedom to select flight days, and customising stay durations," explains Marcus Blunt. Beyond the traditional week-long stays, a significant portion of Heidi's clientele are now opting for shorter, more budget-friendly holidays, cleverly sidestepping the peak Saturday travel rush. “This strategic flexibility not only exposes skiers to lesser-known destinations but also accommodates their hectic lifestyles, often with substantial savings.”

Born out of wanting more

Marcus explains what makes Heidi a different concept from its counterparts. "Heidi's inception was fuelled by personal frustration—the inability to effortlessly plan a ski weekend on my terms," recalls Marcus. "We saw a niche neglected by big players who are focused on bulk bookings on bulk bookings and inflexible schedules, and by smaller operators whose personalised services can come with a hefty price tag and extended waiting periods. Then there is the DIY option, but this takes time, there is no holiday protection, you need to know where you want to travel and it isn't always a cheaper option, as operators get preferential agency rates.”

Alexander adds, "Modern consumers demand rapid, diverse choices with dependable support. Witnessing Heidi's UK triumph, we knew extending into Ireland was the next logical progression. The immediate influx of bookings upon our website going live, even pre-official launch, was a positive indicator of the market's readiness."

Heidi offers unique smart technology  

Heidi is the only company which allows for such unique search capability, across so many resorts and is the reason this popular start-up has seen massive growth figures in its first five years**. Heidi's unique concept now sits in the middle of what is currently offered - a fantastic option for those who want more flexibility than traditional package ski holidays, but the tech makes it easier to book than doing it all yourself.   

Commitment to customer care

Addressing accountability in case of cancelled flights, transfers and hotels? Marcus concludes: “All our travellers are financially protected under the TOPP Scheme and the buck stops with us when customers book. Booking through our site offers complete peace of mind, so changed/cancelled flights get rearranged through Heidi. We have also worked diligently to get the right transfer agents in place to meet our customers' needs, so we know our travellers are looked after every step of the way. Whilst we rely on the powers of sophisticated technology to work through all the back end booking, we also create a human interface, all of which has led to us achieving 4.9 out of 5 on Trustpilot with nearly 1000 reviews. As a company we're incredibly proud of this and will keep striving to facilitate the very best mountain breaks we can.” 

-Ends - 

(*source Ski Club of Great Britain)

About Heidi

Heidi was launched in 2018, formally known as Ski Zoom. Founded by the Blunt brothers, Marcus 39 and Alexander, 37, the company was born out of the lack of flexibility in the winter ski market and the desire the duo had to discover new destinations.

**The company has seen exponential growth from year one sales of £500k to year five sales of £24.5m, all with Covid sandwiched in between! The founders, who are half Norwegian, admit they were lucky to have snow as part of their DNA growing up in a country where enjoying the terrain of a white winter was part and parcel of everyday life.

The millennials have successfully amalgamated their experience of working in the travel industry, in different guises with a savvy technical prowess to develop a completely new way of searching and booking trips, which brings a totally modern and flexible approach to today's market. Users of Heidi have thousands of options to choose from to find their perfect break, whether they're a family looking for a budget friendly option for beginners, or a group of friends after a quick, convenient mid-week getaway, close to the slopes, with tons of après ski. Customers can now build their perfect break in minutes and everything is planned and covered by Heidi, which is protected under TOPP. Ski passes, lessons and equipment can also be booked online through the business.

Heidi is deigned to break down the inflexible restrictions in the winter ski and board market and enable more people to enjoy the mountains year-round.