SnowBrains: Where Americans Ski: Top 10 European Resorts by U.S. Ski Lesson Bookings

[ChrisC]

Where Americans Ski: Top 10 European Resorts by U.S. Ski Lesson Bookings
Shouldn't this nonsense prevent SnowBrains from winning Journalism awards?

Essentially, all of the data is from Maisonsport (an instructor booking site), showing where US skiers booked lessons by percentage. Again, private lessons (although a huge value in Europe).

Fine. But Maisonsports' available ski instructors are almost entirely in France, and fewer in Italy. Much fewer numbers in Switzerland, and almost zero in Austria. Hence, US booking and visitation just mirrors Maisonsports instructor reach / # of contractors. It does not show where US skiers are going - nearly 0% to Austria?!

However, the list shows Chamonix and Zermatt as the top 2 ski destinations for US skiers, and that's my experience as well - especially given the Ikon pass product. Zermatt is almost overrun with US skiers; American English is more common than British English on lifts or in restaurants. And the 3 Vallees is the equivalent of an Epic destination.

I am always interested in what ski resort brands even register with US skiers; most know Zermatt, Chamonix, Courchevel/Val Thorens/Méribel, and Val d'Isere. Maybe St. Moritz and Davos? Possibly Cortina after Olympic branding exercise? There is a big drop-off afterward: Verbier, St. Anton/Lech Arlberg, Ischgl, Les Arcs/La Plagne, etc.

Assume Megeve is in the list below due to high-end clientele and instructor #s on site.

https://maisonsport.com/en/resort Shows # of instructors on site.



Article.

Where Americans Ski: Top 10 European Resorts by U.S. Ski Lesson Bookings - SnowBrains

Where do Americans ski in Europe? Using data from Maison Sport for where Americans have booked ski lessons, we provide the top 10.

snowbrains.com

The ski instructor booking platform’s latest figures rank the top 10 European ski resorts where U.S. customers have booked lessons this season, offering a snapshot of shifting travel patterns — and a strong preference for iconic Alpine destinations.​

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#10 Avoriaz, France — 3.02%​

Perched above the Portes du Soleil, Avoriaz is known for its ski-in, ski-out design and beginner-friendly layout. Its car-free village and wide, rolling slopes make it particularly attractive for American visitors seeking structured lessons in a relaxed, accessible environment.​

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#9 Tignes, France — 3.42%​

High-altitude and snow-sure, Tignes offers long seasons and varied terrain, from glaciers to advanced pistes. Its reliability and modern lift system make it a strong choice for Americans looking to maximize time on snow while improving technique.​

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#8 Val d’Isère, France — 4.83%​

Linked with Tignes, Val d’Isère combines elite-level terrain with traditional Alpine charm. It attracts ambitious skiers, many of whom book lessons to tackle its steep slopes and off-piste routes with expert guidance.​

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#7 Courmayeur, Italy — 5.03%​

On the Italian side of Mont Blanc, Courmayeur offers a more relaxed, scenic alternative to its French neighbors. Its tree-lined runs and culinary reputation appeal to Americans seeking a balance between instruction, leisure, and culture.​

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#6 Méribel, France — 5.03%​

Centrally located in the Three Valleys, Méribel provides easy access to the world’s largest interconnected ski areas. Its mix of terrain makes it ideal for lessons, allowing instructors to tailor progression across a wide variety of slopes.​

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#5 Val Thorens, France — 6.04%​

As Europe’s highest ski resort, Val Thorens delivers exceptional snow reliability and expansive high-alpine terrain. Its altitude and modern infrastructure attract Americans looking for consistent conditions and high-energy skiing. Like Méribel, it is part of the Les 3 Vallées Ski Area.​

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#4 Megève (France) — 9.05%​

Megève blends traditional Alpine charm with extensive intermediate terrain, making it a favorite for those prioritizing both progression and atmosphere. Its reputation for hospitality and scenic skiing continues to draw international visitors.​

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#3 Courchevel (France) — 9.46%​

Courchevel is considered the most high-end resort across the three valleys that make up the Les 3 Vallées Ski Area. If we combined these three resorts and counted them as one, it would lead this ranking with a staggering 20.53% of lesson bookings.​

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#2 Zermatt (Switzerland) — 14.69%​

With the iconic Matterhorn as its backdrop, Zermatt offers extensive, high-altitude skiing and cross-border access into Italy. It is not surprising that Zermatt is a fan favorite with American tourists, as it offers a massive terrain and is definitely a bucket-list destination for most visitors to the European Alps.​

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#1 Chamonix-Mont-Blanc (France) — 15.29%​

Topping the list, Chamonix remains one of the most iconic ski destinations in the world. Known for its steep, technical terrain and off-piste culture, it often requires local knowledge — making ski instruction not just popular, but essential for many visiting Americans. Taking a guided tour down Mont-Blanc is certainly the highlight for every skier or boarder.​

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What stands out is that French resorts clearly dominate the rankings, claiming eight of the top ten spots. While Switzerland and Italy remain popular destinations for American travelers, each country places just one resort on the list. As transatlantic ski travel continues to grow, this ranking offers a useful snapshot of where Americans are heading—whether you’re looking to join the buzz around Europe’s most talked-about resorts or steer clear of fellow countrymen. Whatever your motivation, we hope this list helps with your European trip planning.​

 

[EMSC]

Look at the small text under #3 and tell me the author has no clue how statistics and math even works...

 

[Tony Crocker]

I would guess that St. Anton/Arlberg is in that top tier of recognition by US skiers along with Zermatt, Chamonix, Courchevel/Val Thorens/Méribel, and Val d'Isere. Cortina is probably the most recognized Italian name, but in terms of actually skiing I'd guess more Americans ski Courmayeur and Cervinia due to proximity to Chamonix and Zermatt. I'd guess Kitzbuhel is the most recognized Austrian name after St. Anton.

Davos is probably known more for its January economic forum than for its skiing by most Americans. The Brits must know it due to Klosters being King Charles' favored Alps hangout though.

We usually see few Americans on our Alps road trips. We saw some in Zermatt on the recent trip. The Brits were all over Flaine though. Fraser says that's normal and that French tourists to Grand Massif are more likely to stay in the lower 4 Villages.

Look at the small text under #3 and tell me the author has no clue how statistics and math even works...

True, but common sense should be used before quoting numbers. Doesn't the name Maisonsport provide a clue that French speaking resorts might be overrepresented vs. German speaking resorts?

 

[jamesdeluxe]

We usually see few Americans on our Alps road trips. We saw some in Zermatt on the recent trip. The Brits were all over Flaine though. Fraser says that's normal and that French tourists to Grand Massif are more likely to stay in the lower 4 Villages.

I spoke this morning to the CEO/founder of a major British ski PR and marketing company and he mentioned

• The Snowbrains article that ChrisC posted
• Hearing American accents "virtually everywhere he went" in a recent trip to Portes du Soleil and 3V. One suspects that it's either megapass-related or ECers who've figured out the value proposition or a mix of both.

 

[Tony Crocker]

American accents "virtually everywhere he went" in a recent trip to Portes du Soleil and 3V.

Since I tend to be oblivious to these nuances, I checked with Liz before answering the first question. She didn't even mention Zermatt. Since our recent time in Portes du Soleil and Grand Massif was during Easter Week, any uptick in Americans would have been swamped by the British school holiday. We saw tons of kids classes in both places.

We have been to Portes du Soleil twice, one staying in Morzine and once in Chatel. The demographics are likely different in Avoriaz.

ECers who've figured out the value proposition

This has to be happening at least gradually. It's not just those of us who have been going over there for awhile. Ski writers like Stuart who don't ski in Europe are still bringing it to people's attention. I don't think either Vail or Alterra reps are claiming a significant proportion of pass use in Europe yet.