Ski Launch 2026 Schedule
In partnership with LifePass, the ski pass that can save your life (www.lifepass.eu)
08:30 Networking Breakfast
09:00 The Ski Agents: The Inside Track on What Skiers Really Want
Simon Hoskyns - Owner, Alpine Answers
Ian McIlrath - MD, Ski Solutions
Simon McIntyre - MD, Iglu.com
09:45 Ski Touring Goes Mainstream: Zoa, Homeland & Ski Touring for Softies
Katja Gaskell – globetotting.com
Sam Haddad – Climate & Board Sports
Mike Richards – Freelance journalist
10:20 The Future of Snowsports: From Ambition to Action
Iain Martin, The Ski Podcast and Ski Flight Free
10:40 Coffee Break
11:20 How Indy Pass Is Rewriting the Rules of Mega Passes
Erik Mogensen – CEO, Indy Pass
11:50 Beyond the Podium: Turning Olympic Buzz into Bookings
Katy Ellis - General Manager, The Ski Club of Great Britain
Pete Gillespie - Head of Snowsports, The Snow Centre
Mike Ward – Head of Sourcing, TUI
12:30 Aperitif -courtesy of SwissPeak Resorts by Pierre & Vacances
13:00 Networking lunch with the ski press
Programme
Ski Launch is divided into three distinct phases.
Morning conference session
Starting with coffee/tea and pastries, this session is a classic classroom style conference, with expert speakers, open forums and hosted by a renowned ski journalist as moderator. In the past we have had James Cove and Jane Peel (Both ex BBC and now Planetski) but Iain Martin has been the moderator for the last three years and will be again for the 2025 event. Iain is the founder of Ski Flight Free (www.skiflightfree.org) and presenter of the award-winning The Ski Podcast (www.theskipodcast.com). Iain is a regular speaker and moderator at different snowsports events and a specialist on sustainability within the ski industry.
There is a further coffee break mid morning, giving you a chance to continue conversation or chat with the speakers .
Networking aperitif
This is the official start of the press lunch and is the point where we are joined by the majority of the press. The aperitif lasts for about half to three quarters of an hour, with sparkling wine and soft drinks available.
Press lunch
An excellent way to network with your fellow ski industry colleagues. Each table will have a 50:50 mix of press and travel companies, equally spaced to give maximum networking for each of the three courses of this seated lunch (with wines and coffee). While the press stay in the same place throughout, the travel companies/resort PRs/suppliers all have a unique seating plan that sees them sat with a completely new set of people for each course. This provides maximum networking and also a lot of fun (especially after some wine has been drunk). There's also no rush to leave so the conversations continue long after the meal has finished.