Grandvalira Resorts to Employ 2,900 Staff as Housing Costs Hit Millions

Grandvalira Resorts will enter the winter season with a workforce of around 2,900 people, slightly larger than last year, while absorbing a multi-million-euro bill to house its foreign employees. Marketing director David Ledesma set out the figures during the Andorra la Vella trade fair, saying the shortage of housing forces the ski operator to take on costs it did not previously face. He put the impact on the group's accounts at several million euros without giving an exact amount.

To find accommodation for seasonal staff, the company is using a mix of arrangements, including agreements with hotels, the use of tourist apartments and direct investment in lodging. The approach has a knock-on effect on the tourism business, because beds that could otherwise go to visitors are being allocated to employees. "We are taking away some beds that could be for skiers, but that we have to give up in order to house our colleagues," Ledesma said.

Grandvalira Resorts is also studying the construction of housing for its employees, though no timetable has been set. The group has not specified which sites or models are under consideration.

The ski season is scheduled to run from December 4 to April 4, weather permitting, giving 122 days of operation — a shorter calendar than last year that the group says does not lower its ambitions. Grandvalira Resorts aims to surpass the 2.3 million skier days recorded last winter. Ledesma recalled that despite abundant snow, more than ten of the previous season's eighteen weekends were affected by snowfall or strong winds.

Season pass sales are holding at their usual level. The group sells around 22,900 passes a year across the Andorra Pass, Nord Pass, Mountain Pass and school programmes, of which about 2,000 are sold during the fair. Ledesma clarified that buying them during the fair carries no discount compared with purchasing from Monday onwards.

One new feature this season is an extension of the Mobile Pass, which allows skiers to access the lifts with the pass on their phone without taking it out of their pocket, at the same price as the physical version.

On recruitment, the group is approaching the international hiring process with more confidence. According to Ledesma, human resources departments warned workers in advance about the need to return to their home countries before rejoining for the winter, which has reduced the administrative difficulties experienced during the previous campaign. Finding accommodation and guaranteeing conditions that sustain service quality remain the main challenges.