01763 289660 | 
Ski Host/Walk Organiser ~ Winter season jobs
Working for Collett's Mountain Holidays in the Winter
This really is a 'ski job' with a difference, and it would be fair to say it might be one of the few of its kind on offer in the industry.
The basis of our holidays is similar to the traditional idea of a ski holiday, with our guests staying in catered, hosted alpine chalets and self catering apartments. The main difference being the type of guests we get and the way we interact with them.
From all walks of life and of varying ages our guests are more often than not 'outdoor enthusiasts' who love the mountains in winter and summer for the variety of activities they offer, not just the skiing. More than half of them will have been on a Collett's holiday before, winter or summer.
As a 'Ski Guide / Walk Organiser' you would spend half of your time out on the hill accompanying guests skiing, snowshoeing, and even a bit of cross country skiing. The other half of your time is spent in the chalet doing a range of tasks from domestic help (room cleans, helping at breakfast and dinner) to manning the bar, airport transfer driving, and lots and lots of guest interaction.
in one of our Chalets
Domestic Days
Domestic Days involve the day to day domestic chores that are required to keep our properties running efficiently; cleaning, kitchen assistance, room changes, food and wine supplies etc.
A typical day would involve the following:
- Up at 7.00 to help make sandwiches for packed lunches for the guests and other staff.
- Serving and helping at breakfast in a chalet, clearing away and washing up.
- Passing on ideas and information to guests at breakfast who may still be deciding what to do that day.
- Cleaning rooms and apartments - toilets and en suite bathrooms included.
- Other odd jobs around the resort - washing resort vehicles, doing the recycling, unpacking food deliveries etc.
- Afternoons are generally free to get out skiing or perhaps 'recce' a new Snowshoe walk.
- From 6.00 until 7.30 each evening, there is 'Office Hour', when we meet our guests in one of our chalets to pass on local information, offer advice and provide information on different activities, and also to discuss our own activities for the next day.
- After Office Hour you would help at dinner in one of the chalets. You would not only help our Chalet Cooks to serve and wash up between courses, but you sit and eat with the guests as a host, enjoying great food, a glass of wine or two, and the banter and spontaneous enjoyment that comes from such occasions. People are normally on a high after a great day out in the mountains together and ready for a good meal.
- You would expect to finish between 10 and 10.30pm, unless you are staying to enjoy the company of the guests, or even joining them for a drink in one of the local bars.
- Whilst a domestic day will generally be perceived as the less attractive option, they can be great fun, especially if each member of the team supports one another and there is a good atmosphere within your team. This experience will not work for you if you are not a supportive, giving and tolerant 'team player'.
- Also, as domestic chores are usually finished by lunch time, it also provides you with a bit of free time. Whether that is skiing, snowshoeing, washing clothes or just catching up with a bit of sleep, it is a few hours to yourself of guest - free time which we know is vitally important to keeping your batteries charged through the five month season.
Changeover Days
Unlike the summer in the Dolomites, in Winter we have set arrival and departure days, Sunday to Sunday.
The dreaded 'changeover day' is actually quite straightforward, just a rather long and tiring day.
You would be involved in one of three areas -
- Helping with changeover cleans in the chalets, then later in the day accompanying guests to ski hire to get their equipment sorted for the week. In the evening you would also help at dinner as per usual for a domestic day.
- Going to the airport with a group of guests on a coach, and picking up another group to bring back to the Chalets.
- Driving one of our minibuses (9 seater) down to the airport with a group of guests to do the same. The route is half mountain and valley road, half motorway, but straightforward once you have done it once.
The journey is around three hours each way, so quite tiring if you are driving, but actually quite a nice change to the routine once a week.
This is perhaps the most important job of the week. Meeting people for the first time, giving them a warm welcome, sorting out any problems they might have with lost luggage etc., is essential. You might be the first person from Collett's that our guests have met and it is an opportunity to get off to a great start. During the journey back up to resort we chat to every individual and double check any ski pass or ski hire needs etc.. Informing them of what will happen when they arrive and any other information they need to know.
If you are driving, it is essential that you do so safely and with all of your passengers comfort in mind.
Whichever of these you are involved in it normally involves an early start, from 4am onwards, so we tend to get an early night the night before!
in the Dolomites
Outdoor Days
Outdoor Days involve accompanying guests on our Downhill Ski Itineraries, Snow Shoe or Winter Walks or accompanying them to a Cross Country Ski area. In the evening you would once again help at the 'Office Hour' and perhaps with washing up at dinner in one of the chalets. These are the days on which you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery that surrounds us in the Dolomites in the company of our guests, who, like you, are likely to have a passion for chosen activity.
A typical day would involve the following:
- Eat a good breakfast in the staff kitchen before meeting up with the guests, who have subscribed to 'your' activity.
- Meet your guests around 8.30 to 9.00 am outside the chalet ready to depart.
- Before we leave we always pass on safety information about what kit and equipment to carry etc.
- If you are skiing you would walk up to or be dropped off at a nearby chairlift or cable car.
- If you are walking or cross-country skiing you might leave from the village, take public transport or drive the group yourself in a minibus to the start of the route or the centre.
- Before setting out on a Snow Shoe route, Winter Walk or Ski Day we give a talk about how we intend to organise the day and to make sure everyone is aware of their own responsibility, reminding people gently that you are not a qualified guide etc.
- During the day you need to be able to navigate confidently whilst keeping a discreet eye on the condition of the guests and progress of the party.
- We would expect you to talk to as many of the group as possible, as you are as much a 'host' for the day as you are the Organiser.
- If you have walked, skied or climbed with friends before in the mountains you will know what a great way to get to know people - barriers come down and people are happy to share a bit of life history or put the world to rights!
- Whilst we always expect you to behave in a responsible and mature manner, putting safety first, the reality of these days is often that you enjoy them as part of the party as much as the guests do.
- During the Skiing days we always take our guests to one of our favourite Rifugios for a hearty lunch, a great and very affordable feature of skiing in the Dolomites.
- If you are walking or snow shoeing we often take packed lunches and flasks of hot drinks, and make a lunch stop en route.
- On your return to Resort you would go to help again at the 'Office Hour' from 6.00 pm till 7.30pm, helping people organise their next day's itineraries, and being a host around the chalet again.
- During dinner you would often have some 'down time' with one or two other members of the team, eating away from the guests, but you might still get involved with the washing up etc.
Important: This Outdoor Day / Domestic Day system is tried and tested and has been honed after many years of practice. It is designed to get the day to day domestic chores done efficiently and as smoothly as possible and make sure nobody is left working whilst other people have finished: to enable us to enjoy the area doing the various activities with our guests: to maximise our opportunities for some free time to enjoy as we choose to.
What we would stress to you is that the day to day Rota which determines your movements and jobs is only the beginning of your responsibility to the job - not the end.
Jobs can crop up unexpectedly and usually they need to be carried out immediately. We aim to recruit people who are prepared to 'go the extra mile, take responsibility to see a job through to the end, and to drop what they are doing (work or leisure) to help out when necessary.
near Arabba
Still interested?
To apply for this job you must be available for the duration of the season, from early December until mid April.
In the event of us losing a member of the team through injury or personal reasons we keep a list of people in whom we are interested on a 'subs-bench'. We would contact these people if we needed someone to fill in until the end of the season.
In the event of us losing a member of the team through injury or personal reasons we keep a list of people in whom we are interested on a 'subs-bench'. We would contact these people if we needed someone to fill in until the end of the season.
We do not have vacancies for people looking work over the Christmas and New Year periods only. What do you think this is, a free ski holiday experience?!!
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR...
Let's start with the personality!
The following are absolutely essential:
- Polite, responsible and helpful nature. Engaging, naturally warm and generous personality.
- Passion for a mountainous alpine environment and the activities you would be involved with.
- Respect for and interest in people, places and local culture.
- Positive energy, hard work and a willingness to get stuck into a range of day to day domestic and menial resort chores.
- Team skills /compatibility - a tolerant, flexible and supportive attitude.
- The willingness to do jobs over and above a timetabled schedule.
- Focus on and interest in the well-being and safety of others.
Outdoor Skills and Experience Required
The following are absolutely essential:
- Skiing
You need to be a proficient skier, confident on any grade of groomed slope and happy to accompany groups of mixed ability guests.
- Walking
Reasonable experience of walking in wilderness or mountainous terrain, confident with map reading and general navigation skills. You need to be relatively fit and happy to accompany groups of guests on any grade of walk whilst enjoying the day yourself. Outdoor qualifications are a bonus but not essential.
A big bonus but not always essential:
- Full Driving Licence - accompanied of course by safe, confident and sound driving skills.
- A First Aid qualification - would you be prepared to take a basic First Aid course prior to joining Collett's?
- Any Outdoor Qualifications or Training e.g., Mountain Leader Course, or any Ski Instructor training or qualifications.
Training & Awareness
We dedicate the first ten days of the season to 'Staff Training & Awareness' and 'Local Orientation.'
All of our team, especially our Ski Guides / Walk Organisers must offer accurate and suitable advice to our guests at all times and so, once in resort, everyone is required to nurture a good level of local information and to take an interest in the local geography. Much of this 'Training & Awareness' period therefore includes an extensive familiarisation programme of the local area with a series of walks, skis, talks and drives.
It is essential that, within as short a period as possible, you can talk about the area with knowledge and authority.
Of equal importance are the procedures and techniques that apply to the safety, efficiency and success of both Outdoor Days and Domestic Days.
The following areas are covered - (With areas such as First Aid, Food Hygiene and Driving etc.. we cannot provide certified training as such, but we do raise your awareness of the relevant safety issues as much as we can).
- 'Organised Walks & Guided Ski Days' - procedures and safety.
- Local Knowledge.
- Cleaning, Changeovers & Chalet Kitchen Assistance.
- First Aid.
- Food Hygiene.
- Driving in the Mountains.
- Airport Transfers.
How to Apply for Seasonal Jobs...
If we feel you have the right experience and outlook etc., we would invite you for an informal interview at our office in Rural Hertfordshire, 45 minutes north of London. In the first instance, please call Phil Melia for a chat and informal telephone interview before sending us your CV as it will be discarded without prior contact.
Contact Phil Melia - Tel: 01763 289660
How to apply for Ski Guiding With Collett's Mountain Holidays in the Italian Dolomites & South Tyrol