Entries open for the 2024 Ski Asia Awards

Ski Asia has opened nominations to the 2024 Ski Asia Awards, which will feature three new award categories

Ski Asia has opened nominations to the fifth edition of its annual Ski Asia Awards, an initiative that was set up in 2019 to recognise the top ski resorts, accommodations and service businesses in Japan, China and Korea.

The 2024 edition will see three new categories added to the mix, with awards for Japan’s best ski travel agency, tour operator and real estate agent.

For the first time since the inception of the awards, businesses are invited to submit a nomination. Finalists will be announced on January 8, followed by a public voting period, with voting forms sent to Ski Asia’s 40,000+ email subscribers and shared amongst the wider Asian ski community.

Businesses will have until 2 January 2024 to submit their nominations, which can be done through the 2024 Ski Asia Awards website.

Ski Asia Editor Rupert Orchard expressed excitement, noting the wave of development and improvements that has occurred in the industry over the last year.

“2023 was an enormous year for ski resorts and tourism operators in Asia, with the return of international travellers and a real desire from Japanese resorts, in particular, to revive tourism to pre-Covid levels.

“Skiers and snowboarders who haven’t visited their favourite resorts for a few years may find themselves surprised by some of the changes that have taken place.

“We’re delighted to get the 5th edition of the awards underway. We have a genuine desire to put the spotlight on resorts and businesses that are creating the best experiences for international travellers. We also know that our readers use the results each year as a resource for making informed decisions on where to travel and stay.”

All eyes will be on the hotly-contested award for Japan’s best ski resort, which was taken out in 2023 by Lotte Arai Resort – a destination known for its incredible powder and in-bounds “Free Riding Zones”, which account for more than 80% of the resort.

There will likewise be plenty of interest in the award for Japan’s best ski hotel, which in 2023 was awarded to relative newcomer Park Hyatt Niseko Hanazono, an ultra-luxe ski-in ski-out hotel that sits metres away from Hanazono Niseko’s Symphony Gondola.

A full list of 2023 winners can be found here.

2024 Ski Asia Awards categories

Japan

Japan’s best ski resort (overall)
Japan’s best family ski resort
Japan’s best ski resort for powder
Japan’s best ski hotel
Japan’s best ski lodge/chalet
Japan’s best snowsports school
Japan’s best backcountry guiding operation
Japan’s best ski tour operator
Japan’s best ski travel agent
Japan’s best ski real estate agent

South Korea

South Korea’s best ski resort
South Korea’s best ski hotel

China

China’s best ski resort
China’s best ski hotel