Chalet Hosting in Winter 21/22
Just as the winter of 2020/21 comes to an end the question everyone is asking us is 'Will I be able to get a job as a chalet host for winter 21/22?' What with the double whammy of Coronavirus and Brexit it is definitely a challenging time for the ski industry. As chalet hosts ourselves we are also keen to find out what's happening, so with a little investigation here is what we know so far....
The Chalet Host Role Lives On!
We are really pleased to see ski companies starting to offer catered ski chalet holidays to their guests for winter 21/22. In fact, demand seems to be high, with guests who missed out last winter determined to get their ski fix. This ultimately means teams of awesome, fun loving and passionate chalet hosts will be required out in resorts to run chalets once again. Yay!
Who Can Apply?
In previous years ski companies have relied on the freedom of movement to legally employ UK nationals across the European resorts. However, since we "Brexited" on 1st Jan 2021, this is no longer the case. You may therefore have seen ski companies accepting applications from people who:
have an EU passport (not a British passport), or
are legally able to live and work in Europe
Whilst the lucky ones amongst us may be able to apply on this basis, a huge majority of the chalet host roles in the past have been filled by us Brits.
So What About Us Brits?
Don't lose faith, there is a lot going on to try and sort this out. Last year a group called SBiT (Seasonal Businesses in Travel), created a petition called "Save our Travel Jobs" to lobby the government to address this exact issue. Many meetings continue to be held to try and find a workable solution that is cost-effective and achievable in time for winter 21/22.
As it currently stands, ski companies face the prospect of having to navigate a lot of complicated and costly bureaucracy before they can offer a job to a UK national. If we take France as an example, (as this is where the majority of seasonal chalet hosts are located) ski companies are required to initially advertise the job to French nationals for a period of time before they can look to employ a UK national. Then if a UK national is to be employed they will then need to arrange for:
a Work Permit, and
an Immigration Stay Visa
Some companies are consequently taking the view that the opportunities for Brits is very limited for winter 21/22 and are therefore purely focusing their efforts on employing EU nationals. Others however, are hoping to navigate a way through with the aim to operate in a similar way to how they have done previously, employing UK nationals as chalet hosts, in time for the start of the season. There remains a lot of speculation and no real clarity as yet.
Holding a British passport no longer automatically entitles you to work as a chalet host in the EU.
Lobbying of government through the 'Save Our Travel Jobs' petition is ongoing
So What Should You Do Now?
Ok, first up start by researching your family tree and see if there is any way you can get yourself a EU passport. If there ever was a time to find out you have an Irish Grandma then it's now! If you are lucky enough to have this option then, so long as you have the right skills and attitude, you should have no problems finding work as a chalet host for the winter.
If an EU passport is not an option for you then don't panic, there are still a lot of things you can be getting on with. Here are some suggestions:-
Get ahead of the game by making sure your skilled up. Don’t wait for decisions to be made behind the scenes, think about what skills can you be practicing right now. Why not check out our Fresh Tracks courses and either come and join us on one of our one-week residential courses down in Polzeath, Cornwall, or try our online courses which allow you to learn at home in your own time. We teach you all the important stuff on chalet hosting plus a wealth of general useful life skills. Whilst we can't guarantee you a job right now, we can guarantee you a fun and informative use of your time!
Get cracking with preparing your application. This means getting your CV up to scratch, writing an achievable menu plan, creating a catchy covering letter and knowing what to expect when it comes to performing well at your chalet host interview. Check out our online 'Getting A Job Course' at an amazing value of £50. Whilst its specifically tailored to chalet hosting, the advice we offer can be equally applied to other roles, especially in the hospitality sector, that you might be looking at.
Keep an eye on your favourite ski companies websites and join their social media forums to make sure you are first to find out when things start moving forward.
It's not too late to join the lobbying by signing the ongoing petition.
If you're feeling particularly passionate then we encourage you to write to your local MP to highlight the situation. Let them know how much the opportunity to work a season as a chalet hosts will benefit you and so many other people, and highlight that the skills you will learn will go on to benefit the UK economy in the longer term.
And finally, continue to read our newsletter's as we do our best to keep you updated, or drop us an email (info@freshtrackschaletschool.com) or give us a call (07479368663) if you have any questions.
Thanks for reading.
Steve & Becky
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