Ready for this? But first, a disclaimer. This so-called “Uber of the Alps” is actually not Uber per se. Here’s the scoop.
‘The Uber of the Alps’
It’s holiday season again, and that means the energy and the enthusiasm for people of all walks of life, and every age to travel again, whether domestically or internationally.
Among the most popular, despite the expense, tourist spots and destinations in the world today is Switzerland. Here in Switzerland, you can take on stunning alpine adventures, scenic train rides, historic cities, chocolate tours, and cheese tours – yes, don’t forget the cheese tours.
And, on top of these is discovering the Alps, as well as riding iconic trains, exploring Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge, cruising Lake Geneva, and visiting chocolate factories. Hey, Toblerone and Lindt are based here.
Speaking of the Alps, this is probably the most popular tourist activity here in Switzerland. Even if you are not into hiking, or even if you are just a teenage traveler, several people are willing to take the risk to experience the thrill. Think Zermatt.
Laax’s “Uber of the Alps” is making it possible for you to experience this with a twist, and with the improved safety.
Laax in action
So, what exactly is Laax? Laax, from the Weisse Arena Group, actually is a resort. It is one of Switzerland’s biggest winter sports destinations, featuring breathtaking glaciers and meringue peaks. Rawr.
“This is LAAX Mountains. The world-famous freestyle mecca in the Swiss Alps. A place where freestyle, lifestyle, and greenstyle meet,” it describes itself.
The management thought of something that will not only make travelers aware of the attractions, but also of the worsening worldwide problem of climate change.
Switzerland isn’t spared. The country is warming twice as fast as the international average, partly because of Alpine geography. Based on the study, the country is becoming ever more hotter and drier, facing too heavy periods of rainfall, and this isn’t ideal for winter sports and activities.
With the “Uber of the Alps” initiative, travelers can strap their skis on board, experience the world’s first on-demand cable car, and ride a sustainable ski lift taxi system, cutting-edge gondolas that just travel when needed, thereby reducing energy consumption by 50 percent. Weisse Arena Group’s Alicia Martinez herself describes this as “like an Uber of the Alps.”
“From the summit of Crap Sogn Gion, it felt like all of the Alps were on the move. Skiers were carving, snowboarders swooping, tobogganists gliding. But below the rolling clouds, a different sort of winter obsessive was heading to work,” stated Mike MacEacheran of the BBC in their story.
Martinez added that this is a Willy Wonka-inspired lift. Quite stunning.
"The Willy Wonka-inspired lift where you push a button and end up where you want to go – we invented it for innovation and guest privacy, but more because of energy consumption. Ski lifts everywhere consume a huge amount of energy, so this is our first transition away from the traditional winter sports model,” she stated.
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