As ski season approaches, those of us who love the sport begin to make plans, with aspirations of new adventures on and off the slopes. For anyone planning a holiday with friends or family, the good news is that there are chalet companies who can guide you not only through this process, but also help you plan every aspect of your trip. One company that goes above and beyond what is expected is chalet rental company Bramble Ski and is led by Natasha Robertson, co-founder of Bramble Ski.

Located in Europe’s most prestigious ski resort destinations, Bramble Ski offers hand-picked chalets with high-quality amenities and bespoke services. Among the 160 properties they offer are Verbier and Zermatt in Switzerland, Méribel and Val d’Isère in France, and St Anton and Lech in Austria.

What sets Bramble Ski apart from the other luxury chalet rental companies are the Bramble Ski Pros, an integral part of the bespoke service model. As well as being skilled ski instructors, capable of finding the best snow conditions for any ability group, they also serve as knowledgeable private concierges. From booking an exceptional table at a beautiful mountain restaurant to arranging beauty treatments upon returning to your chalet, the Bramble Pros will make your holiday seamless.

In 2005, Natasha and her co-founders, Barry, Colin and Duncan, left their careers in London to run a chalet in Verbier for a winter season. “Verbier steered us towards luxury more than anything else”, Natasha leads. “There were a lot of incredible properties around, and we soon discovered that it’s quite thrilling to work in the higher end of the market.” The collection of chalets grew organically, determined by where the founders desired to skinext, as they pursued snow-sure resorts with perfect powder conditions.

In these early days, founders ran the chalets themselves. Natasha’s co-founders, Barry, Colin and Duncan, had all been ski instructors previously, so began offering private lessons to guests. Since then, this role has gradually evolved with the expansion of the company, to create the position of the Bramble Ski Pro, offered at every chalet location. Natasha explains: “We didn’t reinvent the wheel with Bramble Ski but are always pushing and raising the bar and looking to improve things.”

Bramble Ski is known for its exceptional standard of service. Every need will be met, from a professional private chef and chalet manager for the interior, to Bramble Ski Pros and chauffeur for outdoor excursions. When Natasha walks through the chalet just before guests arrive, she feels most proud of the company she built. “The property looks stunning, and you just know the guests are going to walk in and be greeted by wonderful smiling people who can make whatever cocktail or meal they want”, she explains. “It’s those moments that make me really proud, and really jealous of the guests coming to stay”.

Bramble’s successful business model has been recognized by Europe’s leading home rental company, Le Collectionist, which purchased the company earlier this year. The two companies have natural synergies, with attention to detail and focus on the guest experience. Natasha commented: “I think it’s a good time for the vacation rental market to see some consolidation with a company that can bring high standards across ski chalets and villas and give an offering where people can be sure of incredible service wherever they go”. Bramble Ski intends to continue adding luxury chalets and apartments to their portfolio of properties in Val d’Isère and Lech in the near future.

Since rapidly expanding and cementing their reputation across a variety of resorts, Natasha admits that they are now approached directly by property owners who hear about the brand from word-of-mouth. There is no set formula to a Bramble Ski chalet, but the founders must determine if they think chalet is a good fit for the brand, looking for what their clients would be seeking. Bramble properties offer a great location, direct access to the slopes, luxurious amenities within the property, open living spaces for large groups of friends or family to interact and a high-quality finish throughout each property.

Take Chalet Marmottière, for example. This idyllic Verbier Chalet won the title of ‘World’s Best New Ski Chalet’ in the 2020 World Ski Awards for its exceptional range of facilities. With a 3D cinema room, games room, bar and bowling alley, Chalet Marmottière guests are not short of entertainment options.

For wellness and relaxation, guests can enjoy the properties’ private treatment rooms, gym, spa, swimming pool and outdoor hot tub. The inclusion of a James Bond style private wine cave and poker table demonstrates just how Bramble Ski goes above and beyond what is expected on a ski holiday. In Natasha’s words, “The property is just stunning, it has every facility you could possibly wish for and some that you’d never even dream up”.

With the growth of their portfolio, the founders are rethinking their business model to ensure sustainability. Natasha’s co-founder, Barry Cox, has been driving Bramble Ski’s environmental practices with a passion for sustainability. The luxury industry is typically associated with high consumption, as the providers compete with each other to offer their customers more and more. Bramble Ski’s new sister project, Lagom, challenges this practice by calculating the CO2 emissions of each of their services. This covers a broad range of services from toiletry provision to how much energy is used to launder their robes. “We are striving to meet the standards we set and aim to offer a carbon-free ski holiday by 2030,” Natasha states. By de-selecting services that are not important to them, guests can reduce their carbon footprint, as well as the price of their holiday. As well as encouraging guests to rethink their consumption habits, this offers them a bespoke luxury experience, giving them control over what they want.

With a wide range of award-winning luxury chalets featuring exceptional views, facilities, and staff, Bramble Ski knows exactly what their guests need on a ski holiday. Dedicated to creating the highest quality aprés-ski experience, the Bramble team is always looking for new ways to improve its service. To learn more about this extraordinary opportunity, visit their website: https://www.brambleski.com/.