A new chapter for the Italian ski resort of Bardonecchia. Labellemontagne has signed an agreement to sell the Italian company Colomion SpA, operator of the Bardonecchia ski resort, to iCON Infrastructure. This transaction is subject to certain conditions precedent to its conclusion.
Bardonecchia is a ski resort located in the Piedmont Alps in the province of Turin, Italy. The resort offers more than 100 km of slopes spread over 4 different ski areas: Campo Smith, Les Arnauds, Melezet and Jafferau.
The resort has 23 modern lifts, including 3 gondolas, 6 chairlifts and 14 drag lifts, with a capacity to transport 30,000 people per hour. Bardonecchia hosted snowboarding events at the 2006 Turin Winter Olympics, consolidating its international reputation in snow sports.
In terms of accessibility, Bardonecchia is well served by transport infrastructure. It can be reached by the A32 Turin-Frejus motorway and the Milan-Paris international railway line, with a station located directly at the resort. The nearest international airport is Turin Caselle, 95 km away, but Milan, Chambéry, Lyon and Geneva are also within easy reach.
Labellemontagne and Bardonecchia: a story of success and tourism development
Over the past 12 years, Labellemontagne, through its subsidiary LBM Italia led by Nicola Bosticco and Francesco Belmondo, has led an ambitious growth and diversification project in Bardonecchia, the jewel in the crown of the Piedmontese Alps. This subsidiary has consolidated its role as an innovative player in the mountains, diversifying its activities and offering a complete range of tourist services adapted to each season.
Major investments have been made to renovate the ski lifts, expand all-season activities with a bike park and tobogganing on rails, and develop the quality of eight high altitude and in-resort catering establishments. Labellemontagne has invested in the opening and renovation of eight restaurants, both at altitude and in the resort. These restaurants offer both local and international cuisine, thus meeting the varied expectations of visitors. This culinary diversification enriches the tourist experience by offering quality dining options in a picturesque setting. These initiatives have transformed Bardonecchia into a dynamic destination that attracts visitors all year round.
Bardonecchia: future prospects and continued excellence
This transfer highlights the achievements made in Bardonecchia and will benefit the Piedmont region by promoting greater synergy between the Via Lattea and Bardonecchia ski areas, thus reinforcing their tourist attractiveness.
Jean-Yves Remy, Chairman of Labellemontagne, said: “We are proud of the work done by our team in Italy and the positive impact of our investments on the development of tourism in Bardonecchia. This sale marks a new phase for La Belle Montagne, allowing us to refocus our efforts on our estates and activities in the knowledge that Bardonecchia will continue to prosper under the capable management of the iCON Infrastructure group.”
Ivana Semeraro, partner of iCON Infrastructure, added: “With this acquisition, we strengthen Piedmont’s tourism offer on an international scale. We thank La Belle Montagne for their collaboration and we are committed to continue the excellent work done in Bardonecchia.”
About Labellemontagne
Specialising in the management of winter and summer sports resorts on a human scale, Labellemontagne is a family group that has developed the Labellemontagne signature around a common spirit of quality and service, guaranteeing easy stays.
Labellemontagne is the first family company in France, active in several mountain ranges (Vosges, Savoie and Hautes-Alpes), managing winter/summer sports resorts and related accommodation and service activities. In addition to its core business in the mountains, the group offers a wide range of leisure activities and services, such as the WAM PARK water sports centres and the Citadelle cable car in Namur.
The group pursues a strategy of innovation and maintains an exclusive positioning that allows it to preserve the human dimension and unique identity of its resorts. Majority-owned by the Remy family, Labellemontagne ‘s capital is backed by a pool of private equity investors, led by Crédit Mutuel Equity alongside historical shareholders such as bpiFrance and Institut Lorrain de Participation.
