This year’s lack of snow has underlined the need for Nevis Range mountain sports centre to continue diversifying its business, the resort’s bosses have said.
Yesterday, the company’s chief executive Peter MacFarlane said a season which saw the Lochaber facility only able to open for skiers and snowboarders for around 25-30 days would be reflected in its next set of annual accounts.
He was speaking as Nevis Range Development Company’s results for the previous year, including a “reasonable” winter which allowed it to open for 81 days out of a possible 113, were released by Companies House.
The figures show turnover for the 12 months to the end of October 2016 increased slightly to £3million from £2.9million in 2015. Pre-tax profits were down in the period from £243,322 to £192,309, reflecting investment in development projects by the firm.
Towards the end of 2016 Nevis Range completed the construction of a hydro generation system, which now powers its gondola uplift system and exports surplus electricity. Described as a “major step forward,” the company said the project was an “another example of how diversification can help secure the long-term future of the business.”
During the 2016 winter season, from January 10 to April 10, the resort attracted 26,760 skiers and snowboarders – a decrease of 9% on the 2015.
The centre, which opens year-round, saw an 10% overall increase in gondola passenger numbers to 155,246, due in part to more visits by Chinese and Indian coach parties, according to the report.
The Mountain Bike World Cup, held at the during the summer of 2016, was hailed as “one of the most successful in the history of the event,” attracting record crowds.
Other smaller events staged by the company during the year as part of its efforts to diversify the business included bike races, marathons, weddings and film nights.
Mr MacFarlane said a forecast in the 2016 report that the most recent winter season would be poor had proved correct.
“The past season was one of our worst since we started operating and the difference will be reflected in our next annual accounts,” he said.
“Nevis Range has been diversifying for years and we are continuing our diversification and expansion, using our facilities for a range of activities throughout the year.”
He added: “Up until this year it’s been good because we have had a run of three or four good winters. For us it’s about reinforcing the business so we can ride out a bad winter when it comes.”
Summer visitor levels this year have been “pretty good” so far, according to the chief executive, with evidence the weakness of sterling was attracting increased numbers of visitors form overseas. This year’s Mountain Bike World Cup was again highly successful, attracting around 20,000 spectators.
The most recent of Scotland’s outdoor winter snowsports centres, Nevis Range, on Anoch Mor, near Fort William, was opened to the public in 1989.
The first downhill mountain bike track was developed on lower slopes in 1994 and extended to reach to the gondola’s top station six years later.
During 2016 the Nevis Resort also continued to develop its winter sports facilities. As part of the Scottish Government ski area infrastructure funding package, the company started work on the electrification of its summit tow. The project, which involved flying two transformers onto the mountain, was delayed by poor weather, but completed earlier this year.