World Ski Awards 2016: Niseko Set to Dominate Again!
After completing a second successive clean sweep of World Ski Awards for Japan in 2015, Niseko is once more well placed to dominate the awards in 2016, with all four winners nominated again and a host of other properties and companies up for awards.
In November 2015, Niseko walked away from the World Ski Awards in Kitzbuhel with a staggering 5 awards, including all of the Best in Japan categories. If you've forgotten who won, check out our report here.
Now as the voting has opened for the 2016 "Ski Oscars" we are delighted to bring you an even bigger list of Niseko nominees!
Japan's Best Ski Resort
The World Ski Awards have been running for 3 years and Niseko United has won each and every year as Japan's Best Ski Resort. It's almost boring! So let's vote again for 2016 and how about aiming for the stars and the World's Best Ski Resort prize that goes to the country nominee with the most votes!
Japan's Best Ski Boutique Hotel
Here is where it starts to get interesting... as last year's winner The Vale Niseko is of course once again nominated and probably the favourite to take the crown again in 2016.
Ki Niseko - currently ranked as the number 1 hotel in Niseko-Hirafu on TripAdvisor, is also nominated after being a finalist for World's Best New Ski Hotel in 2015.
Chalet Ivy - the second ranked hotel on TripAdvisor - is entered for the first time.
Other entries from Niseko include Shiki, Kimamaya, Muse and Loft as well as Zaborin located out near Niseko-Hanazono.
In fact out of the 12 hotels nominated in this category, a staggering 8 come from Niseko!
Japan's Best Ski Hotel
Last year's winner Hilton Niseko Village looks a firm favourite to hang on to its crown (and remember they also won Japan's Best Golf Hotel proving that Niseko really is Asia's year-round resort!).
Their biggest rival is probably their sister hotel, The Green Leaf Niseko Village.
Both hotels are located in the Niseko Village Resort, one of the four resorts making up Niseko United and only a 10-15 minutes drive from the main Niseko-Hirafu Resort.
Japan's Best Ski Chalet
Sekka Kan, winner of the 2014 and 2015 awards, is looking for the triple crown in 2016.
It is joined in the Chalet category Gustav's Hideaway and by Kozue which might not strictly be a Chalet but is at least in Niseko!
World's Best Ski Travel Agent
HTM (Hokkaido Tourism Management) who manage and book Ki Niseko and HT Holidays properties in Niseko-Hirafu have been nominated as the World's Best Ski Travel Agent! They are the only entry from Niseko so let's get behind them and show the world what Niseko is about!
World's Best Ski Tour Operator
Another nomination in the World's Best category goes to SkiJapan.com who have been nominated for the World's Best Ski Tour Operator. With the majority of their tours coming into Niseko we think they deserve your vote.
World's Best Heli Ski Operator
While most people are happy burying themselves in Niseko's world famous powder found on and around the resort, some people like to hop in a chopper and get in more runs in even more remote areas. If that's your thing, the Hokkaido Backcountry Club is who you need to talk to. They have even secured nomination for the World's Best Heli Ski Operator!
World's Best New Ski Chalet
Niseko threatens to take out another "World" category, with Hakuchozan nominated for World's Best New Ski Chalet.
Show your support for this exciting new property - up against the best from Europe and North America.
