Travel and Leisure

Theme parks and restaurants with outdoor areas are exposed to weather conditions that can make or break a business. They are often especially reliant on holiday seasons when the weather must cooperate for success. 

Forward thinking travel agencies have started to differentiate themselves by offering their clients weather protection with holiday packages. With vouchers, customers are attracted and compensated should they experience too many rainy days or a lack of snow during their vacation.  

Example: Amusement park
Example: Hotel White Paper: Weather: An Issue in the Hospitality Industry

Industry quotes

The ski industry in central Europe is likely to be disrupted by significant reductions in natural snow cover especially at the beginning and end of the ski season. At the most sensitive elevation in the Austrian Alps (600 m in winter and 1400 m in spring) and with no snowmaking adaptation considered, a 1°C rise leads to four fewer weeks of skiing days in winter and six fewer weeks in spring. It was calculated that a 2°C warming with no precipitation change would reduce the seasonal snow cover at a Swiss Alpine site by 50 days/yr, and with a 50% increase in precipitation by 30 days.
(IPCC, Europe Report 2007)  

Grisons’s options for winter sports enthusiasts remain very limited due to the lack of snow. From Saturday the aerial tramway in Arosa is going to take passengers up to the Weisshorn. But if you think you can take your skis or snowboard along, think again.  The tramway is only open to hikers, trippers and summiteers.The mountain railways in Samnaum have come up with a special idea to attract guests. Some slopes open on Friday – and can be used free of charge. For the time being complimentary day tickets are handed out to visitors.
(www.link-gr.ch/ 9th December 2006)