Kopaonik officially named ski resort No. 1 in the Balkans - Hotels, Skijalista Srbije joined forces to improve tourist offer of "silver mountain"

Two weekends ago, ski runs on Kopaonik mountain officially embraced the first skiers. Judging by its start, this will be a very successful winter season. The artificial snowing system was in use because there was not enough snow, but all accommodation units were occupied, and the estimates are that about 5,000 people were staying on the most popular mountain in Serbia that weekend. When speaking about the advantages of Kopaonik, most people mention great fun as an additional value. Therefore, it should be underlined that all coffee shops along the ski runs were crowded. Nightlife on this mountain is extremely dynamic as well.

The Hotel Association of Kopaonik and the company Skijalista Srbije joined forces in the last few years to make a significant progress, a result of which is the fact that our "silver mountain" has become the ski destination No. 1 in the region.

The new artificial snowing system covers over 70 percent of the ski resort's runs, and it is expected to cover 90% until the end of 2012.

A proof that skiers from Serbia are not the only ones whose favorite ski destination this season is Kopaonik is an award granted by the Balkan Alliance of Hotel Associations (BAHA), which has decided to declare Kopaonik as the ski resort of the Balkans for the year 2012.

With about 1,500 beds, MK Mountain Resort is the biggest hotel complex on Kopaonik. The largest number of guests at that complex this season are from Serbia (about 87%), followed by tourists from Montenegro, Russia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Romania. Last year the guests from Russia had a total of 7,000 overnight stays, and the number of visitors from that country is expected to grow by 12% this winter season.

Profit amounting to EUR 2.5 million

MK Mountain Resort expects to have about 100,000 overnight stays this year, which will, according to the words of Chairman of MK Mountain Resort's Managing Board Nikola Avram, be at the level of the best results achieved by Genex.

As Mr. Avram pointed out, the prices are this year the same as the last year, but there is also a discount for early bookings.

- MK Mountain Resort's turnover until the year's end will amount to EUR 7.5 million, whereas the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) will reach EUR 2.5 million - Avram stressed.

(a break by the ski run)

Speaking about investments, he said that they had recently completed a spa and wellness center within Angella hotel, adding that they intended to invest EUR 500,000 in the reconstruction of the tower of that hotel to make Kopaonik the most modern congress center in Serbia.

Avram stated that the acquisition of Jat's suites would also be possible if an adequate price was agreed.

The arrival of MK Mountain Resort has really revived the Serbian mountain. Nikola Avram pointed out that workers from Raska and Brus were taking a bus every day to come to work on Kopaonik, adding that their average monthly salary was about EUR 450.

Fun moved from Andorra to Serbia

(party on the balcony of Grand hotel)

Aside from skiing, sleighing and walking, guests on Kopaonik mountain can also use swimming pools in hotels, spa and wellness centers, a bowling center, playhouses for children, or rent a motor sleigh, mountain bicycle... What also needs to be mentioned is that all night clubs and coffee shops have been renovated for this season.

When it comes to fun, every person can find something on this mountain that he or she likes - night clubs, pubs, folk discotheques, taverns... Novi Sad-based Pab and Belgrade-based Mr. Stefan Braun and Salas 137 have opened their clubs on Kopaonik. Prices of drinks are the same as in Belgrade - a cup of coffee costs between 90 and 130 dinars, cocktails cost between 350 and 600 dinars, the price of beer ranges from 100 to 350 dinars, whereas a glass of brandy costs RSD 180.

The winter season on Kopaonik is planned to be extended until April 2012 and to be closed with The Big Snow music festival, which is moved from Andorra to Serbia and will take place between March 23 and 30, 2012. This festival was launched two years ago by the world's largest travel agency Thomas Cook. EXIT Team and the Hotel Association of Kopaonik will take part in the organization of this festival in 2012, which will be backed by MK Mountain Resorts, Skijalista Srbija, and the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development.

This music event will gather over 100 famous world, regional and local music stars who will attract few thousand guests from all over Europe. The list of headliners includes Basement Jaxx, the laureate of a prestigious award for the world's best music performance, DJ Fresh, of which single "Louder" was on the top of Europe's most important music top lists in 2011, Freestylers, Modestep, and others.

In addition to top-quality music program, one of the main qualities of this festival is the price of arrangement, which is reduced by up to 60% for early bookings.

Kopaonik Ski Resort: 1,770 – 2,017 m

• Total length of Alpine ski runs - 55 km
• Total length of Nordic ski runs - 12 km
• 21 blue runs, 9 red runs, 6 black runs
• 24 ski lifts and 11 aerial cable cars - 1 six-seat, 7 four-seat and 3 two-seat lifts
• Total capacity of aerial cable cars - over 32,000 skiers per hour, maximum height difference - 512 m
• The longest ski run - Bela Reka, 3.5 km long
• Three ski runs built according to the FIS standard for Slalom: Giant Slalom, Super-G, and Downhill.

Marija Kambic