Levi’s slope investment pace is fast. Between 2019 and 2026, no less than 64 million euros will be invested in the overall development of the slopes in Kittilä’s Sirka village.

– The sum includes, among other things, the West chair lift completed in 2019 and the Glacier complex on the front slope completed in 2022, which also includes a new chair lift. It also includes the Six chairlift completed in 2024 with the modernization of the slopes and the second chairlift on Etelärinte, which will be completed next year, says the CEO of Oy Levi Ski Resort Ltd, which is behind the investments. Jouni Palosaari.

– That is, 64 million euros will be mainly invested in snow safety, modernization of lift technology, lighting and safety, Palosaari continues.

7-month snow guarantee

The center opens its first slopes every fall on the first weekend of October. At that time, the first snow slope also opens for cross-country skiers.

Snow storage technology makes these things possible.

At the end of the season in the spring, the center stores massive amounts of snow under insulation boards for the summer months.

In October, the insulation boards are removed, the snow is spread on the slope and the season starts early. When the skiing season continues into May, it becomes a snow season lasting about seven months.

– Levi has a seven-month genuine snow guarantee. We have invested heavily in snow cannon systems and snow storage, Palosaari continues.

It is also ecological to recycle part of the snow on the slopes for the opening of the next winter season.

Responsibly

Levi is growing fast, but Kittilä is proceeding responsibly.

The ski center has used carbon dioxide-free electricity for several years, utilized the latest available technology in snowmaking, lighting and lift solutions on the slopes, and invested significantly in geothermal solutions.

Levi has been using biofuel in slope and trail machines for years.

Levi is a founding member of the global ski center industry’s responsibility alliance, which aims to develop the industry on a sustainable basis.

The alliance’s main themes include reducing carbon dioxide emissions, promoting energy-efficient operating models within the alliance, and sparring equipment and technology suppliers to develop more energy-efficient solutions for the industry.

The alliance includes the famous resorts of Kitzbuhel, Laax, Kronplatz, Skistar, Oberstdorf and the ski resorts of New Zealand.

Look in Europe

The top of Levi’s foreign marketing has been in Europe for a long time. During the pandemic, a large number of domestic customers discovered Levi and other ski resorts in the north.

After the pandemic, the appeal of Levi and the north has grown significantly in Central Europe.

– There are a few reasons for that. Many people in Europe have snow in their DNA, air connections to us are fast and cheaper, there is no time difference and the carbon footprint is smaller than flights in Asia, says Palosaari.

In the last fiscal year, the number of Levi’s foreign slope customers increased by 23.4 percent compared to the previous year. The number of foreign slope customers was 132,000.

The number of domestic slope customers remained the same and was 457,000.

– In total, around 750,000 visitors visit the slopes during the year, states the business director of Oy Levi Ski Resort Ltd Marko Mustonen.

They come to Lapland

There are about 25,000 beds in Levi and almost 70 restaurants in the village. The hill is 531 meters high and has 44 slopes and 26 ski lifts.

The area also has, among other things, an 18-hole golf course, a padel court and many cycling routes for summer tourists.

Finns are Levi’s largest visitor group as a whole.

From abroad, the largest number of customers come from the British Isles, followed by France. Somewhat surprisingly, the top ten visitor groups also include the traditional Alpine countries, i.e. Austria, Germany and Switzerland.

In the statistics, people from the United States and Romania are increasing, among others.

Growth continues

Levi has no intention of stopping in the development of the slopes and the area. Oy Levi Ski Resort Ltd’s updated four-phase investment program includes many issues and large investments.

Examples include the new, larger service building South Point on the southern slopes, which will include new rental offices, a shop and restaurant premises. The expansion is planned to be implemented in 2027-2028.

The widening of the slopes in the same area, which is popular with families with children, as well as the development of lights and automatic snowmaking, are also planned.

Also in the center of the village, the Zero Point building, where the ticket office, restaurant, shop and rental office are located, will expand significantly at the same time as hotel construction begins in that area.

Several hotel projects are underway in the Levi area.

– In 2030, Levi’s vision is to be Europe’s most progressive year-round ski resort, say Palosaari and Mustonen.