Three in battle to run Cairngorm ski resort
A UK-based international services giant, a luxury holiday firm and a ski resort rival from close to home are the companies that have been shortlisted to take over the running of CairnGorm Mountain.
A shortlist of three contractors has been announced to take over the day to day running of the attraction which is home to the £20 million Cairngorm mountain railway.
And owner Highlands and Islands Enterprise has revealed that it hopes to award the new contract as early as April, next year.
A total of four submissions were received by Ernst & Young who are running the tender on behalf of HIE. Charlotte Wright, Director of Business and Sector Development at Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "HIE is pleased to have received strong interest in operating our visitor facilities at Cairngorm from a range of potential bidders.
"The three who have successfully come through the first part of the procurement process – Natural Retreats UK Ltd, Nevis Range Developments Ltd, and Serco Leisure Operating Ltd – will now progress to the dialogue phase.
"We’re following a process called ‘competitive dialogue’, which enables bidders to put forward innovative and creative ideas and is well suited to projects which are complex or unique.
"Currently, we expect to be able to award a contract by April 2014."
It is understood that there was no management bid by the existing team running CairnGorm Mountain.
They announced earlier this week that snowsports had come to an end at the resort after a third successful season in the past four years.
Some concerns have been raised that local employment and cut-price skiing for children could be affected by the arrival of any new operator.
The current ski and snowboard school Cairngorm Snowsports is a not for profit company set up and dedicated to supporting local instructors and kids programmes on CairnGorm Mountain.
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