Quality assurance management

Tourist Office classified as category 1

Our commitments as a Category 1 Tourist Office

Quality approach – The Destination of Excellence label

The Pralognan-la-Vanoise Tourist Office is fully committed to a quality approach, aiming for the continuous improvement of its services and placing visitor satisfaction at the heart of all its actions. Every initiative is designed to meet customer expectations and guarantee impeccable service.

By choosing a Destination of Excellence labeled destination , you benefit from a framework recognized by the State for the quality of its welcome and its sustainable commitment.

Awarded by Atout France , this label recognizes regions that prioritize the visitor experience. It is based on a demanding national standard and is subject to an independent audit every five years, guaranteeing a high level of quality and continuous improvement of the services offered.

For you, this means a professional welcome, reliable information, structured services and constant attention to your satisfaction.

Destination of Excellence also recognizes destinations committed to an ecological transition. Staying in a certified area means choosing more responsible tourism, mindful of preserving the environment and local resources.

In Pralognan-la-Vanoise, this distinction reflects a collective commitment: that of the professionals and the Tourist Office, united around a common ambition, to offer you a quality, coherent and sustainable stay.

The eco-responsible commitments of the destination

Pralognan-la-Vanoise’s geographical location guarantees consistent snow cover throughout the winter. The ski area’s altitude and north-facing slopes help retain snow, resulting in good snow cover and excellent snow quality all season long.

In order to limit the use of personal vehicles in the resort, Pralognan-la-Vanoise provides free shuttle services which crisscross the village, in summer as in winter.

The commitments of the Tourist Office

Aware of the richness and fragility of its environment, the Pralognan-la-Vanoise Tourist Office is committed to integrating the principles of sustainable development into its operations and activities. Located in the heart of an exceptional natural area, the destination prioritizes the preservation of its natural heritage and raising visitor awareness.

Through an internal charter and concrete actions carried out daily, the Tourist Office is working to reduce its environmental impact, promote responsible practices, and encourage tourism that respects the mountains. Discover below some of the initiatives implemented by the team.

The commitments of the municipality of Pralognan-la-Vanoise

The municipality of Pralognan-la-Vanoise is implementing concrete actions to reduce its environmental impact and promote a more sustainable territory:

Energy and equipment

• Use of HVO fuel for municipal vehicles.
• Switch to LED lighting in the premises of the Tourist Office.
• Installation of an electric charging station in the Bouquetin parking lot.

Mobility and traffic

• Regulating parking and limiting traffic speed in the village centre to reduce pollution and improve visitor comfort.
• Provision of free shuttle services to promote sustainable travel within the resort.
• High-altitude parking lots are charged to limit car travel, encourage the use of free shuttle buses and contribute to the maintenance of local roads.

Waste management and maintenance

• Twelve drop-off points are managed by the Val Vanoise inter-municipal authority (including two temporary ones, installed only in the summer to address increased usage at certain sites). Since 2019, Val Vanoise has been implementing a plan to optimize its waste collection organization . To achieve this, the inter-municipal authority deployed a system of measuring probes installed in the semi-underground containers (which cannot be installed on wheeled bins). The objectives are to collect waste with an average fill level of over 70% in the containers (compared to 40% previously) and to optimize truck routes: 100% of the containers indicated on a collection route are emptied (compared to 50% previously).
• Cardboard compactor to facilitate recycling and reduce waste volume.
• Three public composters to make use of organic waste and encourage local composting.
• Intensified selective sorting during events and activities, in partnership with the Val Vanoise community of municipalities.
• Using gravel rather than salt for winter road maintenance in most cases, in order to limit the impact on nature.
• Reuse of sawdust and wood shavings for the ranch and stables.
• Managing access to the sharing cabin to promote the reuse of objects, giving them a second life, and limiting waste.

The commitments of Pralognan Domaine de Montagne (ski lift company)

Pralognan Domaine de Montagne, committed to environmental preservation, is implementing concrete actions to reduce its carbon footprint and promote more sustainable operation of its ski lifts:

• Pralognan Domaine de Montagne is responsible for planting vegetation, turfing, and most of the landscaping on the slopes. The Ski Patrol is responsible for snowmaking and slope maintenance.
• Pralognan Domaine de Montagne is committed to better waste management, saving energy, limiting air and noise pollution, preserving water reserves and the integrity of landscapes.
• Each year, Pralognan Domaine de Montagne sets up a program to clean the slopes and collect waste.
• Since the winter of 2025-2026, all snow groomers at Pralognan Domaine de Montagne have been powered by HVO fuel, a renewable energy source, reducing CO₂ emissions by at least 60% and up to 90% * over the entire lifecycle compared to standard fuel. Thanks to its paraffinic nature, this fuel provides an additional 5% reduction in CO₂ emissions during combustion.
  *Based on complete product lifecycle standards.
  **Based on optimal operating and production conditions of HVO100.
• Re-launch of ISO 9001 certification, aimed at structuring quality management and ensuring rigorous monitoring of all services and commitments.
• Implementation of the Compagnie des Alpes charter , with the objective of achieving net zero carbon by 2030.

These initiatives, which are being rolled out rapidly thanks to the partnership with Compagnie des Alpes , allow the resort to take new steps in its commitment to a more environmentally friendly mountain, where skier comfort and ecological responsibility advance together.

The commitments of the Vanoise National Park

The Vanoise National Park supports visitor awareness of the environment and local wildlife through its Park Visitor Center, educational materials, thematic exhibitions, and field activities. These events, offered to both locals and tourists, help them better understand the challenges of preserving natural areas and the regulations governing coexistence with wildlife, flora, and human activities. Each initiative contributes to promoting respectful and responsible tourism by raising awareness among young and old alike about everyone’s role in protecting this exceptional territory.

The commitments of Cristal, Vanoise Sports Centre

The commitments of Cristal, Vanoise Sports Centre

Le Cristal, the Vanoise sports center, is implementing several concrete actions to improve the energy efficiency of its facilities and limit its environmental impact. Among the measures put in place:

• Replacing the halogen lights in the multi-sports hall with more energy-efficient LEDs.
• Heat recovery from the ice rink’s refrigeration units to heat the ice rink’s air handling unit.
• This same recovered energy is used to heat the pool water using a plate heat exchanger.
• Preheating the water in the pool’s hot water tanks via heat recovery from the refrigeration units.
• Implementation of programmable timers on certain equipment in order to optimize electricity consumption.
• Installation of motion detectors for lighting in the corridors.
• Project under study: implementation of a BMS (Building Management System) to optimize the control of electricity and heating consumption.

The commitments and best practices of socio-professionals who are members of the Tourist Office

By sharing their initiatives, professionals contribute to preserving the environment, promoting responsible tourism, and raising visitor awareness of best practices in the region. Every action, whether it involves waste management, energy conservation, or sustainable transportation, helps make the destination more sustainable and respectful of its natural heritage.

These commitments and best practices are communicated directly by the socio-professional members of the Tourist Office. The Tourist Office cannot guarantee their implementation, but it recognizes their voluntary efforts in favor of sustainable development.

• The Steven Amiez Fan Club
  Prioritizes French-made products and local producers at its competitions and events, from honey to food served at the stands, and uses recyclable reusable cups to minimize waste. Equipment such as caps and beanies is carefully selected, and travel is organized thoughtfully, favoring local transportation and digital tickets.
  
• At UCPA
  Recycling and waste management are systematically implemented, with sorting tables in the dining hall and a limit on individually packaged products, significantly reducing plastic consumption. Sourcing prioritizes local products, short supply chains, and responsible partners, notably through collaborations with Alpina. Environmental awareness is also central to the activities offered: some ski days include modules on the Vanoise National Park, climate change, and actions that protect nature, with quizzes or symbolic souvenirs to commemorate these initiatives. For training courses, 80% of participants use public transportation (bus and train), thus limiting the carbon footprint associated with travel, the main expense for winter sports. UCPA also participates in initiatives like Too Good To Go, an app that allows users to purchase unsold food products at reduced prices, thereby helping to combat food waste and promote more responsible consumption.
  
• The Lapieds,
  A family of mountain filmmakers and wildlife documentarians, are committed to raising public awareness about the preservation of the natural world through their mountain wildlife documentaries, shown at the Le Parc cinema in Pralognan. Each screening invites viewers to better understand local flora and fauna and to adopt environmentally responsible behaviors.
  
• The Refuge Les Barmettes
  establishment sorts all packaging, has used oils collected by a specialized company and practices composting of food and coffee grounds, thus contributing to reducing its environmental impact and to valuing resources.
  
• At the Ternélia Le Télémark hotel-club,
  all waste is sorted (cardboard, paper, glass, cans), and guests are invited to participate in this initiative through information displayed in their rooms. The hotel has also installed LED lighting in common areas and guest rooms to reduce energy consumption. Finally, the hotel prioritizes local products and short supply chains, with partnerships for the bar (Les Clarines in Pralognan, Bières des Cimes, Savoyard breweries) and for cheeses and cured meats (Moûtiers Dairy Cooperative / Savoie Fromages).
  
• At the Chavière goat farm
  Goat Farm, sustainability is a daily reality, fostered through local and innovative initiatives. Every year during the holiday season, the goats participate in recycling Christmas trees, consuming everything, including the needles. The goats’ whey is then used to feed the pigs and chickens in the valley. The animals also benefit from stale bread collected from the local bakery, and the goats’ grazing helps maintain and mow the natural areas, which are then shredded to enrich the soil. The farm also practices waste sorting, collecting yogurt pots and cheese molds for reuse, while the chickens contribute to the recovery of food waste. Each action is part of a comprehensive approach to responsible and local resource management.
  
• Les Rustics d’Orgeval
  Rustics d’Orgeval raise their pigs outdoors from two months old until they reach maturity, feeding them non-GMO grains, fruits, vegetables, and whatever nature provides on their land. The processing takes place on-site in Pralognan, and the products are then sold directly at the market or in their shop. The charcuterie is made with natural coarse salt, without nitrites, colorings, or preservatives, and uses only natural French casings. Food by-products, such as stale bread from a local bakery, whey from the Chèvrerie des Chavière goat farm, distillate residues from a valley distillery, or spent grains from a local brewery, are reused to feed the animals, thus completing a local and responsible approach.

Best practices for a more responsible stay

Every little helps, and everyone can contribute to a more responsible mountain holiday. Here are a few things you can do:

Eco-friendly actions

Numerous recycling bins are available throughout the resort, and we encourage you to adopt habits that reduce waste: use reusable tableware for picnics, choose products with less packaging, avoid food waste, and sort your waste. At higher altitudes, if no bins are available, please remember to take your rubbish with you.

Energy and resources

In your accommodation, reduce your water and electricity consumption by turning off taps, limiting shower time, and switching off lights and heating when you leave your room. When possible, take advantage of facilities using renewable energy.

Gentle transport

Transportation accounts for 57% of greenhouse gas emissions during a mountain holiday. Choosing to travel to Pralognan-la-Vanoise by train, bus, or carpool , as well as using the free shuttle buses (in summer and winter during peak season) and other forms of sustainable transportation once you arrive, significantly reduces your environmental impact. For shorter trips, consider cycling or walking.

Local consumption and short supply chains

Nothing could be easier with the many local farmers and producers : favour seasonal, organic and local products, as well as handcrafted souvenirs, to support the local economy.

Coexistence with fauna and flora

The mountains are an exceptional but fragile habitat. Please respect the rules of coexistence: avoid excessive noise, stay on the marked trails, do not feed wildlife, and leave no trace (cigarette butts, tissues, masks, etc.). The Vanoise National Park , which covers more than two-thirds of the territory, regulates these practices through its specific rules , indicated by signs and colored markers. The activities and exhibitions at the Park Visitor Center help visitors understand the challenges and objectives of conservation, and fun activities such as family games raise awareness among young and old about biodiversity and the protection of natural environments.

Observation and participation

To better understand and respect the environment, observe animals from a distance, participate in activities or clean-up actions organized by the municipality or local associations, and use guides or interactive applications to identify fauna and flora.

Every action, from sorting waste to using soft mobility, helps to preserve the mountain, its biodiversity and the quality of your stay, while supporting the local economy and promoting responsible tourism.