Plans have been announced to build the world's largest indoor ski park, with the record-breaking development coming to Shanghai's Pudong neighbourhood.
Conceptualised by Mercurio Design Lab, the Wintastar resort will be run by Dubai's Majid Al Futtaim, which unveiled the Middle East’s first indoor ski slope in 2005.
Singapore-based KOP Limited (KOPL) will build the sport's attraction, which will span 227,000sq m (2.4 million sq ft). The park will feature three ski slopes, one of which will be used to train Olympic skiers. The resort will also be home to a collection of 25 visitor attractions, which will include among them a Viking-themed waterpark and an ice hotel.
No official date has been given for Wintastar’s completion, but KOPL has suggested that the project could wrap prior to or around the same time as the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
"The timing for Wintastar Shanghai could not be better," said Ong Chih Ching, executive chair and executive director of KOPL. With the Beijing Winter Olympics coming in 2022, Chinese consumers are yearning for travel, leisure, novel experiences, and winter sports."
Wintastar will be Majid Al Futtaim’s first foray into the hospitality sector beyond the MENA region. The record-breaking ski park, which–by some projections– could attract 3.2 million visitors annually, is expected to facilitate the Dubai company’s expansion into the global attractions market.
"This partnership underscores Majid Al Futtaim's extensive knowledge and experience in designing, developing and operating indoor snow entertainment facilities that speak to changing customer and lifestyle preferences," said Ahmed Galal Ismail, the chief executive officer at Majid Al Futtaim Ventures.
"We are confident this represents the beginning of an extensive international footprint when it comes to indoor snow entertainment facilities."
