Which One Is Real? CGI, Photography & Trusting What You Book

When you’re booking a ski holiday months - sometimes a year - in advance, you’re often choosing a place you’ve never physically seen. At VIP SKI, that’s something we take seriously.

For many of our newest chalets, we rely on ultra-high-quality CGI imagery to help guests imagine exactly what they’re booking. These aren’t “concept sketches”, they’re detailed, meticulously planned visualisations that reflect every material choice, layout decision and design detail long before doors open.

And now, with the Graciosa officially open, we’ve had the opportunity to do something we always love doing...

In early December, photographer Christophe Hassel visited the Graciosa in La Plagne to capture the first real photographs of our newest chalet suites, and what struck us immediately was just how difficult it is to tell the finished photographs apart from the original CGI.

The light, the proportions, the textures, the views - the reality mirrors the visuals almost exactly.

For us, this is always the most satisfying moment in any building project. Not because the CGI is impressive (although it is), but because it proves something far more important: our guests can trust what they see when they book with VIP SKI. Our experts bring to life every detail of the architect’s vision - elegant furnishings, soft lighting, and panoramic vistas - all with uncanny accuracy. What you see in these images is exactly what you’ll experience in real life. No detail is overlooked, no promise left unmet.

We work with specialist CGI partners who understand hospitality, architecture and how chalets are actually lived in. Every image is built around:

• Accurate room layouts and scale
• Realistic lighting at different times of day
• True-to-life materials and finishes
• Views and orientation that reflect the real location

This proven approach extends well beyond the Graciosa. In the summer of 2018, our CGI partners created the first renders of our new chalets in Avoriaz, tasked with capturing the style, space and atmosphere of these remarkable properties. and they delivered beautifully. 

In 2019, they took on the ambitious Aspen House project in Val d’Isère, producing visuals that reflected the sleek design of eight contemporary apartments and a luxury spa, helping guests picture the experience long before arrival. Early in 2021, as we opened bookings for Bear Lodge in Arc 1950, our 30-bedroom hotel alongside 12 private chalets - CGI once again played a vital role in telling the story of what would become an award-winning property. And back in Avoriaz, their expertise continued to shine, accurately depicting three further piste-side chalets with the same precision and attention to detail our guests have come to trust.

Building projects require trust. Trust in timelines, trust in delivery, and trust that what you see is what you’ll get.

With the Graciosa now open and photographed, we’re proud to show that:

• Our CGI visuals are not aspirational guesses - they’re dependable representations
• Our building projects deliver on what’s promised
• And when you book a VIP SKI chalet, you can do so with confidence