Zermatt Lodging / Travel Advice?

I will be in Zermatt to ski with colleagues on weekend of January 14/15 while in Europe on business. Planning on taking the train from Basel.

I am looking for recommendations on:
1) Decent priced lodging that will be convenient to transporation to lifts?
2) Where should I rent equipment from?
3) Best expert and advanced intermediate skiing?

Any thing else I should know about Zermatt? Bars, etc.?

Zermatt Tourist Office have been very helpful to me. Online booking, or you can phone them:

http://www.zermatt.ch/en/

Ask them for a Hotel in the centre, equidistant to all the lifts, or out at the Klein Matterhorn lift. Most Hotel's have Electric Taxis and will collect you from the station, if you don't fancy carrying your bags.

All the big sport shops rent equipment. Standards are high. There is a big ski shop right opposite the station, can't remember the name, but it's opposite the Tourist Office.

All the main access points have advanced skiing options. Choose your hill based on the weather on the day.

Thanks for the response! Now one of my French colleagues is suggesting that I consider Grimentz. From the resort description on this site, is sounds excellent. I will post a new topic asking for advice on choosing.