SAM Magazine-Vail, Colo., June 2, 2008-In yet another headline-making move, Vail Resorts has axed the company's relationship with Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA), the non-profit marketing group which represents the state's ski industry. CSCUSA plans to continue operations on behalf of its 22 remaining members, but with a much smaller budget.

Rob Katz, Vail's CEO, slammed the marketing group while praising the Colorado Tourism Office. "We felt that the marketing efforts of our industry were best handled by working collaboratively with the Colorado Tourism Office," Katz said in a statement. Katz argued that CSCUSA should focus less on marketing and more on public policy, much like NSAA and the California Ski Industry Association. However, he failed to convince the majority of CSCUSA members.

As a result, Vail Resorts withdrew its membership from Colorado Ski Country USA on May 28, taking with it some of the state's largest and busiest resorts and the biggest portion of the nonprofit's membership dues-said to be approximately $1.2 million.

Former ski industry exec Jerry Jones, who now runs a consultancy, JD Jones & Associates, saw the move as cynical. "They are saving money, not sharing their information with the others, and not using their prestige to promote Colorado skiing, and as a result are not promoting the other areas involved," Jones told the Denver Post. "CSCUSA will have to take a smaller role because they will have less money and will have less resources." But at the NSAA Convention last week, where the Vail decision was a hot topic, a few marketers conceded the move makes some sense.

Watch for more news about the organization following its annual meeting June 11-13 in Crested Butte. \

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