SAM Coverage
Bob Curley
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AI on the Hill
How ski areas are experimenting with artificial intelligence ops tools. At ski areas exploring the potential of artificial intelligence, early use cases are emerging not…
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Growing Role For Resorts: Landlord
With providing employee housing comes the various responsibilities of managing it. As the need for employee housing has morphed from optional to desirable to…
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Crowd Control
Ski resorts find a sweet spot with parking reservations, fees, and transportation strategies. Grooming, snowmaking, and lifts may be the sexier things to discuss…
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Are Used Lifts Good Value?
Purchasing a used lift requires careful consideration of a variety of factors well beyond the initial cost of acquisition. Used ski lifts are…
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Capital Ideas for Summer
Experts dish on how to survive (and thrive during) summer construction projects. During summer, the challenge of balancing capital improvement construction zones, staff schedules…
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Finding Fraud
Credit card scams are on the rise, forcing many ski areas to learn how to recognize and manage fraudulent purchases. Online sales, cashless systems, and…
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More Balsams, Les Otten
Les Otten nears the starting line on his ambitious plan to revive a historic ski area and resort deep in New Hampshire’s Great North…
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If You Build It, Will They Come?
Faced with staffing shortages, Alterra dedicates $350 million toward employee housing. Climate change is a generational challenge for the winter sports industry, but ask…
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Lemonade Out of Lemons
Food service operators dish on adapting to a menu of post-pandemic challenges. Ski areas are adapting their food and beverage operations in response to…
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How Can I Help You?
Ski areas are enhancing customer service—and collecting valuable data—with smarter, more guest-friendly AI-led chat platforms. Got customers calling about pass prices? There’s a bot…
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Layers of Governance
The dramatic proceedings at Gunstock Mountain Resort in July highlight the potential pitfalls of public oversight in ski area operations. Governance nightmares don’t get much…
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Strength by Association
Regional and state ski area associations have evolved their roles amid changing times, finding new strengths. Just as ski areas have weathered the Covid-19…
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Screen Time
Ski areas are increasingly turning to digital signs to inform guests and smooth ops. Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyo., has received much attention for…
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International Workers to the Rescue
Staff members on J-1 or H-2B visas infill workforce gaps and bring skills and diversity to ski areas. When Gabriela Riquele isn’t busy working…
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Construction Site :: November 2021
Transformative lifts, major snowmaking improvements, and other infrastructure projects highight the 2021 construction season. SUNDANCE, UT Sundance Mountain Resort is making substantial infrastructure…
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New School
Covid-19 taught many new lessons about running school group programs. After-school ski programs have been bedrock drivers of attendance at ski areas for…
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Keeping a Watchful Eye
An increasing number of resorts are seeing the benefits of video surveillance systems. From tracking down missing children and identifying thieves to investigating…
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Far Flung and Fun
It pays to think outside the bread bowl and get creativ e with your food and drink venues. Does a hot dog eaten at…