• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., April 1, 2021—Canadian resorts Revelstoke and Big White are both closing ahead of schedule, just as British Columbia enters a three-week lockdown amid surging Covid cases. Both closures appear to be a result of virus-related concerns, though they are not a direct result of the latest lockdown. Whistler Blackcomb, whi...

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., April 1, 2021—A special report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) found that new, more diverse outdoor participants sought new recreation opportunities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While these new participants stayed close to home during the pandemic, opportunities exist to entice these newcomers to expand t...

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Whistler, B.C., March 29, 2021—British Columbia is implementing a three-week "circuit breaker"-style lockdown, imposing widespread restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness, and worship services—and closing Whistler Blackcomb resort. All other winter resorts remain open. Affected businesses must close by midnigh...

• Environment

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 29, 2021—With vaccinations accelerating in many locations across the U.S., resort travel planning has begun returning to normal, according to the latest analysis from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The pace and timing of rebookings, and longer lead times for bookings, indicate growing co...

• Miscellaneous
• Lifts

Resorts Maggie Murray and Jesse True, Arapahoe Basin, Colo.  Arapahoe Basin welcomed Maggie Murray as its new finance director and Jesse True as its new marketing director.  Murray began her career at Morgan Stanley in Boston before realizing that office towers were not her natural habitat. Her background includes top finance roles in local n...

• Miscellaneous
• Environment

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 24, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) officially unveiled its 2021-22 Epic Pass lineup today, dropping pass prices 20 percent “across the board,” which the company calls a “historic move.” It brings prices down to 2015-16 levels, when Epic Pass provided access to 11 resorts compared to more than 70 resorts tod...

• Ski Area Profiles
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Whitefish, Mont., March 22, 2021—A group of 20 to 30 protesters gathered on and around the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort Sunday morning to bring awareness to what organizers allege is a “culture of racism and non-inclusion” among the resort's staff and management. Whitefish acknowledged the protests and said it is addressing ma...

• Snowmaking
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., March 22, 2021—A chair carrying three passengers detached from the haul rope and fell to the ground Sunday afternoon at Camelback Resort, Pa.  According to sources at the resort, the chair that fell was nearing the top terminal when passengers felt an unusual shaking, and the lift came to a jolting stop. Th...

• Ski Area Profiles

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, mostly known for the $1,400 payments to individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000, extends several benefits to business as well. Most important for the owners, managers, and shareholders of winter sports businesses are provisions that include the following:   Sma...

• Snowmaking

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., March 15, 2021—With just two months to go in the winter season, lodging at mountain destinations regained lost ground, according to the most recent Mountain Market Briefing distributed by DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia.  Year over year, actual occupancy for February was down 1...

• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 15, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) saw year-over-year business levels improve during January and February, with season-to-date visits down 8.2 percent through March 7 compared to the prior year. Lift revenues declined 8.9 percent for the period, while ski school, food and beverage, and retail/rental revenues declin...

• Rental

SAM Magazine—Sundance, Utah, March 12, 2021—The new owners of Sundance Mountain Resort are wasting no time making improvements to the Utah resort founded by Hollywood luminary Robert Redford. Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners, which acquired Sundance in December 2020, plan to install two new chairlifts, expand parking, and ...

• Area Management
• Rental

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., March 11, 2021—It’s March, which means next season’s passes are going on sale. Many are offering financing options and carrying over Covid-related assurances. Prices seem to be holding steady and even rising, although a number of resorts are adding value, like spring access and reciprocal tickets, and offering disc...

Nearly one-fifth of the population has received at least a first dose of vaccine, according to the latest Virus Tracking report from the Insights Collective. As the vaccines continue to roll out, they will reinforce a long, downward trend in Covid cases that began in early January. Nationally, new cases are approaching 50,000 a day, on average, dow...

• Marketing

SAM Magazine—East Rutherford, N.J., March 8, 2021—Big SNOW American Dream general manager Jim Haas, 70, died Saturday, March 6, due to complications caused by Covid-19. Haas is the second active ski area leader to die from issues related to Covid-19. Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn., president Bruce Anders died in January at age 64.  Haas was the f...