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  • SAM Taps Whistler Blackcomb to Host 2025 Summer Ops Camp

    SAM Magazine—Whistler, British Columbia, March 18, 2025—SAM’s Summer Ops Camp will be held at Whistler Blackcomb, Sept. 2-4, 2025, offering three days of education, networking, and hands-on learning focused on the future of summer operations at mountain resorts. This year’s camp will also feature a partnership with the Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA), bringing together a dynamic mix of resort professionals from across North America.   Whistler Blackcomb has been at the forefront of year-round recreation development, balancing business innovation with environmental sustainability. With a robust lineup of summer attractions—including the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, Peak...

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Vail Resorts Q3 Report Quantifies Shutdown Impacts

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., June 4, 2020—Vail Resorts' third-quarter report showed the impact of the pandemic shutdown on business at its 37 resorts worldwide, including 34 in North America. Overall mountain division revenues for the first nine months of VR's fiscal year, through April 30, fell by 7.6 percent. Third-quarter results, which w...

NSAA Honors Resorts for Sustainability, Marketing, Safety, and Growth

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., June 4, 2020—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) presented awards in sustainability, safety, growth and marketing during the association’s virtual awards ceremony June 3. The online fête was Halley O'Brienhosted by “The Snow Report Show” and “SnoCountry Snapshot” star Halley O'Brien.   On t...

Bousquet Mountain Acquired by Local Investors

SAM Magazine—Pittsfield, Mass., June 1, 2020—Bousquet Mountain ski area in western Massachusetts has been acquired by Mill Town community impact fund, a local Pittsfield-based private investment group. Mill Town bought the ski area from the Tamarack Ski Nominee Trust and owners Sherry and PJ Roberts for an undisclosed amount. Sherry Roberts ac...

Resorts Adopt Phased Opening Plans for Summer Ops

SAM Magazine—May 29, 2020—Multi-phase opening plans abound as resorts across the nation aim to get summer operations rolling. Memorial Day weekend saw a smattering of ski areas opening a limited range of activities, all with state approval and strict new guidelines. As stay-at-home orders continue to be rolled back, many resorts are looking at ...

NSP Releases Revised New Edition of OEC

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 29, 2020—The National Ski Patrol (NSP), in partnership with Jones & Bartlett Learning (JBL), published its sixth edition of Outdoor Emergency Care: A Patroller’s Guide to Medical Care (OEC). The latest edition has been reformatted for greater accessibility, includes updates on new medical best practices a...

Arapahoe Basin Reopens May 27 for Skiing and Riding

SAM Magazine—Dillon, Colo., May 26, 2020—Arapahoe Basin’s variance request to partially reopen for skiing and snowboarding was approved by the state of Colorado, so the ski area will restart limited operations on Wednesday, May 27. A-Basin will host a maximum of 600 guests per day, all of whom must register online in advance. The demand for ...

OIA Spearheads "Recreate Responsibly" Campaign

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., May 21, 2020—The Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) is working with a national coalition of nonprofits, outdoor businesses, and land managers to launch the Recreate Responsibly campaign. The program presents guidelines and best practices for enjoying the outdoors amid the COVID-19 pandemic. With stay-at-home restri...

Benneyan To Lead The Hermitage Club

SAM Magazine—Wilmington, Vt., May 20, 2020—Industry veteran Bill Benneyan has been appointed executive director and general manager of The Hermitage Members Club, the private membership club on the former Haystack Mountain ski area in Wilmington, Vt. Benneyan previously served as president and COO of Mountain Creek Resort, N.J. In his new role ...

Vail Resorts Names Four New Resort GMs

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., May 20, 2020—Four of Vail Resorts’ properties in the East and Midwest will have new general managers starting as soon as June 1. The new GMs are: Peter Disch, Mount Sunapee, N.H.; Josh Klevans, Wildcat, N.H.; Shannon Buhler, Snow Creek, Mo.; and Scott Leigh, Wilmot, Wis. All four were promoted from within the c...

Indy Pass Adds Resorts, Passholder Assurances

SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., May 20, 2020—The Indy Pass has implemented a pass assurance program, lowered prices, and added new resorts in an effort to “get America skiing” post COVID-19. After a successful inaugural season, Indy Pass added another seven independent resorts to its roster: China Peak, Calif., Crystal Mountain, Mich., Granit...

SBA Updates PPP Loan Forgiveness Guidelines for Seasonal Employers

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., May 19, 2020—Following a campaign led by NSAA’s Dave Byrd, state ski associations, and the governors of 18 ski states, the Small Business Administration (SBA) released new guidance on Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan forgiveness, which should expand ski area benefits through the program. Sixteen of the stat...

Western Destinations Saw Occupancy, Revenue Plunge in April

SAM Magazine—Denver, May 19, 2020—Six weeks after the winter season was abruptly ended on March 15 by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2019-20 ski season arrived at its traditional end. Lodging occupancy for the year through April 30 declined 21 percent, while the average daily rate (ADR) rose 7.1 percent, according to DestiMetrics in its monthly Mar...

Resorts Reopen Amid Easing Restrictions

SAM Magazine—May 18, 2020—Across the country, government officials are easing restrictions enacted to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, allowing many mountain resorts to resume operations. Some resorts are reopening with snow, while others are looking toward Welcoming passholders during reopening at Mt. Bachelor. Credit: Mt. Bachelor, Ore.summer...

NSAA LEADs on Climate 2020

SAM Magazine—May 15, 2020, Lakewood, Colo.—On Wednesday, May 13, the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership (OBCP) joined LEAD on Climate 2020. The event, facilitated by Google Hangouts and sustainability-focused NPO Ceres, brought together more than 330 business leaders for the largest ever call-to-action on climate change. OBCP is an alliance ...

Timberline to Reopen Friday, May 15

SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., May 13, 2020—Following an executive order by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown specifically allowing several outdoor recreation activities to reopen, including the state’s ski areas, Timberline Lodge on Mt. Hood will reopen for skiing and riding with modified operations on Friday, May 15. In its outline of the reopen...