PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco shares his thoughts on the acquisition with SAM. SAM Magazine—Jay, Vt., Sept. 8, 2022—Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. (PGRI) made the highest and best final bid to buy Jay Peak, $76 million, following an auction with multiple bidders. PGRI president and CEO Vern Greco told SAM that after three years spent pursuing the acquisition, PGRI is poised to bring renewed stability to the resort and its staff, and tap into its passion and energy. The prevailing bid remains subject to approval by the United States District Court in Southern Florida during a final hearing scheduled for Sept. 16. Judge Darrin P. Gayles, who has presided over the receivership in federal...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 31, 2018—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has elected two new members to its board of directors: Wesley Kryger, president of Greek Peak and Toggenburg ski areas, and J.R. Murray, GM of the Arizona Snowbowl. In September 2018, Kryger and Murray were voted in to replace two vacancies left by retiring b...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 26, 2018—After closing on its recent acquisition of Triple Peaks LLC, which includes Okemo, Vt., and Mount Sunapee, N.H., Vail Resorts has created a new “Northeast regional structure,” which entails leadership shuffling, layoffs, and promotions. Doug Pierini, previously VP and GM of Kirkwood, Calif., is...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Oct. 23, 2018—Professional Ski Instructors of America and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (PSIA-AASI) has collaborated with Halley O’Brien Productions and Terrain Based Learning creator SNOW Operating to produce a new three-video series: “How to Ski: A Beginner’s Guide.” The videos are the...
SAM Magazine— Sheridan, Wyo., Oct. 18, 2018—In 2004, a family dispute forced Fun Valley Inc. to shut down the slopes at Antelope Butte ski area. Fourteen years later, Antelope Butte’s lifts will spin again thanks to the hard work of a community coalition, the Antelope Butte Foundation. The foundation has been working since 2011 to reopen Ant...
SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt., and Newry, Maine, Oct. 18, 2018—Killington Resort in Vermont and Sunday River in Maine will be the first mountain resorts in the East to open for skiing and riding when first chairs go up at each area on Friday, Oct. 19. Killington will be open for passholders before opening to the general public on Saturday, and c...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 17, 2018—SAM (Ski Area Management) magazine’s sister publication Adventure Park Insider has launched the 3rdannual State of the Industry survey. This annual effort collects data about summer and aerial adventure operations to help operators benchmark their businesses and inform decisions regardi...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Oct. 16, 2018—SAM has launched an open call for nominations to become a mentee for the second year of its successful Summit Series. The season-long program, aimed at developing future industry leaders, creates a public dialogue between established and respected industry leaders and up-and-coming resort staffers. Thes...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Oct. 16, 2018—Western destinations are poised to achieve the region’s fifth consecutive summer record for both occupancy and revenues, according to Inntopia's monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing. As of Sept. 30, occupancy for May through October is up two percent compared to the same time last year. The figure includes b...
SAM Magazine—Arapahoe Basin, Colo., Oct. 16, 2018—Arapahoe Basin will open for daily operation for the 2018-19 ski and snowboard season on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, Lifts will be spinning soon at A-Basin. Photo: Dave Camaramaking A-Basin the first area to open seven days a week. The Black Mountain Express lift will start turning at 9:00 a.m., givi...
SAM Magazine—Pagosa Springs, Colo., Oct. 11, 2018—After a storm this week deposited 18 to 20 inches of snow at Wolf Creek, the ski area will open for business at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13, making it the first area in North America to open to the public for the season. The resort will open the rental shop, ski school, main lodge and three lift...
SAM Magazine—Girdwood, Alaska, Oct. 10, 2018—Canadian hospitality company Pomeroy Lodging has entered into a contract to purchase Alyeska Resort, including the 300-room Alyeska Hotel, from John Byrne, who has owned the resort Alyeska Resort entrance. Photo: Bob Hallinen, Anchorage Daily Newsfor 12 years. The transaction is expected to close by ...
SAM Magazine—Denver, Oct. 1, 2018—Alterra Mountain Company has closed on its acquisition of Crystal Mountain in Washington. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. The resort was valued at $40 million when John Kircher bought it from Boyne Resorts in 2017. Crystal is the thirteenth mountain resort in Alterra’s portfolio, all of which ...
SAM Magazine—Snowbird, Utah, Oct. 1, 2018—Snowbird is experiencing a changing of the guard. Come Oct. 26, longtime president and CEO Bob Bonar will retire, along with senior vice president and CFO Tom Jones, and director of Future retirees (L to R): Tom Jones, Jerry Giles, Bob Bonar. Photo: Matt Crawleyvillage operations Jerry Giles. Current ge...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Sept. 28, 2018—Vail Resorts has finalized its purchase of Triple Peaks, LLC, after first revealing its plan to acquire the company more than three months ago. Vail purchased Triple Peaks, the parent company of Okemo Mountain Resort in Vermont, Mount Sunapee Resort in New Hampshire, and Crested Butte...
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 25, 2018—The National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has named Adrienne Saia Isaac to the newly formed position of marketing and communications director. Isaac most recently served as marketing and communications manager at Arapahoe Basin, Colo., for the past six years. At The Basin, Isaac managed m...