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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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SAM Magazine—Lebanon, N.H., Sept. 11, 2017—Industry veteran Mike Colbourn is now president of SnoCountry, Inc., a not-for-profit winter resort trade association best known for hosting and disseminating daily snow conditions reports. He takes over for Tom Cottrill, who is retiring after leading the organization for the last 22 years. Colbourn is only the third president in SnoCountry’s nearly 50 years of existence, following Cottrill and founder Phil Camp.
SAM Magazine—Warren, Vt., Sept. 11, 2017—Sugarbush Resort has adopted Tenants for Turns, a program originally developed and implemented by resorts out west—including Jackson Hole, Wyo., and Stevens Pass, Wash.—that incentivizes local property owners to supply affordable housing to resort employees.
SAM Magazine—Boyne Falls, Mich., Aug. 31, 2017—Boyne Resorts has appointed John McGregor, current senior vice president of mountain operations, as the new senior vice president and chief operating officer of the company’s day resorts, and Rick Kelley, current president and general manager of Loon Mountain, N.H., as senior vice president of mountain operations for the company. Additionally, Jay Scambio, the company’s director of mountain sports development, becomes president and general manager at Loon Mountain.
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 31, 2017—Vail Resorts has named Taylor Ogilvie as the new vice president of the company’s urban ski areas. Ogilvie was previously general manager of Wilmot Mountain in Wisconsin. In addition to oversight of Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan, he will continue as the general manager at Wilmot Mountain.
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 28, 2017—Parker Riehle is the new president and CEO of the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA). Riehle—who is currently the president of Ski Vermont, the Vermont Ski Areas Association (VSAA)—will assume the position on Jan. 1, 2018, replacing Michael Berry, who is retiring after 25 years.
SAM Magazine—Vernon, N.J., Aug. 22, 2017—SNOW Operating has entered into a long-term partnership with Mountain Creek Ski Resort, N.J., to manage the resort’s winter ski, snowboard, and snow tubing businesses, as well as the mountain biking operation in summer. As part of the agreement, SNOW Operating CEO Joe Hession is now the resort president. The rest of the team will be transitioning into the role over the next few months with the resort’s owners, the Koffman family of Binghamton, N.Y.
SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., and Park City, Utah, Aug. 21, 2017—After a short breather from ski resort ownership consolidation, the newly formed entity of KSL Capital Partners and Aspen SkiCo is at it again—this time entering into a definitive agreement to acquire Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is subject to certain closing conditions and is anticipated to close prior to the upcoming 2017-18 ski season.
SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 18, 2017— According to the most recently released data from the Monthly Market Briefing compiled by DestiMetrics, an Inntopia company, lodging occupancy for the full summer is up only a slight 0.4 percent. However, strong gains in the Average Daily Rate (ADR) at those same properties have boosted summer revenues 7.7 percent compared to the same time last year. The report covers 20 destinations and 290 lodging companies in the Western U.S.
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 17, 2017—Registration for SAM’s eighth annual Summer Ops Camp—a series of seminars, workshops, and site visits that explore the state of the art in summer operations—closes Aug. 25. A few spots are still available for the Camp, Sept. 5-7 at Killington, Vermont.
SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., Aug. 16, 2017—As it undergoes a multi-million dollar capital development, including the installation of a new six-passenger chairlift, Eldora Mountain Resort unveiled its new branding and a “Closer to You” campaign, which celebrates the mountain’s 56-year history as Boulder County’s mountain playground.
SAM Magazine—Princeton, Mass., Aug. 16, 2017—Season pass partnerships between unaffiliated resorts continue to evolve in a variety of ways. One of the newest is between Wachusett Mountain, Mass., and Stratton, Vt.
SAM Magazine—Glenwood Springs, Colo., Aug. 1, 2017—Season pass holders at Sunlight Mountain Resort can now receive three free ski days at Kiroro ski area on Japan’s North Island as Sunlight expands its global alliances. Passholders can also access more free ski days at areas in Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Washington.
News of staff changes and hires at resorts, suppliers, and the National Parks Service.
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., Aug. 1, 2017—Geoff Buchheister, previously vice president for Vail Resorts’ urban ski areas, is now vice president and general manager for Keystone Resort. He succeeds Mike Goar, who is transitioning to COO at Heavenly Mountain Resort, with additional oversight of the company’s Kirkwood Mountain and Northstar California resorts.
SAM Magazine—Denver, Aug. 1, 2017—The as-yet-unnamed joint venture of KSL Capital Partners and the owner of the four Aspen resorts, Henry Crown and Company, has completed its $1.5 billion purchase of Intrawest Resort Holdings. Upon closing of the deal, Thomas Marano, Intrawest's chief executive officer, resigned his position, KSL's Bryan Traficanti was named interim chief executive officer, and Aspen’s David Perry was named president and chief operating officer. A search for a new chief executive officer is underway.
