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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—Broomfield, Colo., July 25, 2017—Inspired by the environmental commitment of Whistler Blackcomb, a recent Vail Resorts (VR) acquisition, VR will aggressively pursue a comprehensive sustainability commitment across all its resorts, called “Epic Promise for a Zero Footprint.” The pledge commits VR to zero net emissions by 2030, zero waste to landfill by 2030, and zero net operating impact to forests and habitat.
SAM Magazine—Breckenridge, Colo., July 25, 2017—Breckenridge held the grand opening of Epic Discovery at Alpine Camp last week, marking the expansion of its summer offerings. Guests were treated to a scenic ride up the Colorado SuperChair on Peak 8 for the debut of Breck’s Gold Summit Climbing Wall, along with the resort’s observation tower and interpretive hiking loop. An aerial adventure course at Alpine Camp will follow later this summer.
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., July 21, 2017—Wells Fargo has entered into an agreement with USI Insurance Services to sell Wells Fargo Insurance Services (WFIS), inclusive of the Safehold Special Risk program business. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
SAM Magazine—Silverton, Colo., July 21, 2017—As Silverton Mountain begins its 16th year, the resort has teamed with six other ski areas that will give Silverton passholders 20 days of free skiing during the 2017-18 ski season.
SAM Magazine—Denver, July 21, 2017—While occupancy at Western mountain destinations for the summer months (May through October) is up a mere 0.2 percent year-over-year, aggregated revenues as of June 30 jumped 8.4 percent from the same period a year ago, thanks to robust gains in average daily rate (ADR). Occupancy for the month of June dipped 0.5 percent, but revenues were up 6.5 percent, according to Inntopia’s monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing.
SAM Magazine—Franklin, Wis., July 19, 2017—Schmitz Brothers LLC, which operates Little Switzerland and Nordic Mountain ski areas in Wisconsin, has reached a purchase agreement and long-term lease deal with ROC Ventures to take over ski hill operations of The Rock Snow Park in Franklin, Wisconsin.
SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., July 19, 2017—Aspen Skiing Company’s chief operating officer, David Perry, left the company Monday to become a full-time consultant in launching the as-yet-unnamed SkiCo/KSL Capital Partners joint venture, which recently got the green light from regulators to move forward with its acquisitions of Intrawest and Mammoth Resorts.
SAM Magazine—North Vancouver, B.C., July 19, 2017—Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver has been acquired by GM Resorts, a company that was just incorporated in March by CM Asset Management Co. Ltd. (CM Canada). The rumored $200 million price tag was not confirmed in a news release announcing the deal. See SAM’s earlier report about the sale HERE.
SAM Magazine—Orlando, Fla., July 19, 2017—Accesso Technology Group plans to acquire The Experience Engine (TE2) in a deal valued at around $80 million, which is the largest acquisition in the company’s history. Both technology companies currently serve leisure, attraction, and hospitality operations around the world, including ski resorts, theme parks, hotels, quick service food, and healthcare, among others.
SAM Magazine—Claysburg, Pa., July 18, 2017—Sustainable Hospitality and Development, a limited partnership formed by a group of six investors from Pittsburgh, has purchased Blue Knob All Seasons Resort in Pennsylvania. The group acquired the resort from Richard Gauthier, 79, whose family purchased Blue Knob in 1983. The sale is not expected to disrupt operations.
SAM Magazine—North Vancouver, B.C., July 17, 2017—After its owners put it on the market last year, Grouse Mountain near Vancouver appears to have found a buyer. Citing sources familiar with the transaction, The Globe and Mail reported last week that the China Minsheng Investment Group, which is connected to the Chinese central government, is buying the resort for $200 million. The transaction is expected to close in the coming days.
SAM Magazine—Wrightwood, Calif., July 11, 2017—The Powder Alliance reciprocal pass program has added La Parva, Chile, and Bogus Basin, Idaho, to its list of participating resorts for the 2017-18 winter, bringing the total to 16 resorts in four countries. Anytime season passholders at any of the participating resorts get three free days at the other 15.
Robert Ward Parker, a 10th Mountain Division veteran who became a major figure in the post-World War II ski industry, died June 29 in Grand Junction, Colo., at the age of 94.
SAM Magazine—Denver, July 10, 2017—Denver will host the winter and summer Outdoor Retailer trade shows for the next five years, industry and elected officials said last week. Starting in January 2018, show organizer Emerald Expositions will host three shows in Denver each year—the OR Summer Market, plus the combined Winter Market + Snow Show in January, and a new apparel-oriented OR Winter Market in November.
SAM Magazine—Biwabik, Minn., July 10, 2017—Giants Ridge in northern Minnesota has hired industry veteran Fred Seymour as its new general manager. Seymour’s prior experience includes time as senior manager of alpine services for Hyland Hills Ski Area in the Three Rivers Park District in Bloomington, Minn., as well as general manager and consultant for four Denver-based properties. Most recently, Seymour was general manager at Hidden Valley Ski Area in Missouri.
