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—Broomfield, Colo., Oct. 3, 2017—Vail Resorts (VR) reported fiscal 2017 full-year results last week, including EBITDA of $593 million. That represents growth of 31 percent
compared to 2016, due in large part to inclusion of results from Whistler Blackcomb and Stowe in 2017.
This October edition of Snow People includes happenings to prominent people in the mountain resort industry since our last edition in early August.
SAM Magazine—Dover, Vt., Sept. 27, 2017—The mercury dropped over the weekend in the western high country, and a handful of resort snowmaking crews took advantage of the cold temps.
SAM Magazine—West Dover, Vt., Sept. 25, 2017—By popular demand, Cutter’s Camp returns to the East with a new “Fall Refresher” format to be held at Mount Snow in southern Vermont, Nov. 6-8. With
winter starting for many resorts right after Camp concludes, terrain park professionals will be able to immediately apply the lessons and best practices they learn to their park operation.
SAM Magazine—Woodbury, Conn., Sept. 20, 2015—There are only 10 days left to enter SAM’s 13th Annual Terrain Park Contest, sponsored by Burton Snowboards. The November issue will showcase the most unique terrain park features, as well as the most innovative park events, from the 2016-17 season, but only if you enter. So start sorting through your creations, and submit your entries for the feature and/or events categories.
Beaver Creek, Colorado. Photo credit: Jack Affleck, Vail Resorts.SAM Magazine—Denver, Sept. 20, 2017—The trend of slipping occupancy and rising revenues that began last winter in Western destinations has continued through most of the summer, according to the monthly DestiMetrics Market Briefing released by Inntopia. And the trend may get worse before it gets better.
U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and MuseumSAM Magazine—Ishpeming, Mich., Sept. 20, 2017—Eight noted ski and snowboard athletes and sport builders form the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame’s Class of 2017. They are freestyle icon “Airborne” Eddie Ferguson, freestyle’s somersault king Hermann Gollner and legendary cross-country coach Marty Hall; the late, Steve McKinney, world record holder in alpine speed skiing; snowboard pioneer Shaun Palmer; ski mountaineers and twin brothers Mike and Steve Marolt; and Thom Weisel, a passionate fund raiser for the U.S. Ski Team.
SAM Magazine—Carrabassett Valley, Maine, Sept. 15, 2017—Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine will offer cat skiing this winter on its Burnt Mountain terrain, which until this
season was only accessible for those willing to hike or skin. The resort will be one of only a small handful of U.S. ski areas east of the Rockies to offer cat skiing, with Subarbush, Vt., and Mount Bohemia, Mich., a couple of the others.
SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Sept. 12, 2017—Parker Riehle, recently named as the new president of the National Ski Areas Association, is not taking the job, after
all. He has told NSAA that, for personal reasons, he is declining the offer. As a result, Michael Berry will remain president until a new candidate is chosen and completes the transition.
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.
