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—Denver, July 29, 2024—Longtime tech industry executive Will Treves has been appointed as the new CEO of Aspenware, effective today. Treves brings 20 years of experience to the role at Aspenware, an e-commerce and digital guest-experience solutions provider for the ski industry that’s co-owned by Alterra Mountain Company and As...
SAM Magazine—Jasper, Alberta, July 25, 2024—A fast-moving wildfire complex blazed through popular resort town Jasper Wednesday evening. More than 5,000 residents and 20,000 tourists were evacuated from the town and surrounding area earlier this week. Among the many businesses at risk from the fires is Marmot Basin, Jasper National Park’s onl...
SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 24, 2024—The Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games will return to Salt Lake City in 2034. After awarding the city exclusive negotiating rights for the games last year, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) officially ratified Salt Lake City as the host of the 2034 Winter Games following a Wednesday m...
SAM Magazine—Stockholm, Sweden, July 23, 2024—Swedish locking and security systems manufacturer Assa Abloy Group has entered into an agreement to purchase Skidata from Swiss business technology firm the Kudelski Group. Skidata provides access management solutions to mountain resort operations and others in the sport and entertainment industr...
SAM Magazine—Cambridge, Vt., July 17, 2024—While it’s hard for many to believe we’ve passed the 4th of July mile marker, the classic (and historically lucrative) summer holiday has now come and gone, leaving many operators grateful for water-based amenities and a continued interest in live music events. For example, Snow King Mountain, W...
SAM Magazine—Sandpoint, Idaho, July 15, 2024—Schweitzer has acquired Selkirk Powder’s resort-based backcountry operation, which offers guided snowmobiling and cat skiing in the terrain off the backside of the resort. The outfit has operated from the summit of Schweitzer for 21 years through a long-term concession agreement with the resort and...
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., July 15, 2024—Stable rates helped fuel a continued uptick in occupancy at Western mountain destinations in June, according to the monthly Market Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The growth comes as lodging properties have bowed to consumer pricing concerns and travel pa...
SAM Magazine—Gilford, N.H., July 11, 2024—The Gunstock Area Commission (GAC) has selected Robert Drake to succeed Tom Day as Gunstock Mountain Resort president and general manager, effective Aug. 5. Drake’s appointment ends a four-month nationwide search to replace Day, who announced his retirement in January with the plan to stay on until a ...
SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 10, 2024—Utah’s 15 alpine ski areas saw a total of 6,746,008 skier visits during the 2023-24 winter season, the second highest visitation total in the state’s history behind the 7.1 million skier visits in 2022-23, according to state trade association Ski Utah. “We are immensely proud of this sea...
SAM Magazine—Mount Baldy, Calif., July 10, 2024—After it was first reported Sunday, July 7, at 10 a.m. PDT, the Vista Fire has grown to nearly 2,500 acres and has prompted evacuation orders for Mt. Baldy Resort east of Los Angeles as the fire approaches the ski area. As of Wednesday afternoon, it was zero percent contained. The latest report s...
SAM Magazine—Salida, Colo., July 10, 2024—Monarch Mountain has received United States Forest Service (USFS) approval for its No Name Basin terrain expansion project, as its Memorandum of Agreement has been finalized and the USFS has signed the Decision Notice. The project will add 377 acres, bringing Monarch's special use permit to 1,146 acres...
SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., July 9, 2024—Snow Partners has hired Dave Amirault as chief innovation officer for all its related businesses. He started July 1. In this newly created role, Amirault will lead Snow Partners’ innovation strategy for Mountain Creek Resort and Big Snow American Dream, N.J., SnowCloud resort management software, and...
SAM Magazine—Seven Springs, Pa., July 2, 2024—Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (PSAA) held its biannual lift maintenance seminar at Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Pa., June 25-26, 2024. Attendance from Pennsylvania ski areas is near 100 percent for the program, which stresses hands-on training. Participation is free for employees of Pennsy...
SAM Magazine—Salt Lake City, Utah, July 2, 2024—Doppelmayr USA will expand its Salt Lake City headquarters with the addition of a new facility that will nearly double the size of its existing building, allowing Doppelmayr USA to take a larger role in manufacturing and accommodate a growing workforce. “The current facility has served us well ...
SAM Magazine—Savoie, France, July 2, 2024—French industrial group MND opened a new cable transport production and assembly facility in Savoie, France. The facility cost 10 million euros (roughly $10.5 million) and is dedicated specifically to production of the group’s new Orizon range of gondolas and chairlifts. “This is an important step ...
