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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—Winter Park, Colo., May 13, 2021—Lodging properties in Western mountain destinations finished the 2020-21 winter season up 4.8 percent in room nights compared to the truncated 2019-20 season, while a drop in average daily rate (ADR) led to an overall revenue decline of 5 percent. ADR for the winter was 10 percent below that for 20...
SAM Magazine—Denver, May 13, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company has established a new public charity, the Alterra Mountain Company Community Foundation. The Community Foundation will provide financial support to members of the North American communities in which Alterra operates. “If this last year has taught us anything, it’s that the most i...
SAM Magazine—Sun Valley, Idaho, May, 12, 2021—Sun Valley Company has chosen Pete Sonntag to become vice president and general manager of Sun Valley Resort effective June 7. Sonntag will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of the resort and report to Bruce Fery, CEO of Sun Valley parent company Grand America Hotels & Resorts. C...
SAM Magazine—Palmerton, Pa., May 12, 2021—KSL Resorts, an affiliate of KSL Capital Partners, will manage Blue Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania. KSL Resorts quietly began managing Camelback Resort two years ago, also located in the Poconos Mountains. Details about the timeline or what the management agreement entails have not been released. “W...
SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., May 7, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) has named new senior leaders to three of its Colorado resorts: Jody Churich, VP and COO of Breckenridge; Tara Schoedinger, VP and GM of Crested Butte; and Chris Sorensen, VP and GM of Keystone. All three will assume their new roles June 7. Jody Churich, Tara Schoedinger, and Chri...
SAM Magazine—White Pass, Wash., May 6, 2021— Kevin McCarthy is stepping down as White Pass GM on July 1 after 36 years at the helm. Former COO Rikki Cooper will succeed McCarthy as GM. “Trying to fill Kevin McCarthy's shoes is an impossible task,” said Cooper. “He has faithfully led this company since the year I was born, and his deter...
SAM Magazine—May 6, 2021, Ludlow, Vt.—With Memorial Day on the horizon, resorts are sharing summer start dates and deals. Many East Coast and Midwest areas are targeting May openings, while lots of the western operations are eyeing mid to late June. A handful of operators with snowpack and inclination plan to continue offering skiing and riding...
SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., May 3, 2021—Canada West Ski Areas Association (CWSAA) held its annual spring conference virtually, April 26-29. It drew 650 attendees, who participated in daily educational sessions and two special awards presentations. CWSAA CEO Christopher Nicholson said that initial feedback and poll responses from attendees ha...
SAM Magazine—Portland, Ore., April 27, 2021—The 2021-22 Indy Pass goes on sale today, and has also added three more partner resorts to its roster: Powder Mountain, Utah, Mt. Ashland, Ore., and West Mountain, N.Y. The pass will provide two days of access to 66 North American ski areas next winter. “The addition of Powder Mountain, Mt. Ashla...
By Mark E. Battersby The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) includes lots of potential benefits for winter resorts, especially smaller ones. Here's a more detailed look at some of the key provisions that were originally included in the March 22 report on saminfo.com. Funding, We’ve Got Funds The State Small Business Credit Initiative (...
SAM Magazine—Glenwood Springs, Colo., April 26, 2021—Four new ski areas have signed on to the Freedom Pass for 2021: Cherry Peak and Eagle Point, Utah; Red River, N.M.; and Snow Valley, Calif. Like the other members, all are independent areas. Each partner on the Freedom Pass offers three (3) free days with no blackouts to season pass holder...
SAM Magazine—Sandpoint, Idaho, April 21, 2020—Schweitzer, Idaho, has joined Alterra Mountain Company’s Ikon Pass for winter 2021-22. Schweitzer is the first Idaho resort to be included on the Ikon Pass, which now provides access to 45 mountain destinations. Schweitzer is offering a new Voyager pass, which includes a Schweitzer unlimited pa...
SAM Magazine—Montville, N.J., April 21, 2021—SNOW Operating has appointed Jeff Boliba chief operating officer for its SnowCloud technology company. Boliba spent the last 21 years with Burton Snowboards, most recently as its global marketing vice president of sport and participation. In his role with SnowCloud, he’ll be responsible for helping...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 21, 2021—The nomination period is now open for SAM’s annual “10 Under 30.” Members of the mountain resort industry are invited to nominate a standout 20-something who is already making an impact at the ski area where they work, and is poised to become a leader in the industry. The chosen 10 rising stars w...
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 20, 2021—Six lift maintenance teams have been chosen to participate in the inaugural Rise Up Challenge supported by Leitner-Poma of America: Craigleith Ski Club, Ont.; Hunter Mountain, N.Y.; Jack Frost, Pa.; Purgatory, Colo.; Snowbasin, Utah; and Taos Ski Valley, N.M. The teams are competing for an education...
