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  • Pacific Group Resorts, Inc. Submits Top Bid for Jay Peak at $76 Million

    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...

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 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Snow People—March 2021

Resorts Maggie Murray and Jesse True, Arapahoe Basin, Colo.  Arapahoe Basin welcomed Maggie Murray as its new finance director and Jesse True as its new marketing director.  Murray began her career at Morgan Stanley in Boston before realizing that office towers were not her natural habitat. Her background includes top finance roles in local n...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Vail Resorts Drops Prices for 2021-22 Epic Pass

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 24, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) officially unveiled its 2021-22 Epic Pass lineup today, dropping pass prices 20 percent “across the board,” which the company calls a “historic move.” It brings prices down to 2015-16 levels, when Epic Pass provided access to 11 resorts compared to more than 70 resorts tod...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Claims of Racism at Whitefish Resort Lead to Changes

SAM Magazine—Whitefish, Mont., March 22, 2021—A group of 20 to 30 protesters gathered on and around the Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort Sunday morning to bring awareness to what organizers allege is a “culture of racism and non-inclusion” among the resort's staff and management. Whitefish acknowledged the protests and said it is addressing ma...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Loaded Chair Falls from Lift at Camelback

SAM Magazine—Tannersville, Pa., March 22, 2021—A chair carrying three passengers detached from the haul rope and fell to the ground Sunday afternoon at Camelback Resort, Pa.  According to sources at the resort, the chair that fell was nearing the top terminal when passengers felt an unusual shaking, and the lift came to a jolting stop. Th...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

What Relief Can the American Rescue Plan Offer Resorts?

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) of 2021, mostly known for the $1,400 payments to individuals earning up to $75,000 and couples earning up to $150,000, extends several benefits to business as well. Most important for the owners, managers, and shareholders of winter sports businesses are provisions that include the following:   Sma...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Western Destinations Continue to Rebound

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., March 15, 2021—With just two months to go in the winter season, lodging at mountain destinations regained lost ground, according to the most recent Mountain Market Briefing distributed by DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia.  Year over year, actual occupancy for February was down 1...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Vail Resorts Visits Strong, But Revenues Decline

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., March 15, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) saw year-over-year business levels improve during January and February, with season-to-date visits down 8.2 percent through March 7 compared to the prior year. Lift revenues declined 8.9 percent for the period, while ski school, food and beverage, and retail/rental revenues declin...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Sundance Mountain Resort to Install Two New Chairlifts

SAM Magazine—Sundance, Utah, March 12, 2021—The new owners of Sundance Mountain Resort are wasting no time making improvements to the Utah resort founded by Hollywood luminary Robert Redford. Broadreach Capital Partners and Cedar Capital Partners, which acquired Sundance in December 2020, plan to install two new chairlifts, expand parking, and ...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Resorts Roll Out 2021-22 Pass Programs

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., March 11, 2021—It’s March, which means next season’s passes are going on sale. Many are offering financing options and carrying over Covid-related assurances. Prices seem to be holding steady and even rising, although a number of resorts are adding value, like spring access and reciprocal tickets, and offering disc...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Covid Cases Continue to Decline as Vaccinations Increase

Nearly one-fifth of the population has received at least a first dose of vaccine, according to the latest Virus Tracking report from the Insights Collective. As the vaccines continue to roll out, they will reinforce a long, downward trend in Covid cases that began in early January. Nationally, new cases are approaching 50,000 a day, on average, dow...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Big Snow American Dream GM Jim Haas Dies

SAM Magazine—East Rutherford, N.J., March 8, 2021—Big SNOW American Dream general manager Jim Haas, 70, died Saturday, March 6, due to complications caused by Covid-19. Haas is the second active ski area leader to die from issues related to Covid-19. Ober Gatlinburg, Tenn., president Bruce Anders died in January at age 64.  Haas was the f...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Ikon Pass Program for 2021-22 Shows Few Changes

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 4, 2021—Details of the 2021-22 Ikon Pass were released today, and they are nearly identical to the pre-Covid passes for 2020-21. Now encompassing 44 resorts, the primary options are the Ikon Pass, the more limited Ikon Base Pass, and four-day Ikon Session Pass. The first two come with many of the same benefits as for ...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Tamarack Unveils Free Year-Round Pass for K-12 Students

SAM Magazine—Donnelly, Idaho, March 3, 2021—Tamarack Resort has unveiled a new community-focused lift pass to reward local students for their commitment to school and to support increased access to outdoor recreation. The SKY (Students-Kids-Youth) Pass will provide free, year-round Tamarack lift access to local K-12 students in the Va...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

Staff Member Dies at Baldy Mountain Resort

SAM Magazine—Oliver, BC, March 3, 2021—An employee of Baldy Mountain Resort in British Columbia died Friday, Feb. 26, from injuries sustained after reportedly becoming stuck beneath a grooming machine. He was 70 years old.  "Despite the efforts of other employees and emergency first aid attendants on the mountain, the 70-year-old man did ...

 HEADLINE NEWS - Ski Area Management

POM Acquires Outside, Creates Multi-Media Empire

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colorado, Feb. 23, 2021—Pocket Outdoor Media (POM), which has been accumulating active lifestyle content and services, significantly expanded its reach by acquiring Outside Magazine and the entire Outside Integrated Media, including Outside Studio, Outside TV, and the Outside GO travel business.  Separately, it also ...