• Lifts

SAM Magazine—Broomfield, Colo., April 13, 2021—Vail Resorts (VR) is undergoing a leadership shuffle at its headquarters in Broomfield, with some top executives moving to different positions, and some leaving or stepping down. Mountain division president Patricia Campbell is stepping down from her position to assume a new role as senior advisor...

• Marketing

SAM Magazine—DENVER, April 12, 2021 —Alterra Mountain Company plans to invest $207 million in capital improvements, including $111 million in resort projects at Steamboat, Deer Valley, Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows, and Mammoth Mountain; $31 million in enterprise technology systems; and $65 million in resort maintenance and planning.  “This ...

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Ludlow, Vt., April 9, 2021—The Trump administration ban on J-1 and H2-B visas has officially expired, opening up the possibility once again for operators to hire nonimmigrant, temporary workers. As borders begin to open and embassies start to return to normal operations, foreign worker programs will come back to life. Whether they ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., April 7, 2021—The 2021 SAMMY Leadership Awards honor four individuals for their positive impact on their resorts, local communities and industry at large. This year’s class includes: Katie Brown, an involved mentor, promoter, and champion for female leaders; Robert McClendon, a coach and jack-of-all-trades; Jon Sch...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., April 5, 2021—Alterra Mountain Company has promoted Mark Brownlie from regional chief operating officer (RCOO) for the company’s Western Region to chief operating officer of resorts. Working with the COO of hospitality to drive profitability and growth, Brownlie will oversee all of the company’s 15 destination op...

• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Kelowna, B.C., April 1, 2021—Canadian resorts Revelstoke and Big White are both closing ahead of schedule, just as British Columbia enters a three-week lockdown amid surging Covid cases. Both closures appear to be a result of virus-related concerns, though they are not a direct result of the latest lockdown. Whistler Blackcomb, whi...

SAM Magazine—Boulder, Colo., April 1, 2021—A special report from the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) found that new, more diverse outdoor participants sought new recreation opportunities amid the Covid-19 pandemic. While these new participants stayed close to home during the pandemic, opportunities exist to entice these newcomers to expand t...

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

SAM Magazine—Whistler, B.C., March 29, 2021—British Columbia is implementing a three-week "circuit breaker"-style lockdown, imposing widespread restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group fitness, and worship services—and closing Whistler Blackcomb resort. All other winter resorts remain open. Affected businesses must close by midnigh...

• Environment

SAM Magazine—Denver, March 29, 2021—With vaccinations accelerating in many locations across the U.S., resort travel planning has begun returning to normal, according to the latest analysis from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The pace and timing of rebookings, and longer lead times for bookings, indicate growing co...

• Lifts
• Miscellaneous

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...

• Environment
• Miscellaneous

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...

• Ski Area Profiles
• Miscellaneous

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...

• Snowmaking
• Miscellaneous

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...

• Ski Area Profiles

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...

• Snowmaking

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...