In This Issue
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Best/Worst Marketing 2015-16
SAM’s annual review of marketing hits and misses. In a season during which prolific snow was falling out West before most…
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To Our Health!
Charting the long-term trends at U.S. resorts through the lens of the NSAA Economic Analysis of United States Ski Areas. How…
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A Teachable Season
A look at the lessons learned from a winter tht humbled even some of the best snow management teams. SMI Super PoleCat…
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Buy Now and Save
Online ticket sales give customers a means to find bargains and buy in advance. Are resorts reaping any benefits, too? Third party…
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The Challenge of Being Small
Six small-area leaders join a wide-ranging roundtable discussion. A number of smaller ski areas struggle to find employees to fill roles…
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Gateway to Happiness (and Profitability)
RFID access gates are a convenience to guests and a surprisingly cost-effective tool for operators. Almost every guest at a ski area…
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More Than Just Looks
Landscaping has long been a low priority for winter resorts, but summer operations are giving many a new perspective. The natural landscape…
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Going Downhill
The prospects for mountain bike parks are looking up. Mountain resorts offer the ideal environment for a downhill mountain bike park. Still,…
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Publisher’s Memo :: SAM’s Very Own Trailblazers
A year ago we kicked off a new series in SAM, called Trailblazers. It highlights those who have had the courage and…
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Industry Reports May 2016
WILMOT’S $13 MILLION OVERHAUL… WHISTLER BLACKCOMB RENAISSANCE… KILLINGTON INVESTING IN SUMMER… PEOPLE… AWARDS… OBITUARIES… SUPPLIER NEWS WILMOT’S $13 MILLION OVERHAUL After more…
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An El Niño Year
Thanks for everything, or nothing. A monster El Niño wreaked havoc on the 2015-16 ski season, restoring normal snowfall and visitation to…
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Safety is Job #1
As workers’ comp costs rise, it’s time to establish a culture of safety. The cost of insuring employees due to workplace…
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Mountain Spy :: Nudist Wedding Ceremony?
This month’s Mountain Spy asks a rather unusual but not implausible question. It does more than simply test how broad-minded a resort…
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Being a Good Host to Yourself
Managing and shifting risk when hosting third-party events. Hosting a third-party event provides ample opportunities for financial and marketing gain. But those…
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What Never-Evers Want
The NSAA Beginner Conversion Study delves deep into the learn-to process. At the close of a skier or snowboarder’s very first day…
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Idea Files :: May 2016
Tissue boxes, recycled dispensers, and the many uses of Trex DIY TISSUE BOXES “Mike Rumrill, our lift ops supervisor, made five of…
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Blue Pages :: May 2016
JAY AND BURKE: GOOD INTENTIONS GONE BAD When Jay Peak, Vt., owner Bill Stenger championed the EB-5 foreign investor program as a…
