SAM Coverage
Activities
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Alt Golf
Disc and miniature golf are experiencing a renaissance. Golf is a sport that, over the years, has spawned a number of mutations. Prominent among…
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It’s Party Time!
Birthday parties can be a good source of income–and promotion–if the nearby pool of kids is big enough. When Ski Roundtop, Pa., opened its…
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Pleasing the Planners
The recipe is simple: Happy moms = return guests. Here’s how some resorts accomplish just that. I have been a nanny off and on…
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When Lightning Strikes
Lightning has always been a problem with chairlifts, but now, with ziplines, canopy tours and more, staying on top of the weather is more…
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Future Heroes
While hosting competitive youth programs may not be the most profitable endeavor, the payoff over the long term can be big. The world was…
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Mountain Spy :: September 2014
In this month’s Mountain Spy, we put customer service to the test with a delicate question. While the answers weren’t surprising, the customer service,…
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Summer in the Mountains
To find out just how important summer operations are at mountain resorts, SAM conducted a survey. The results show that summer is a very…
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Non-Skiers Join the Scene
When you add it all up, winter resorts offer much more than just skiing and riding. Perform an online search for top ski resorts…
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Mountain of Opportunity
Mont Saint-Sauveur in Québec has long seen the potential of summer operations as a legitimate profit center. Location, the real-estate business instructs us, is…
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Fun and Games for Lifties
The Wasatch Backside Lifty Invitational shows the love to some key employees. A lift operator doesn’t need to clock a co-worker with a chair…
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Mud Money
These aren’t your mother’s obstacle races. Military-inspired competitions are making a big mark at ski areas in the off-season. Mud season is a fact…
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A Seven-Year Itch
Stevens Pass is making its mark on the downhill bike park scene after years of brainstorming and research. Way back in the summer of…
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Looking Beyond Winter
Managers seek advice and insights at SAM’s Summer Ops Camp. Areas and suppliers explored best practices and activities at SAM’s Second Annual Summer Ops…
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Protection for All Seasons
Summer ops can add to your revenue stream, but they are not care-free. Summer activities were a hot subject even before this past winter…
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Scary Good Prospects
Many ski areas are finding that October can be a profitable month thanks to elaborate and frightening haunt attractions for the Halloween season. It…
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Night Moves
When the sun goes down, turn those lights on to entertain guests. Winning a dedicated and willing night crowd is no easy feat for…
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Construction Site :: July 2012
Year-round attractions take center stage in construction. Resorts across North America have been busy adding attractions for spring, summer and fall. Okemo, Vermont Okemo…
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Mountain Spy :: July 2012
In this Mountain Spy, Liz Eren disguises herself as a worried Mom and asks a very open-ended question. The answers are varied, but some…