SAM Coverage
Summer
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Summer Business Split
SAM poll respondents from across North America had plenty of explanations—good and bad—for how business was shaping up this summer.
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Waterville Valley Building New Outdoor Adventure Zone
SAM Magazine—Waterville Valley, N.H., Sept. 15, 2026—Construction is well underway on the new multi-element Outdoor Adventure Zone that will include several new year-round activities…
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Summer Ops Camp Explores Gatlinburg’s Growing Attractions
SAM Magazine—Gatlinburg, Tenn., Sept. 8, 2026—A total of 115 ski area personnel and industry suppliers from around the world gathered in Gatlinburg, Sept. 1-3,…
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Shift Your Bike Park Perspective
A successful bike park focuses on the experience, not on repurposing winter infrastructure.
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Summer Ops Camp Registration Closes Friday
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 18, 2026—Registration for SAM’s 14th annual Summer Ops Camp—a three-day program of site visits, educational sessions, on-hill workshops, demonstrations, and…
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Mount Hood Meadows Ends Summer Ops Due to Wildfire Impacts
SAM Magazine—Government Camp, Ore., Aug. 17, 2026—Mt. Hood Meadows has ended summer operations for the season due to ongoing impacts from the Grasshopper Fire,…
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Summer Holding Steady at Western Mountain Destinations, Lower Rates Boost Early Winter Bookings
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo. Aug. 14, 2026—Although occupancy, daily rates, and revenue were almost unchanged from June at western mountain destinations during July, the…
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New Sessions, Activities Added to Summer Ops Camp Agenda Ahead of Aug. 12 Lodging Package Deadline
SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 6, 2026—New sessions and activities have been added to SAM’s 14th annual Summer Ops Camp, a three-day program of site…
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The Summer Discoverability Gap
New research measures how often ski areas surface when travelers ask AI chatbots about summer, what else chatbots are recommending, and how ski areas…
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Paths to Success: Adventure Trails
Trails designed with kids and families in mind are proving to be strong investments for ski areas in both winter and summer. Ski areas…
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Summer Gets Selective
As ski areas refine their year-round strategies, operators are investing in lines of summer business that fit their markets—and abandoning those that don’t. After a…
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Summer Bookings Slow, But Mountain Destination Lodging Outlook Remains Strong
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo. June 17, 2026—Booking pace at western mountain destinations softened in May following an April surge, but summer lodging demand remains…
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Winter’s Woes Melt Into Summer Surge at Western Mountain Destinations
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., May 15, 2026—As the winter season dragged across the finish line, lodging rates at western mountain destinations managed to cling…
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Summer Looking Strong as Western Mountain Lodging Limps into Winter Season Finale
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., April 13, 2026—Economic news conspired with abysmal snowfall and record-breaking warm temperatures during March to continue to drag down the…
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Global Trends in Summer Ops
An expert look at what summer travelers want and what’s working at mountain destinations worldwide. As traveler expectations evolve— shaped by climate realities, new…
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Park City Bike Patrol Votes to Unionize After Summer Campaign
SAM Magazine—Park City, Utah, September 17, 2025—On Aug. 28, Park City Mountain bike patrollers voted to unionize with the Communications Workers of America, forming the…
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Booking Pace Slips in August, Summer and Winter Show Rate Sensitivity
SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Sept. 12, 2025— Western mountain lodging operators kept summer revenues in positive territory despite a softer August booking pace, according to…
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Greasing the Gears
When the necessary elements align, downhill bike parks can take off. In the past decade, mountain biking’s growing popularity has pushed many ski areas to add it…