September 2021

FEATURED STORY

Skiing's Prickliest Problem: Housing

Affordable housing for staff has long been a thorn in the ski industry's side. How did it transform into a full-blown crisis? The housing crisis in this Western ski town had reached the tipping point. “Locals” realized they would forever commute 25 to 100 miles every day on a narrow, twisting, snow-clogged road. Old miner’s cottages that once housed workers were being bought up for millions and razed for another vacant trophy home. Tents and campers parked on Forest Service land, open space, or just the end of a dirt road became highly sought-after accommodations. In the municipal election, half the city council was rejected and replaced by fervent housing advocates who prioritized...

Read More

Personnel Issues

Skiing's Prickliest Problem: Housing

Affordable housing for staff has long been a thorn in the ski industry's side. How did it transform into a full-blown crisis?

Ski Cooper’s new single point of entry allows for easier crowd control and eliminates the stressful lift-line ticket checker job.

Reinventing Guest Services

Digital adoption and operating changes have revolutionized customer service, improving the lot-to-lift process for guests and staff.

Big Sky, Mont., has been testing the “market hall” dining concept at its F&B outlets.

Food & Beverage

Food for Thought: Hitting the Spot

The pandemic served-up a host of new innovations that continue to rapidly alter the resort F&B experience.

Skis are ready to fly out the door at the Pats Peak, N.H., rental shop.

Rental

The New Rental Paradigm

How last winter's operational adjustments will help to permanently change the rental process from cumbersome and confusing to easy and more efficient.

Limited lesson sizes and class pods allowed Pats Peak, N.H., to welcome school groups and comply with Covid-19 protocols in 2020-21.

Ski School

New School

Covid-19 taught many new lessons about running school group programs.

Marketing

Next-Gen Marketing

Five key considerations for developing a resort marketing plan tailored to the changed consumer and workplace landscape.

Construction

Construction Site :: September 2021

Projects big and small are underway across the country.

Lift Maintenance

Wear, Why, and How

Proper alignment and lubrication will reduce wear and increase the life of parts and components.

A Zero Waste Box (to the right in the photo) is being piloted at a new Killington food truck.

Recycling

Taking Out the Trash

Vermont’s statewide waste diversion efforts provide a case study on sustainable practices, even amid the need for pandemic practicalities.

Mountain Spy :: September 2021

THE QUESTION: I'M COMING TO THE MOUNTAIN WITH MY FAMILY FOR SOME HIKING, AND WE'D REALLY LIKE TO SEE SOME WILDLIFE. MY KIDS HAVE NEVER SEEN A BEAR BEFORE AND ARE DESPERATE TO SEE ONE WHILE WE'RE THERE. DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS? Mountain resorts are amazing places to go and enjoy nature. We invite people to come experience the outdoors (with amenities)...