The annual ISKINY-PSAA Expo Sept. 21-23, 2015, at Lake Placid, N.Y., attracted more than 370 ski resort, vendor, and guest attendees from across North America. Two major themes dominated the gathering: the guest experience and risk management.

Before diving into business, though, the fun kicked off with a tour of the operational areas at Whiteface Resort, followed by a friendly golf tournament.

Participants then attended seminars addressing several key areas of winter resort operations, ranging from the latest tricks and tips for social media and snow tubing best practices to freestyle terrain park updates and enhancing your hospitality experience.

One of the key takeaways mentioned throughout was the importance of guest services and staff satisfaction. Happy and engaged employees create positive guest experiences, which helps drives loyalty and improve business results. That notion was juxtaposed with several sessions related to risk management.

At the final dinner gala, Hugh Emory of Cipriani & Werner received the Spirit of Excellence award for his long-standing commitment of representing ski resorts. Phil Gravink, the founder of New York’s Peek ’n Peak Ski Area, was also inducted into the SANY Hall of Fame.

But before the 2015 show officially came to a close, participants gathered for one final celebration—a Mardi Gras themed party held in downtown Lake Placid that saw guests decorated in colorful face masks, party beads and oversized sunglasses as they reveled in their final night in town.

The 2016 SANY/PSAA show will be held Sept. 19-21 at Holiday Valley Resort in Ellicottville, New York.

David Frick, Transaction Resources, and Brittany Taylor, Titus Mountain, catch up at the trade show.

Pat Gleisle, Dan Fuller, and Debra Chociej, Bristol Mountain Winter Resort, with peripatetic NSAA Fall Education Series speaker Jimmy Lawrence of MountainGuard.

Greek Peak's Wes Kryger, Kaitlyn Drach, and Michelle Stauber.

Whitetail was out in force, represented by, left to right: Mike Schuman, Andy Goshorn, Don MacAskill, Jamie Bausman, Chet Naylor.

The team from Holimont: Dave Riley, Mary Doro, Jim Doro, Tony Kowalski.

Thunder Ridge was ably, and amply, represented by Greg Sottosanti, Don Taylor, Theresa Delcogliano, and Meryl DiDio.

Heather Heal (left) and Pamela Disera of Snow Valley, Ont., with Holimont's Justin Latimer.

Peek 'n Peak's Isaac Gratto, Amber Blashak, and Doug Kennedy.

The Spirit of Excellence award went to Hugh Emory of Cipriani & Werner.

SANY inducted Phil Gravink, founder of Peek 'n Peak Ski Area, into the SANY Hall of Fame.

The Expo also honored the memory of two industry legends, Jan Leonard and Dale Walters, who both died in the past year.