• leadership

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 4, 2024—Nine mentors have been named for the seventh annual SAM Summit Series leadership development program, which will explore the theme “Leadership During Times of Constant Change” this year. In the mentor/mentee program, emerging resort leaders engage and learn from top industry veterans on a variety ...

SAM Magazine—Canmore, Alberta, Aug. 30, 2024—Switzerland-based wire rope manufacturer Fatzer AG has acquired Canada-based Rocky Mountain Lift Services and Supplies Inc., aka Rigging Specialties. Rocky Mountain Lift Services and Supplies Inc. (RMLSS) provides products and services for rope rigging applications as well as rope installations, mag...

SAM Magazine—Lakewood, Colo., Aug. 30, 2024—National Ski Patrol (NSP) is expanding its membership to include working patrollers who have first responder credentials, such as emergency medical technicians (EMTs), wilderness first responders (WFRs), and paramedics. NSP had previously only opened membership to those who intended to take or had alr...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 28, 2024—The 2024 Rise Up Challenge, sponsored by Leitner-Poma of America, highlighted up-and-coming lift mechanics and their lift maintenance teams from six ski areas across North America: Berkshire East, Mass.; Crystal Mountain, Wash.; Mount Sunapee, N.H.; Palisades Tahoe, Calif.; Purgatory, Colo.; and Snowbir...

SAM Magazine—Glenwood Springs, Colo., Aug. 27, 2024—Cindy Dady is the new CEO of Sunlight Mountain Resort. She started in her new role Aug. 5.  Dady’s ski industry career began in the 1980s at Greek Peak in New York. She has since managed kids ski and ride operations for Intrawest, served as the general manager of Echo Mountain in Colorado,...

SAM Magazine—Denver, Colo., Aug. 27, 2024—Sierra-at-Tahoe has joined the Ikon Pass for winter 2024-25. It will be one of six California ski resorts offered on the Alterra Mountain Company-owned pass this winter.  “We are excited to expand Ikon Pass access in California by offering even more in the Tahoe area,” said Erik Forsell, chief mar...

SAM Magazine—Keystone, Colo., Aug. 27, 2024—Vail Resorts has appointed Shannon Buhler to become vice president and general manager of Keystone Resort, Colo., effective Sept. 16. Buhler will be one of four female GMs leading Vail Resorts ski areas in the Rocky Mountains.Courtesy of Keystone Resort “Vail Resorts has an incredible pool of talen...

SAM Magazine––Shawnee on Delaware, Pa., Aug. 27, 2024––Shawnee Mountain Ski Area has entered a four-year renewable energy credit (REC) purchase agreement with ENGIE Resources, a subsidiary of ENGIE North America. Under the agreement, Shawnee will claim 6,000 annual RECs, equivalent to 6,000,000 kWh of electricity delivered to the grid from ...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 27, 2024—Massive fall snowstorms set South America’s ski season off on what has been the best winter this century for many centers there, the majority of which opened weeks early in May.Courtesy of La Parva It was a more challenging first month or so in Australia and New Zealand, though snowmaking pulled ski a...

SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 27, 2024—Drawing insights from a survey of ski area marketers across North America, the inaugural "Outlook on Resort Marketing" report, created by SAM Magazine and MMGY Origin, is now available exclusively for SAM subscribers. Designed as a key resource for marketing professionals in the ski industry, the repor...

SAM Magazine—Juneau, Alaska, Aug. 22, 2024—Craig Cimmons has been selected as the new general manager of Eaglecrest Ski Area, beginning in early October. Cimmons currently serves as the director of the ski and ride school and community engagement at Jay Peak, Vt.  Cimmons was chosen from a pool of 17 applicants, according to a report from KTO...

• Resort Sale

Updated at 11:15 a.m. on Aug. 22, 2024. SAM Magazine—Killington, Vt, Aug. 22, 2024—POWDR has agreed to sell Killington Resort and Pico Mountain to a group of local investors. The sale is expected to close this fall. Following news of the sale, sources report that POWDR also plans to put several of its other ski resort properties—Eldora, Col...

Midwest ski area operators, their teams, and industry suppliers gathered earlier this week at the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) Summer Meeting and Trade Show at the beautiful Treetops Resort in Gaylord, Mich., August 11-14. Attendance was slightly down from last year, which was no surprise given the very challenging winter most experienced. ...

SAM Magazine—Winter Park, Colo., Aug. 16, 2024—Rates and occupancy are leveling out in the West, according to the latest Monthly Briefing from DestiMetrics, the business intelligence division of Inntopia. The latest report highlights just how rate sensitive summer guests have become, as a slight uptick in rates last month led to a modest dip in...

Crystal Ridge general manager Riley May at the Midwest Ski Areas Association show.SAM Magazine—Franklin, Wis., Aug. 14, 2024—Rock Snowpark has rebranded as Crystal Ridge, which was the ski area’s original name when John Kaishian first opened it in 1987. The new name goes into effect immediately and the rebrand includes a new Crystal Ridge log...