SAM Magazine-Ludlow, Vt., Oct. 30, 2008-Not all the economic news is bad. At the Oct. 13 close of the resort's early savings cutoff date, Vermont's Okemo recorded a 12 percent increase in season pass units sold and a 16 percent increase in revenue. In addition, destination bookings at the resort are holding steady, while group sales are 40 percent ahead of last year.

"Pass sales are up in all categories," said Okemo VP of marketing Scott Clarkson. "We're seeing the greatest growth in College Passes, Peak Passes, Midweek Passes and Super Senior Midweek Passes. Maybe people have decided to invest in themselves instead of the stock market right now."

Okemo reported its best season on record last winter. Visits for the 2007-08 ski season were ahead of the previous winter by nearly 25 percent. Clarkson attributed last season's success to early snowfall and a 30 percent increase in season pass sales. Resort officials do acknowledge that reservations are slightly behind last year's pace, but said that bookings at Jackson Gore Inn and mountainside condos are strong. "As usual, the larger units are being gobbled up for holiday periods, and the Canadian holiday periods are especially strong," said Okemo lodging director Michael Normyle. "We're now just starting to see an up tick in non-holiday lodging reservations as well." \