SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Aug. 26, 2021—Mountain resort industry personnel began gathering in-person again at the Midwest Ski Areas Association (MSAA) Summer Meetings and Tradeshow in mid-August. Events MSAAMSAA in session It was the first of several planned in-person events this fall, most of which were either cancelled or went virtual in 2020 due to the pandemic. 

The return to a face-to-face MSAA event was a welcome one. “Many of us hadn’t seen each other for two years. It was obvious that the in-person connections were greatly missed last year and thoroughly appreciated this year,” said MSAA executive director Amy Reents.

The return of in-person events comes as the Delta variant has caused Covid-19 cases to surge nationwide. While 73.4 percent of adults have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, the current 7-day average case rate is more than triple that of a year ago, according to data from the CDC. 

In response, event organizers are taking varying approaches to Covid safety—from requiring attendees to show proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test to recommending, but not requiring, masks for attendees and making efforts to encourage social distancing. Know before you go by checking event websites for current guidance and requirements.

Upcoming events:

New England Summit, NSAA Fall Education Seminars
Sept. 13-15, 2021
Sunday River, Maine
nesummit.com

Southeast Ski Areas Association, NSAA Fall Education Seminars
Sept. 16, 2021
Timberline, W.Va.
nsaa.org

Mountain Technology Symposium
Sept. 16-19, 2021 
Big Sky, Mont.
nsaa.org

Ski Areas of New York­–Pennsylvania Ski Areas Association (SANY-PSAA) Expo, NSAA Fall Education Seminars
Sept. 20-22, 2021 
Holiday Valley, N.Y.
iskinyexpo.com

NSAA Fall Education Seminars
Sept. 29, 2021: Showdown, Mont. 
Oct. 1, 2021: Hood River, Ore.
Oct. 6, 2021: Snowbasin Resort, Utah
Oct. 8, 2021: Squaw Valley, Calif.
Oct. 19, 2021: Copper Mountain, Colo.
Oct. 21, 2021: Taos, N.M.
nsaa.org

Snowbound – Rockies
Nov. 5-7, 2021
Denver, Colo.
snowboundfest.com/festivals

International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA) Expo
Nov. 15-19, 2021 
Orlando, Fla.
www.iaapa.org

Snowbound Festival – New England
Nov. 18-21, 2021
Boston, Mass.
snowboundfest.com/festivals

NSAA Western Winter Conference and Tradeshow
Jan. 18-19, 2022
Snowmass, Colo.
nsaa.org

Outdoor Retailer Winter Show
Jan. 26-28, 2022
Denver, Colo.
outdoorretailer.com

NSAA Eastern Winter Conference and Tradeshow
Feb. 1-2, 2022
Mount Snow, Vt.
nsaa.org

Association for Challenge Course Technology
Feb. 10-13, 2022
Cleveland, Ohio
acctconference.com