SAM Magazine—Aspen, Colo., July 30, 2020—In open letters published this week, Aspen Skiing Company CEO Mike Kaplan and Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz discuss the reality that the pandemic will be ongoing throughout this winter, operational changes are immanent, and everyone must do their part to ensure there can be a safe winter season. Rob Katz & Mike Kaplan

“To our guests, visitors, employees, and residents: We need your support, compassion and understanding that staying vigilant in our communities now, and in the months ahead, will help us all have a successful winter,” said Katz. “While we cannot completely control the behaviors of visitors, we are committed to enhancing our communications to our guests to ensure they at least understand our expectations of them when they come.”

Referencing guest surveys in which most respondents support necessary operational changes, but a few said Aspen Snowmass should operate as normal this winter, Kaplan said, “I want to be clear: We will only go back to business as usual at the ski areas and in our restaurants and hotels when the science and health experts give us the unanimous ‘all clear.’ Until then, we’ll be serious and vigilant about keeping one another safe. Just like in skiing, we each must take responsibility for our own safety, and absolutely avoid endangering others.”

Read Kaplan’s full letter here: https://www.aspensnowmass.com/inside-aspen-snowmass/stories/looking-ahead-to-winter-2020

Read Katz’s full letter here: http://news.vailresorts.com/corporate/for-sake-winter-we-must-stay-vigilant.htm