SAM Magazine—Natick, Mass., Sept. 6, 2024—SAM Magazine is offering a virtual Ski Resort AI Bootcamp this fall, aimed at informing resort personnel of the available artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and teaching practical AI skills, including the pros and cons of the various tools.

The bootcamp, led by Mike Lannen of the digital agency Eternity, will run as a self-paced program with live interactive sessions held on Sept. 26, Oct. 3, Oct. 17, and Oct. 22. It is designed for both newcomers and those with experience in AI, with in-depth information on how AI can be used as a tool for resort marketing, guest communications, and operational efficiency. The classes will get hands on with AI's ability to automate rote tasks and how to to streamline some day-to-day business processes, analyze data, as well as cover security concerns and what is coming down the road in terms of tools and technologies.

A recent SAM survey found that half of ski resort marketers are already utilizing AI for tasks like data analysis, customer communication, and content creation. However, many are still hesitant to adopt AI, preferring a wait-and-see approach. The bootcamp will serve to both expand the knowledge of experienced users and help newcomers decide if AI is the right tool for them. 

The course is divided into four modules that focus on different aspects of AI. Each module is broken into short tutorials with the ability to pause and mark progress.

1. Introduction to Artificial Intelligence: An overview of AI applications in various resort departments, featuring case studies from ski resorts and industry partners.

2. Marketing and Content Creation: Insights into how AI can help resorts generate marketing content and personalize guest outreach.

3. Guest Communication and Customer Service: An exploration of AI-powered tools, such as chatbots, to improve customer service.

4. Sales and Operations: A look at how AI can assist in tasks like sales calls, transcriptions, and daily operational tasks.

In addition to the learning modules there will be four live sessions where participants will bring their computers to engage with AI and industry experts, ask questions, and participate in real-time demonstrations. All live sessions will be recorded and added to the learning platform for participants to view and reference as needed. 

"SAM is pleased to collaborate with Mike Lannen on the Ski Resort AI Bootcamp. He is knowledgeable, has experience working with resorts on AI implementation, and makes this complicated subject matter easy to understand. Like our past online bootcamps on resilience and leadership development, we focused on delivering a timely topic with valuable knowledge, allowing resort staff to build skills and determine if and how they will integrate AI into their workflow."

The bootcamp is open to individual participants as well as teams, with pricing options for both single-users and group access. SAM Magazine subscribers get a discount. Early registrants will receive a promotional offer, including a complimentary SAM hat for the first 25 sign-ups.

Learn more at saminfo.com.