November 2024

Envisioning An AI-Powered Future

What does the growth of AI mean for the winter sports industry? AI tools are already reshaping the way we search, shop, schedule, and synthesize data. Whether you actively seek out AI to take your meeting notes, write your policy documents, or answer your customer service questions, AI integration What does the growth of AI mean for the winter sports industry?

July 2024

Staying Connected

As connectivity plays an increasingly important role in resort operations, here’s what to know about improving your communications infrastructure. At ski areas, cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity is becoming as important as the chairlifts and snowmaking systems that draw skiers and riders to the hi As connectivity plays an increasingly important role in resort operations, here’s what to know about improving your communications infrastructure.

January 2024

The Rise of the Mechtrician

Lift maintenance teams may not need IT people (yet), but lift mechanics—and training—have evolved in response to new tech. It all started with an old pickup truck, a piece of rope, a small slope, and a man with an idea to transport skiers uphill. All you had to do was make sure the truck had Lift maintenance teams may not need IT people (yet), but lift mechanics—and training—have evolved in response to new tech.

November 2023

Finding Fraud

Credit card scams are on the rise, forcing many ski areas to learn how to recognize and manage fraudulent purchases. Online sales, cashless systems, and ticket pickup at kiosks that help speed the passage from parking lot to lift have become indispensable customer service tools for mountain resor Credit card scams are on the rise, forcing many ski areas to learn how to recognize and manage fraudulent purchases.

September 2023

The End of Cash is Nigh

More resorts are moving toward cashless transactions thanks to a slew of benefits. Back in the day, head-out-to-ski prep looked like this: tighten up your rear-entry Hanson boots, snap your safety straps on, and—before pulling those leather mittens back over those icy cold hands—check your po More resorts are moving toward cashless transactions thanks to a slew of benefits.

September 2023

AI: Opening Pandora's Chatbot

How to identify the risks and capitalize on the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence. Artificial Intelligence is your new best friend, and it has the potential to be your new worst enemy.  With the relatively recent release of several AI services, such as Google’s Vertex AI and ChatGPT, How to identify the risks and capitalize on the opportunities of Artificial Intelligence.

July 2023

The Risk of Not Investing in Tech

A look at the costs of investing—or not investing—in the latest the latest software and what the future may bring. Summer and fall are when ski areas ensure the coming winter will be a success, installing new lifts, upgrading facilities, performing maintenance, hosting job fairs, launching pas A look at the costs of investing—or not investing—in the latest the latest software and what the future may bring.

May 2023

What's Next in Ski Area Technology?

Tech vendors dish on how diffierent innovations can help reduce friction and improve the guest experience. IN THIS TWO-PART SERIES, SAM SURVEYED NUMEROUS TECHNOLOGY VENDORS ABOUT WHAT’S NEXT IN SKI AREA TECH. FOR THIS FIRST PART, WE LOOK AT THE IMPORTANCE OF REDUCING FRICTION ACROSS THE GUEST EX Tech vendors dish on how diffierent innovations can help reduce friction and improve the guest experience.

September 2022

The Data Made Us Do It

Mt. Hood Meadows uses technology, data analysis, and messaging to manage visitation, improve the guest experience, and increase revenue. Some thought the April 1, 2018, announcement declaring “No More Unlimited Passes at Mt. Hood Meadows” was an April Fool’s joke. Among the passholder commun Mt. Hood Meadows uses technology, data analysis, and messaging to manage visitation, improve the guest experience, and increase revenue.

May 2022

Target Marketing

How to gather, analyze, and use guest data to improve your marketing and enhance the guest experience.   There’s guest data and there’s marketing, but where do the dots connect? It’s a simple question with hundreds of answers. From being sure you capture the right data to understanding wh How to gather, analyze, and use guest data to improve your marketing and enhance the guest experience.

January 2022

Be More Cyber Secure

Developing a comprehensive cybersecurity program will help ski areas be more prepared when they are targeted. Last year broke all records for data loss in breaches and cyberattacks on individuals, governments, and companies, including ski areas. Driven by a wide range of motivations—from financi Developing a comprehensive cybersecurity program will help ski areas be more prepared when they are targeted.

November 2021

Tame the Tech Frontier

Choosing the right software and other technology for your operation requires thorough assessment and a thoughtful approach. Head to the SAM Technology Mountain Department for more articles with tech tips, trends, and resources.  Technology has become increasingly important in our industry. “ Choosing the right software and other technology for your operation requires thorough assessment and a thoughtful approach.

November 2021

Tech Planning :: Assessments

Questions to help you conduct internal and supplier assessments.   SAM gathered feedback from resort operators and suppliers to compile two easy-to-reference lists of questions aimed at 1) pinpointing your internal needs and goals, and 2) assessing the capabilities of potential suppliers. We hop Questions to help you conduct internal and supplier assessments.

September 2021

Reinventing Guest Services

Digital adoption and operating changes have revolutionized customer service, improving the lot-to-lift process for guests and staff.   After a winter of changing rules, shifting policies, openings and closings, masks and social distancing, and some confusion, the ski world learned a lot. These l Digital adoption and operating changes have revolutionized customer service, improving the lot-to-lift process for guests and staff.

May 2021

Digital Embrace

The 2020-21 season pushed the snowsports industry to adopt technology on a whole new scale. Before Covid, Bolton Valley, Vt., did about 70 percent of its business through walkup sales. “We were behind the times, behind what tech was allowing other ski areas to do,” admits resort president Lin The 2020-21 season pushed the snowsports industry to adopt technology on a whole new scale.

May 2021

Prepare for the Worst

Invest in an I.T. disaster recovery plan and implementation to avoid a worst-case scenario.   Disaster recovery should be in almost every company’s I.T. budget. It can seem to be a large line item, but the investment winds up paying for itself, especially as cybercriminals continue to target b Invest in an I.T. disaster recovery plan and implementation to avoid a worst-case scenario.

March 2021

Pandemic Silver Linings

Many changes that resorts made for this Covid winter will have lasting impacts on operations and the guest experience. Face coverings? Check. Capacity limits? Check. Advance reservations, new fire pits, and booting up in the parking lot? Check, check, check. Ski areas across North America have im Many changes that resorts made for this Covid winter will have lasting impacts on operations and the guest experience.

January 2021

Smart Service Delivery

The I.T. department can thrive with the proper systems and lines of communication in place.   This article is the second in a series where we discuss “talking the talk” of the I.T. department, and share insights translated for all.   I.T. is at the core of any business, especially The I.T. department can thrive with the proper systems and lines of communication in place.

July 2020

Can't Touch This

Technology can go a long way toward eliminating guest touchpoints. Part of a Special Section "Winter 2020-21: A New Normal" sponsored by Aspenware. The planning discussions that ski area personnel are having about this coming winter are decidedly different than, well, any other planning discussion Technology can go a long way toward eliminating guest touchpoints. Part of a Special Section "Winter 2020-21: A New Normal" sponsored by Aspenware.

May 2020

Enterprising Software

Providers of enterprise software solutions are stepping up their game. Most ski areas are fairly complex operations, especially when looking at them through the lens of a software developer. No two ski areas are exactly the same. There’s variability in the products they sell, the prices they sel Providers of enterprise software solutions are stepping up their game.

March 2020

How to Win at E-Commerce

Online sales drive advance purchases, make business more predictable, and capture consumer data. And what drives online sales? Dynamic pricing.   Ski areas around the world are quickly adopting e-commerce. Whether they are using simple tools to sell season pass products, or have implemented high Online sales drive advance purchases, make business more predictable, and capture consumer data. And what drives online sales? Dynamic pricing.

November 2018

Positive Disruption

Resort software and e-commerce can complicate the guest experience. Joe Hession hopes that SnowCloud solves the integration puzzle. The mountain resort industry lags in adopting—or even having reasonable access to—new technologies that dramatically enhance the guest experience and streaml Resort software and e-commerce can complicate the guest experience. Joe Hession hopes that SnowCloud solves the integration puzzle.