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May 07, 2007
'On The Side Of Science' - Says Former Aspen CEO Pat O'Donnell

Go ahead. Tell Aspen's recently retired CEO Pat O'Donnell that the brouhaha over global warming is, well, a bunch of crap. You won't be the first. "People have told me that to my face," he told The Industry Report from his home in Colorado. "I tell them that, at least at this point, Aspen has made its choice. We come down on the side of science." O'Donnell sat in Aspen's driver's seat from 1993 until the start of the last ski season, steered the famed Colorado resort along the road to the point where it is arguably the world's leader in ski resort environmental efforts. ...continue reading »

What Was Bad Is Now Good, Says NSAA's Berry

If National Ski Areas Association CEO Michael Berry had placed a bet Feb. 1 based on this past season's attendance, he would never have predicted a rebound that should bring the numbers in at about the 10-year average of 56 million. "That makes the mood of the industry very positive and upbeat as the NSAA National Convention opens," he told The Industry Report as he concluded final preparations for the event at La Quinta Resort and Club near Palms Spring, Calif. The convention opened Sunday night (5/6) and runs through Weds. (5/9). Berry said that 25 percent of the nation's ski resorts had their biggest attendance days ever during February, giving a boost to moods across the board. The only real soft spots were in California, where it's tough to recover under the swaying palms and other recreational lures. ...continue reading »

Mountain Travel Symposium Builds On Success

The success of the maxed-out Mountain Travel Symposium last month in Whistler, BC proved what everyone in the mountain hospitality industry already knew: Being part of MTS is essential. But, what happens if not a single other appointment can be scheduled and there's absolutely no more room at the inn? When 1,500 travel professionals consume 13,500 individual appointments totaling more than 140,000 minutes, there's no place to go, right? Well, maybe there is. ...continue reading »

New Owner for Ski West

Ski West, one of the fastest growing Park City ski travel firms, was sold to Overstock, Inc. in 2005. It became O'Travel, Inc. Now, there's another owner. It's pretty complicated, so stay with us here. The end result is that O'Travel, a subsidiary of Overstock.com, is now Mountain Reservations, Inc. and is owned by an affiliate of Kinderhook Industries and Castles Media. They purchased O'Travel, Inc. in late April. Whew, got all that? The new leadership group says it will place a renewed focus on the company's core strengths of marketing and booking vacation rental properties. Mountain Reservations operates some 80 Web sites, including specific destination guides and the ability to book everything from lift tickets to dinner. ...continue reading »

'Ambassador To World' - Legendary Ski Writers Dies

Don A. Metivier was literally the "Ambassador to the World" for those who grew up in Glens Falls, NY. Untold thousands of people turned first to Metivier's Post-Star "Saturday Morning" column, a folksy, nostalgic look at his beloved hometown which he wrote for more than two decades. He died April 6 of complications from diabetes. He is survived by his wife, Laraine, three daughters, four sons, and 18 grandchildren, which he often referred to as "The Metivier Group." What all those readers didn't know, we in the ski industry knew well. He was our "ambassador" as well. Metivier was editor (and at one point, publisher, of Ski Racing Magazine. He was a founder and president of the Eastern Ski Writers Association and later served as president of the fledgling U.S. Ski Writers (now known as the National Association of Snowsports Journalists, NASJA,). Those who followed American skiers through the gates during the halcyon years of the 70s and 80s -- think Billy Kidd, Jimmie Heuga, Phil and Steve Mahre, Cindy Nelson, Tamara Mckinney, Debbie Armstrong, Diann Roffe, Pam Fletcher, and Billy Johnson -- got to know each of them intimately thanks to the words of Metivier. ...continue reading »

Fries Bought Out After Rescuing Bolton

Reports out of Vermont are that veteran ski industry executive Bob Fries is leaving Bolton Valley after a five-year stint as President/CEO that steered the popular 42-year-old family ski area out of bankruptcy and brought in $3.3 million in investments. His one-third ownership share was reportedly bought out Larry Williams and Doug Nedde, owners of Redstone Commercial Group, a Burlington-based development company. Williams and Nedde are planning (what else?) a 24-unit condo building and a 24-unit slopeside duplex project. ...continue reading »