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The Industry Report is published by Mountain News Corp., which also publishes OnTheSnow.com

Global Editor-In-Chief:
- Craig Altschul

Executive Editor:
- Roger Leo

Global Managing Director:
- Chad Dyer

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Archives:
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Recent Posts:
- Destination Outlook: 'A Socially Embedded Frugality'
- 'Drive To' Outlook: Half Full Or Half Empty?
- Economic Outlook: Cloudy, But Periods Of Sunshine
- Weather Outlook: 'Oh, My'
- OnTheSnow.com Visitors Outlook: 'We'll Ski, Ride More'
- The Wildcard: Will Swine Flu Keep Families Home?
- The 'New' Industry Report
- SPONSOR: Reach UK Skiers, Riders At Birmingham Ski And Board Show
- Innsbruck: Selling A Safari In A City That Sells Itself
- The Good Old Summer Time That Wasn't; But, Was It Habit Forming?



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June 29, 2009

Show Him The Money: Weichsel Plans To Shake Up Hall Of Fame

Bernie Weichsel, recently elected chair of the U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Board of Directors, plans to raise half a million dollars over the next five years, grow membership, and shake up the way the Hall is operated.

He told The Industry Report in an interview last week that he plans to reach those financial goals by increasing general membership, tapping board members, and creating special categories for industry-related corporations and organizations of various sizes.

Stepped-up fundraising is vital to stop the erosion of the Hall's endowment, which is used these days to cover the difference between expenditures of $100,000 against $25,000 in income. Tapping endowment to make up $75,000 each year is a slippery slope. It often leads to serious trouble for any organization, much like hitting the 401k too soon in one's retirement. ...continue reading »

How Will Tour Operators Fare? Erna Low Studies Raise Questions

Erna Low, one of the UK's leading tour agencies, is raising a great big question mark about how tour operators will fare this season. The 77-year-old ski-specialist company has released the results of several studies in a paper dubbed the Erna Low Credit Crunch Report. The report was summarized in Tourism Daily News.

The study, in its International Passenger Survey, predicts 2009 probably will see big negative growth for a considerable time and only the second fall in overseas holidays in a decade (after 2008). Still, the report is optimistic that skiers will find a way to keep skiing in the future.

The Erna Low report says there will be plenty of changes in ski travelers' habits. They will look for less expensive departure dates; seek "self catering packages," as opposed to a "we do it all for you" chalet holiday; a preference to drive themselves; and will seek out less costly resorts with good quality accommodation. ...continue reading »

Summer Shorts: 'Governor Otten' And Speedos

It took just a few moments for Jill, a reader of Mainebiz.com, to yelp about former American Skiing Company kingpin Les Otten's announcement (expected today) that he is establishing an exploratory committee to run for Governor of Maine. Jill blogged back saying, among other not-so-nice things, that Otten is "not someone we would want as the governor of our state. Ask about the skeletons in his closet. See what he has to say." Well, we suspect he still has ski clothes in his closet. That can't hurt...

...You may be planning a vacation in Europe this summer. A European travel agency has compiled its list of the worst "beach fashion blunders." The worst? Frenchmen in Speedos, followed by Germans in the nude; Brits in Mankinis; Spanish senoritas in thongs; and Italians in animal prints. Choose your beachwear carefully. "Ugly Americans" haven't made the list yet. ...continue reading »

June 15, 2009

How Bad Was It For Euros Crossing The Pond To Ski? How Good Might It Be?

So, you knew the 2008-09 season was challenging in North America. Well, it was even more economically daunting for Europeans crossing the pond to ski. They faced huge fuel surcharges that impacted trans-Atlantic flights, doubling vacation costs overnight, and then the British pound went in to freefall against the U.S. dollar.

Still, European-based tour operators straw-polled by The Industry Report claimed business held up, thanks in part to a large number of early bookings taken before all the turmoil began. We should add they weren't exactly keen on providing real numbers ("We're still looking at the final numbers, but one thing is for sure, we didn't increase our sales to North America," is a typical comment, along with, "Not as good as the heady heights of 2007-08 but still a successful season.")

What lies ahead for the coming winter season? ...continue reading »

The Future Of The Industry: Start With Level 1 Ski School

The ski industry has a daunting task ahead if it is to thrive: It must attract, and keep, 2 million new skiers in the next five years, 2 million in the following five years, and 2 million in the five years after that. How's your math? That's 6 million new skiers by 2024.

NSAA President Michael Berry told The Industry Report the way to do that is to refocus ski schools by putting the best instructors with the greatest knack for working with "never-evers" into Level 1 beginner classes.

Berry first outlined this strategy at the NSAA Annual Convention in Florida last month, and has been pushing it on a swing across the country in recent days. ...continue reading »

Summer Shorts: Now Here's A Stimulus Package

Just when you thought nothing could top a dip for two in a heart-shaped Pocono bathtub, Innsbruck comes along and betters it four ways over. Alicia Gough, OnTheSnow.com's Executive Editor/Europe, lets out the secrets of the four-star Romantik Hotel Schwarzer Adler, writing for MountainGetaway.com, our newly spiffed up summer Web site. ...continue reading »

June 01, 2009

Perino To Headline Colorado Ski Country Confab: 'Energy Issues Have Consequences'

Battles on issues like climate and energy really come down to geographic lines, not party lines. That's what Dana Perino, White House press secretary in the Bush administration, plans to tell attendees in her keynote address during Colorado Ski Country USA's annual meeting June 10-12 in Boulder. She also will have plenty to say about dealing with coastal focus of the national media. ...continue reading »

Where Are They Now? Michigan's Winningest Racer Cary Adgate Inducted In Hall

Go figure. Cary Adgate, coming from an area of the Midwest where a 500-foot vertical drop is big, qualified for the U.S. Ski Team as a downhill racer in the 1970s.

"A good slalom skier can make it to the mountains," laughed the former Olympian and pro racer. "We raced gates in the Midwest, lots of them. You learn the technical part, but speed and desire count for a lot. And, of course, having a good coach also counts a lot." ...continue reading »

Summer Shorts: It's A Bachelor Pad At Beaver Creek

We'll bring you a bit of the lighter side of summer over the next few months in this space unless something nasty like news creeps in. This is about Bachelor. He is the resident Labrador Retriever at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch at Beaver Creek. The only dogs-welcome property at the resort is waiving its usual $125 per dog per stay fee all summer. ...continue reading »
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