The Industry Report

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

2009-06-29T16:00:00Z

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.

How Will Tour Operators Fare? Erna Low Studies Raise Questions

2009-06-29T15:58:48Z

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.

Summer Shorts: 'Governor Otten' And Speedos

2009-06-29T15:56:27Z

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.

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

2009-06-15T15:51:06Z

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?

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

2009-06-15T15:20:41Z

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.

Summer Shorts: Now Here's A Stimulus Package

2009-06-15T14:25:01Z

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.

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

2009-06-01T15:03:00Z

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.

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

2009-06-01T15:02:00Z

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."

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

2009-06-01T15:01:00Z

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.

Summer Lodging Declines Follow Winter's 'Unparalleled Decrease'

2009-05-20T18:28:00Z

MTRiP (Mountain Travel Research Program) has shared its latest findings with The Industry Report and, no surprise, they show the winter resort lodging business took a severe beating from the economy. Occupancy was down 15 percent overall for the ski season compared with last year and lodging rates were down 9 percent.

"The combined effects of lower occupancy and rate compound to an approximate 25 percent decrease in overall revenues, an unparalleled single-year decrease," said Ralf Garrison, author of the monthly Monitor report. "The impact of such dramatic declines have yet to be fully realized."

Does Travel Matter? Tahoe Tourism Conference Looks For Answers

2009-05-18T15:03:00Z

Carl Ribaudo decided to get back to the fundamental question facing the mountain resort industry when tourism leaders gather at the 10th anniversary of the SMG Tourism Conference at Lake Tahoe, Calif., June 9. The question: "Does Travel Matter?"

Relieved Europe Survives 2008-09

2009-05-18T15:02:00Z

Many of Europe's leading ski areas are breathing a sigh of relief as the season ends and early results are assessed. Six months ago few expected a strong season, given deteriorating economies, fuel prices high although lowering, and currency exchange rates fluctuating wildly.

Gunstock Sees Private Partnership As Path To Its Future

2009-05-18T15:01:00Z

The ability of venerable, county-owned Gunstock Mountain Resort in Gilford, N.H., to remain robust rests on being able to expand into a four-season operation, General Manager Greg Goddard told The Industry Report.

"Keep The Boomers Happy," Ski Industry Leaders Are Told

2009-05-15T16:40:30Z

"You're all looking at your demographic getting older, and you're getting nervous," Joseph F. Coughlin, PhD, told a packed house on the second day of the National Ski Areas Association 2009 National Convention and Trade Show held May 13 to 16 on Marco Island, Fla.

"You actually own the relationship with part of the boomer generation that everyone else wishes they had," Coughlin said.

Ski Industry Leaders Discuss The Lessons of 2008-09

2009-05-14T21:17:55Z

Five ski resort CEOs discussed the hard times that have hit the ski industry this season, and though all agreed their customers are resilient, most suggested changes in customer behavior and resort operations that occurred this season as a result of a tough economic situation will likely persist for years to come.