The U.S. ski industry was forged by soldiers. We all know the story about 10th Mountain vets returning from war with visions of ski runs and chairlifts that would spark dozens of American resorts. Innovators who worked every job at the ski area took the reins from those soldiers, creating even more lifts, better grooming […]
Rob Katz
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors
Vail Resorts names its first female CEO as longtime chief steps back
Kirsten Lynch, Vail Resorts’ chief marketing officer for a decade, will become the company’s CEO on Nov. 1. The first woman to lead the resort giant, she will take over from Rob Katz, who will become executive chairman of the board, the Broomfield-based company said Tuesday. Lynch also will be on the board. Katz on […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, Economy, News, Outdoors
Colorado resorts expect next ski season to be pretty normal, but some coronavirus changes may stick around
A year ago this week, lift-served skiing was broken. Ski areas around the planet ground to a sudden halt in a desperate effort to slow the spread of contagion. Operators were distributing food from spring-break-stocked coolers and figuring out what to do with jobless workers in employee housing, all while slashing budgets and planning for […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors
Vail Resorts thrills investors with lower-than-expected coronavirus losses
Not as bad as expected. That was the theme Thursday as Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz told investors about declines in revenue, income and visits so far in the 2020-21 ski season. Vail Resorts reported $147.8 million in income through January for the second quarter of its fiscal 2021, a drop of 28% compared to […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors
Vail Resorts losses continue as pandemic impacts stretch into ski season
Vail Resorts, the largest ski area operator in North America, reported continuing and growing losses as the pandemic threatens travel and haunts the coming ski season. The company reported a 50% decline in revenue for the first three months of its fiscal 2021, which ended Oct. 31, compared with the same period last year. But […]
Posted inColoradans, Politics and Government
Black Lives Matter protests in Gunnison County showed people of color they have more allies than they realized
Sun slants through the buildings on Elk Avenue in Crested Butte, turning cottonwood fluff into floating sparkle. The surrounding hillsides glow green and rise up into red-hued peaks, some of which still hold bright, white snow. It’s a real-life snow globe scene, and Chloe Bowman stands at the center of it, suspended in the surreal. […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, COVID, News, Outdoors
Coronavirus has cost Vail Resorts more than $200 million. So far.
Vail Resorts lost $203 million in ski and lodging earnings in the fiscal year that ended in July, a rare downturn for the ski resort operator hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The company reported $503.3 million in resort earnings for its fiscal 2020, a 29% decline from the previous year. The company cited early […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Outdoors
Want to ski at a Vail Resorts mountain during coronavirus? You’ll need a reservation.
Vail Resorts on Thursday unveiled the details of the plan for skiing at its 34 North American resorts — beginning Nov. 6 at Keystone — and, as we suspected, the 2020-21 season will be unlike any before. Here are the not-surprising changes: Masks are required for everyone on the mountain. Physical distancing will be the […]
Posted inBusiness, COVID, News, Outdoors
Vail Resorts lost $140 million after coronavirus forced its ski areas to close. That’s actually better than expected.
Cost cutting by Vail Resorts after it closed its 34 North American ski areas on March 14 lessened the financial blow of the coronavirus. Slashing plans for capital upgrades, suspending cash dividends to shareholders, reducing salaries and furloughing hourly workers helped Vail Resorts lose only $140 million in income in the first four months of […]
Posted inBusiness, Coloradans, News, Outdoors
The ski industry used to only be about operations. Women leaders are helping refocus it on experience.
VAIL — The U.S. ski resort industry started with a bunch of mustachioed dudes focused on uphill transportation. Sixty-plus years later, resort skiing has transformed from an operation into an experience, with attention paid to safety, snow grooming, speedy lifts, lessons, food and fewer hassles. The evolution of skiing can be attributed to a more […]