Vail: Full Speed Ahead On New Improvements

Vail Resorts says it plans to spend at least $100 million on projects to upgrade its five ski properties.

September 4, 2008 - The Denver Post

Vail Resorts (owner of Breckenridge Ski Area) plans to showcase at least $100 million in capital improvements this year at its five ski resorts. The spending, which could rise to $115 million by the end of the year, is more than the combined total for all other Colorado ski resorts.

National economic weakness and a slight decline last year in Colorado's total skier visits have not caused Vail to rein in the spending program. According to Bob Katz, Vail chief executive, "We have not pulled back on a single improvement".

Projects include a new eight-passenger gondola at Keystone, a new base area with dining and lodging at Breckenridge's Peak 7, the opening of the Arabelle hotel in Vail Square and a $7 million renovation of the former Inn at Beaver Creek.

Katz also announced:

• Within two years, Vail will doulbe from 5 percent to 10 percent its program to reduce energy consumption through conservation and equipment upgrades
• Sales of the Epic Season Pass -- allowing unlimited skiing at all Vail Resorts for $579 -- have been strong
• A new lodging promotion offers one free night at various Vail Resorts hotels during the season's biggest holidays if four consecutive nights are purchased.

Copper Plan Gets Green Light

Commissioners conditionally approve major base-area changes

In an article in the Summit Daily News, August 13, 2008, Bob Berwin reports that the Summit County Commissioners approved a plan to resdistribute about 420 units of previously approved unbuilt density at Copper Mountain, focusing development in the core of the resort.

Copper officials said the redevelopment will breathe new life into the resort's base area by building a critical mass of beds and commercial activity with the addition of new residential units and a condo-hotel on the site of the Chapel parking lot. This is a scaled-down version of several previously denied proposals.

According to Gary Rodgers, president and CEO of Copper Mountain, "the sequencing of any development is yet to be determined" explaining that the resort and county still have to nail down the details of the conditions attached to the development approval.

"It's been a long road to get here," Rogers continued. "It's our goal to now move forward and work with all stakeholders on the execution of this plan over the coming years."

Overall, the development will provide significant public benefits, and the amendment falls within the guidelines of existing county regulations. Those benefits include new trail connections, stream restorations and donations to the Chapel Foundation and the Summit Housing Authority.

Single-Listing Websites

One way for Realtors to more effectively market a property they have listed is to create a website just for that property, using the property's street address as the website name (domain or url name). For example, if the listing is located at 217 Highlands Drive, then the website name would be http://www.217highlandsdrive.com/. Then, on the listing sign at the property, the Realtor adds a rider with this website name on it.

There are several reasons why this is an effective marketing tool. Passers-by or other realtors who see the property have an easy way to remember the website (as opposed to some website name that has little or nothing to do with the property itself, and might be 40, 50 or more characters long and thus difficult to remember). The information on the website is usually more thorough, more pleasing to view and in general, more informative than a simple brochure or the listing as seen on an MLS site (where, for example, the number of photos may be limited, and the information provided too terse). The Realtor has an opportunity to market him or herself. And, the website name can be added to brochures, linked to the Realtor's own website and used in any other marketing efforts like postcards or emails.

Susan Gunnin has used this tool with very good results in a number of her listings. These websites have been created by her husband, Don, whose work and several samples can be viewed at http://www.quickcustomwebsites.com/. These websites are very inexpensive considering the size of the commission that will be earned and when compared to other types of marketing.

The Snow just won't quit!

Once the snow started in December, it just hasn't let up. Back in November, the weather pundits (meteorologists) were predicting a dryer than normal ski season.

Man! Were they wrong. As of today, Febeuary 26, we have had 60 inches of snow this month. And for the season, Breckenridge reports over 214 inches of the white stuff.

Southern Colorado has had even more, and they're running out of places to put the snow cleared from walks and streets.

Oh well. Such is life in the Rocky Mountains.