FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Jennifer Rudolph, 303.866.9712, Jennifer@ColoradoSki.com
COLORADO RESORTS TAKE STEPS
TO RECESSION PROOF WINTER VACATIONS
Colorado Ski Country USA Responds to Airline Baggage Fees,
Rising Fuel Prices
and Sluggish Economy
Denver, Colo. - August 12, 2008 - In the face of
today's lackluster economy and the rising costs of gas and fuel,
Colorado Ski Country USA's ski resorts have responded with programs
and incentives that continue to make Colorado a very attainable and
affordable winter getaway destination.
Baggage Fees
A recent trend shows that more guests are traveling with their own
boots and choosing to rent skis or snowboards at their destination.
Whether to avoid airline baggage fees or opt for ultimate
convenience, for the 2008-09 season, travelers who decide to rent
equipment rather than travel with their own boots, skis or
snowboard have many options.
· Monarch Mountain has increased their demo
fleet for the coming ski season by 300 percent, giving guests even
more selection of the newest skis and snowboards.
· Winter Park Resort has updated the quality
of their rental offering having purchased more than $250 thousand
dollars worth of new gear. All rental skis will be under the new
Salomon Syncro rental system, which means faster fitting for a,
more effective rental process. In addition, Winter Park has added
250 kids' skis, boots and Burton snowboards to their rental fleet.
All renters receive free "ski up" storage at the base of the
slopes.
· Copper Mountain has made renting equipment
more convenient than ever with two options that help counter
baggage fees. First, Copper's guests can rent from any of their
three villages, making the rental process very convenient at the
mountain. Second, with their new web based rental program,
www.skiandboardrentals.com, prior to arrival at Copper, guests can
book rental equipment for pick-up in locations throughout
Colorado's Summit and Eagle counties, including Copper
Mountain.
· Crested Butte Resort is giving a credit of
$15 per passenger, each way, to cover their first bag when they
book a four day or more vacation through Crested Butte Vacations
(CBV) before November 1, 2008.
· Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort is
the original home of SportsExpress, LLC, the premier sports
equipment delivery service, created to simplify the hassles of
travelling with sports equipment including skis and snowboards.
www.sportsexpress.com.
· More of the latest specialized powder
equipment is available for rent at Silverton Mountain including big
mountain ultra fat K2 skis and special powder snowboards from
Venture Snowboards.
· New for this season Steamboat Ski &
Resort Corporation unveiled its Bags Fly Free* program, in
conjunction with the resort's Early Rewards package. When guests
book an Early Rewards air-inclusive package through Steamboat
Central Reservations® between August 15th and November 3rd, the
resort will offset the baggage fee from the airlines to the tune of
$25* per booked air seat through an American Express pre-paid gift
card. Steamboat's Early Rewards package offers saving up to 20% on
lift tickets and lodging when purchased and paid in full by
November 3, 2008.
* Early Rewards packages booked
between August 15 and November 3 which includes air will receive a
$25 American Express pre-paid gift card, per booked air seat, to
apply towards airline baggage fees. Airline baggage fees are
one-way, vary by carrier, weight and may change without notice. In
cases, baggage fee may exceed $25 pre-paid gift card and additional
cost is the sole responsibility of the traveler. Early Rewards
Reservation must include lodging, lift and air for minimum 4-night
stay. This offer is not valid for arrivals between
12/19/2008-1/4/09 and 2/13/09-2/18/09. Additional restriction may
apply
· Another program just launched this year at
Steamboat is Lighten Up! A rental program where guests can leave
equipment at home and rent from any location of the resort's Ski
& Sport outlets that carry the newest ski and snowboard
equipment. Additionally, Kids Rent Free from Ski & Sport
locations when a parent or guardian rents 5 or more days. The
resort also offers in-room service for guests that don't feel like
coming to the rental shop.
Fuel Costs
Not only is travel to Colorado still possible, for the 2008/09
season it is affordable and accessible with these Colorado resort
programs designed to give travelers relief from today's fuel and
gas prices.
· Crested Butte is offering a "Friends and
Family Fly Free" program where every third airline ticket is free
(buy two get three). Crested Butte Resort is buying the third
ticket. It is available on certain fare classes and based on
availability.
· At Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort it
pays to travel this winter with their It Pays to Travel Plan. When
guests book their vacation to Purgatory Mountain by November 27th,
they will receive an instant 10 percent travel credit on their
vacation*. The credit can be used to buy gas, upgrade rental gear
or splurge on a great meal at the new Purgy's Day Lodge. It Pays to
Travel applies to a minimum of 2 night stays at any Durango
Mountain Resort property. Some restrictions apply* To take
advantage of the Pays to Travel program, guests should call the
Durango Mountain Resort Reservation Center at 800-982-6102.
*Minimum 2 night stay. Not valid
during holiday periods. Does not apply to existing reservations or
group reservations. Travel credit amount is based on pre-tax
reservation, with maximum credit of $100. Must be booked by
11/27/2008
· Powderhorn resort is providing shuttle
service to the resort on all weekends and holidays. In addition,
starting in January, when a guest purchases 10 gallons of gas or
more at any Phillips 66 station, they will receive a 'buy one, get
one free' lift ticket. .
· Silverton Mountain recognizes that they
can't lower fuel prices but they can lower their lift ticket
prices. For the 2008/09 season, guests can experience today's
Silverton Mountain skiing at 2005 lift ticket prices.
· At Steamboat Ski Resort kids fly free. One
child 12 and under flies free with adult purchase when traveling
midweek 12/2/08-12/12/08 and 1/4/09-2/1/3/09 Call Steamboat Central
Reservations for details 800-922-2722. Steamboat also has nonstop
flights from nine airports on five airlines, which are contracted
by the resort. These flights will run the entire season without
being eliminated. Once in the town of Steamboat there is no need to
rent a car with the free Steamboat Springs Transit.
* Passenger is responsible for
Passenger Facility Charge(s) of up to $4.50 and the September 11
Security Fee of up to $2.50 for each flight segment which is
required for the adult and the child. Must be purchased with a
lodging package. A 2 night min. stay is required. Other
restrictions may apply. Offer subject to change without
notice.
There are other ways to recession proof a Colorado ski vacation
this ski season. Some advanced planning and research into the local
scene can result in some surprising tips to keeping costs
down.
· The Colorado Gems are nine resorts
including Arapahoe Basin, Echo, Eldora, Loveland, Monarch,
Powderhorn, Ski Cooper, SolVista and Sunlight, that offer great
skiing, incredible deals and many free services. Travelers can sign
up for a GEMS card at www.ColoradoGems.com to
partake in many of the GEMS reduced pricing offers.
· The best option for unlimited access to
almost all Colorado resorts is the CSCUSA Gold Pass. Available for
$2,500, the Gold Pass is the only pass that does not have any
blackout dates, is fully transferrable, is valid at 21 Colorado
resorts, has its own concierge service, in most cases allows direct
to lift access, and comes with an invitation to the CSCUSA Annual
Meeting.
· At Crested Butte Mountain Resort,
vacationers can "stay and ski free". Skiers receive free lift
tickets when they stay in any participating lodging property from
November 26- December 15, 2008.
· Half price skiing is offered at Crested
Butte to pass holders from any Colorado Ski Resort. Simply show
your pass or discount card from any other ski resort at the ticket
window and get a half-price lift ticket. Stay a while with 15
percent off lodging through Crested Butte vacations November 26 -
December 15, 2008 with your pass.
· At Steamboat, kids ski for free.
Steamboat's Kids/GrandKids Ski Free program, valid the entire
season, enables children 6-12 years of age to ski the same number
of days as their parents or grandparents when a parent or
grandparent purchases a 5-or-more-day regular priced lift
ticket.
· Arapahoe Basin, perched at 13,000 ft. atop
the Continental Divide, isn't just for the expert skier. A-Basin
offers reduced rate beginner lift tickets at the Molly Hogan
learning center.
· Telluride, Aspen, Copper, Winter Park and
Steamboat are just some of Colorado Ski Country's 22 resorts that
give free mountain tours daily.
· Some resorts, such as Telluride and
Silverton, offer free ice-skating, cost of rental equipment is not
included.
· When in Aspen, order up an Après-ski
massage for just $10 at the Sundeck Restaurant and Lodge on Aspen
Mountain.
· Snowmass is home to free après-ski
appetizers served at the Mountain Dragon.
· At Aspen's Mezzaluna restaurant, diners
can enjoy beer and pizza for just $10.
For more details on Colorado's 22 ski resorts and for up to date
information on the 2008/09 Colorado ski season please visit www.ColoradoSki.com.
# # #
Colorado Ski Country USA is the not-for-profit trade association
representing Colorado's 22 ski & snowboard resorts. Information
about the organization and its members can be found at www.coloradoski.com.
