MOUNTAIN RESORT OFFERING DISCOUNTED SKI PASSES

Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort offers less expensive season-pass options August 24th, 2010 9:57 pm ET

Park City Mountain Resort (PCMR) has a reputation as a destination-skiers area, rather than a locals spot, but a new season-pass pricing structure may make Utah skiers give the resort a second look.

The ski area is offering a basic adult season-pass for $699, easily the lowest price so far among the resorts in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons and Parley’s Canyon. Of those seven ski areas, only The Canyons has yet to release its 2010-11 season-pass pricing.

According to Krista Parry, director of communications at PCMR, an adult season-pass cost a much higher $1,250 last season, but included additional options and amenities. This season, buyers can start at the much lower $699 price point and then add options for additional costs if so desired. The resort offers three options: “Fast Tracks” lift-line privileges, underground parking and night skiing. Adding one option brings the total cost to $899. Two options ups the price to $1,099. For the equivalent of last year’s all-inclusive $1,250 pass, three options may be added for a total pass cost of $1,299.

Relative to Colorado, Utah skiing is often considered to be less expensive in various areas such as lodging, lessons and individual lift tickets. Season passes have been an exception to the rule. Particularly in Summit County and along Interstate 70 in Colorado, intense competition for local skiers has driven down season-pass prices in recent years. For example, the Vail Resorts Epic Pass covering five resorts in the state currently costs only $599 during the early-purchase period.

MONTAGE TEAMS UP WITH SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL

New Montage Deer Valley resort teaming with Sundance Film Festival

Montage Deer Valley, North America’s newest mountain resort, opening December 2010 atop Empire Pass in Park City, Utah, has been named an official provider for the “2011 Sundance Film Festival: An Artist at the Table” fundraising event, benefitting the nonprofit Sundance Institute. The 2011 Sundance Film Festival: An Artist at the Table will kickoff the first day of the annual Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 20, 2011, by gathering an intimate crowd of guests and artists at the lodge-style Montage Deer Valley for a festive pre-film cocktail reception. The group will then transfer to reserved seats for a film screening at the Eccles Theatre, just one of several competition films playing that night throughout Park City. After the film, guests and artists will return to the resort for a convivial three-course dinner.

Each table of nine guests and an artist will enjoy an inventive farm-to-table menu created by Montage Deer Valley Executive Chef Matt Leonard. The evening will also include entertainment by Sundance Institute Composer Fellows. This fundraiser to benefit Sundance Institute, the presenting organization of the Sundance Film Festival, is a special evening to celebrate the importance of independent artists and their stories.

Founded by movie icon Robert Redford in 1981, Sundance Institute is a global, nonprofit cultural organization dedicated to nurturing artistic expression in film and theater, and to supporting intercultural dialogue between artists and audiences. Internationally recognized for its annual Sundance Film Festival and its artistic development programs for directors, screenwriters, producers, film composers, playwrights and theatre artists, Sundance Institute has nurtured such projects as Born into Brothels, Trouble the Water, An Inconvenient Truth and Angels in America.

When it opens, Montage Deer Valley will be one of North America’s finest mountain resort destination. Reminiscent of great mountain lodges, the resort is less than five minutes from Park City’s celebrated Main Street, and a 40-minute drive from Salt Lake City International Airport. Montage Deer Valley will feature 154 guestrooms, and more than 66 suites and private residences ranging from one to four bedrooms, all with fireplaces and expansive views of the majestic Wasatch Front. The resort will also offer extensive 24-hour services; several dining options; a gourmet gastro-pub with bowling lanes, billiards, darts and nostalgic arcade games; a 35,000-square-foot alpine-inspired spa; outdoor pool and whirlpools; outdoor terrace with fire pits; retail shops and 55,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor event space for executive meetings and special events.

DEER VALLEY NAMED #1 SKI RESORT IN NORTH AMERICA

SKI Magazine readers again name the resort their top pick for the fourth year in a row. 20,000 readers of SKI Magazine have selected Deer Valley Resort as the No. 1 resort in North America. “The results of the closely watched survey were announced Thursday night” said Jessica Kunzer, spokesperson for Ski Utah. No other resort has topped the rankings four years in a row. “It’s quite an honor pretty darn incredible,” said Bob Wheaton, president and general manager. It also marks 10 years Deer Valley finished in the top three.

In the subcategories, the resort finished first in grooming, guest service, dining and lodging, and second place in lifts, weather and family programs. “All the people on staff made this happen every day,” he said. “It’s something we can’t let off the gas on one little bit. Yesterday’s accomplishments are just that.” Wheaton said he credits peer mentoring for the high level of service his employees provide guests. “If you’re in a position to provide an elevated level of service, and are provided the tools to do that, the response you get back from guests is very positive and reinforces what you’re doing,” he said. Park City Mountain Resort was ranked No. 5 overall and has been in the top five for six of the past seven years. It was in the top 10 for nine subcategories. President and General Manager Jenni Smith said creating a positive experience for families has been a goal and the survey ranked the resort in the top three in that category. Todd Burnette, vice president of marketing for Canyons Resort, said the resort was ranked 18th overall. That’s an improvement of two spots in a ski season that saw no mountain improvements, he said. Burnette also said he credits the climb to the resort’s attentive response to guest feedback. Since the resort made the most significant on-mountain improvements of any resort in North America this year, he expects the ranking to climb further in next year’s survey and continue improving. “I really see us moving up this list fairly quickly over the next few years as people experience the improvements we’ll be making,” he said. Kunzer said the rankings resonate with destination skiers and improve how people see the state. “It makes us feel really special that people are passionate about our resorts,” she said. “When you look at the wonderful resorts in other states we’re ranked against, it’s quite the achievement.”