Wednesday, December 19, 2012

From The Telluride Daily Planet: New Direction For Telluride Conference Center


New direction for Telluride Conference Center


Telski wants more exclusive, new events

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 8:36 PM CST
Now that Telluride Ski & Golf is in charge of the Telluride Conference Center, the company has a few changes in store for the facility.

Telski has been managing the Conference Center, which is located in Mountain Village, since this fall when it took the reins from Cadence Hospitality. Cadence had been managing the center, which is owned by the Town of Mountain Village, since 2009. With the transition over to Telski, a new five-year management agreement has been signed, and according to the company, some new ideas are in the works to get more bookings at the center.

In October, when the Mountain Village Town Council gave its approval for the transition to take place, there was some concern that Telski might not be the best entity to manage the facility. But now, the company believes it can help the center boost the number of events and people it brings to the area.

“[Telski owner] Chuck Horning feels that, long-term, we know that the conference center is an amenity to bringing groups and conferences here,” said Telski Director of Sales and Marketing Ken Stone. “But it certainly runs at a deficit, and the ski area was willing to look long-term at that deficit and say, ‘What does it mean to the community to operate this?’ The business that it brings here benefits other business in the area, including the ski area, but also lodging, food service and retail.”

Part of the company’s plan to get more activity at the center involves the Telluride Tourism Board. Stone said the TTB wants to get different aspects of the community involved with the center, including lodging. But a main point of change has been to make the center more easily accessible with fewer hurdles to jump through when events are booked.

Stone said some of the main challenges facing the center involve the area’s remoteness. However, Telski is hoping to utilize the TTB’s marketing expertise to help increase the center’s exposure and get the word out across a wider audience.   

“We think one of the opportunities we have is to work with the community and even with second homeowners that want to start, hold or bring their events here on a permanent basis,” Stone said. “Having events that originate here in Telluride that have a reason to be here year after year, we support those and make it easy to work with all the entities to make them happen.”

Though this summer the town council decided it would not consider making any upgrades or expansions to the center, Telski plans to look into some improvements. Stone said the company is talking with sales teams to see what infrastructure or technological improvements could be made that would be most beneficial.

A major component at the center in the future that could be upgraded is its videoconference equipment. Stone said the equipment is in demand and in the past has been used heavily, especially by smaller groups or businesses.

It might be early, but Telski is anticipating some new groups and events at the center. 

The Governor’s Tourism Conference is planned for the end of next October at the conference center. The three-day conference will include a number of speakers and groups from around the state — which Telski and the TTB anticipate will be a good showcase of not only the center, but the area as well. Last year the governor’s conference was held in Steamboat Springs.

“We’re excited to work with the community and the town to make this a successful part of the equation,” Stone said.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Gold Season effort brings more tourism to area

From the Telluride Daily Planet:


Marketing, extended gondola and warm weather attributed

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Thursday, December 13, 2012 6:06 AM CST
Sales tax revenues and other figures are pointing to increased visitation this fall thanks to the extension of the gondola and a new marketing push.

This fall, along with a gold season marketing push, the gondola ran until Oct. 28, which was all part of an effort to maximize tourism during the fall shoulder season. It now appears that at least part of that goal was accomplished because, according to the Telluride Tourism Board, lodging occupancy levels were up around 17 percent in October over last year in Telluride and Mountain Village.

The occupancy data for October seems to continue a trend from summer months because from May through October, the average occupancy rates were up around 16 percent.

“I think it’s a number of things — there is a bigger story here,” said Michael Martelon, president of the Tourism Board. “There is the momentum from the summer that carried through because we were up in September as well. The marketing absolutely had an effect on it as well as the warm weather.”

Last summer, the towns of Telluride and Mountain Village and the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association all agreed to pay around $55,000 in equal portions to keep the gondola running longer and finance the fall marketing effort.

At the time, it was unknown if a longer gondola season would bring people to the area because the gondola typically shuts down before Oct. 22. Aside from occupancy, the effort is being judged by sales taxes collected by the towns.

October is typically a lower time of the year in terms of sales taxes. But this year in Mountain Village, October’s numbers were up from $65,260 in 2011 to $68,855 this year. September’s figures were also up from $158,593 in 2011 to $168,296 this year.

In Telluride, October sales tax revenues increased, as the town recorded around a 6 percent jump over 2011. The town collected $220,218 in sales tax revenues in October, up from $206, 672 in 2011.

Telluride Mayor Stu Fraser said it’s early to draw many conclusions, but from what he has seen, things are positive.

“The goal was to get better coverage during the shoulder season, and I think it was effective,” said Fraser. “There has been no decision on if we’ll do it or not next year, but I will look at it in a positive light.”

Martelon said he thinks some of gold season’s momentum might have carried over to the winter season.

He said there were more winter bookings made this October than last October. The increased early bookings could increase winter’s overall bookings, but time will tell.

“I think [the gold season marketing] served a dual purpose,” Martelon said. “For some people, it was ‘let’s go to Telluride in the fall’ which I think turned into ‘you know what, we need to book our ski vacation now.’ I’m hoping that that momentum carried us through the winter — and I’m hoping the jet steam shifts so that we get dumped on.”

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, December 10, 2012

Real Estate Sales In Telluride Are Rockin’ And TREC Is Leading The Charge

Area Wide Sales Up 23% So Far in 2012; TREC’s Sales Up 87%

You have no doubt been hearing from your local broker that real estate sales in the Telluride area are well ahead of last year’s pace. Through October 2012 in fact, sales in San Miguel County are up over 23% versus the same period last year. Clearly the recovery that we have been watching slowly take shape is now gaining real momentum. But allow us here at Christie’s/TREC to toot our own horn for a moment. Over the same time period of this January through October, our sales are up 87% versus last year. Our dominant market share and sales momentum also show no signs of abating as we close out 2012. We have a record amount of property (in terms of dollar volume) under contract for closing as of this writing. We are mindful of "irrational exuberance," but the facts speak for themselves. Here’s to a continued, sustainable recovery going forward.  -The TREC Team

Monday, December 3, 2012

From The Denver Post: Colorado Resort Summer Spending Increasing Faster Than Winter Spending


Summer spending growing faster than winter in Colorado resort towns

POSTED:   12/02/2012 12:01:00 AM MST
UPDATED:   12/02/2012 10:24:33 AM MST
By Jason Blevins
The Denver Post
Summer business in resort towns is growing at a faster rate than winter, revealing both a recovering economy and a shift in resort tourism.
While Colorado's high country will always rely heavily on skiers, mountain towns are seeing more summer vacationers in a trend that promises swifter growth than downhill skiing — especially if weak snowfall continues in the high country.
"This is a very big deal for us," said Michael Martelon, chief of the Telluride Tourism Board, which last summer achieved a longtime goal with summer spending in the box canyon eclipsing winter for the first time ever. Telluride's taxable sales activity set monthly records in July, August and September.
Martelon said the towns of Telluride, Mountain Village and Montrose worked together to boost regional tourism, expanding Telluride's festivals and reaching out to visitors who tend to visit the area regularly.
"I call it microtargeting," he said. "We are talking to people who we know love Telluride, and getting them to come more often is getting us to a place where we are actually able to grow our base."
Telluride joins Winter Park, Aspen, Vail, Steamboat Springs, Breckenridge and Crested Butte in posting strong summers this year, with most of those communities surpassing the pre-recession glory days of 2007. In all seven resort communities, spending from June through September is growing much faster than winter spending.
Whilelast winter's weak snowfall could have pinched spending as fewer vacationers gatheredfor ski holidays, ski-town winter spending increased in six of the seven resort communities even though visitation plummeted 10 percent, the steepest drop in decades.
Still, summer revenues grew faster.
Ford Frick, the managing director of Denver-based BBC Research and Consulting, thinks the warm, snowless weather of last winter likely helped summer business as flatlanders and urbanites fled the heat by flocking to the high country.
"I think weather was a big influence," Frick said.
While summer is growing, it's still a fraction of winter business in the big resort communities such as Breckenridge, Aspen and Vail. But winter business seems to be inching more than surging and has yet to climb back to pre-recession levels.
There are a number of trends slowing winter's recovery and spurring summer, Frick said. Aging baby boomers and second-home owners are finding summer in the high country more amenable, and growing numbers of Front Rangers pursuing close-to-home vacations — or economically driven "staycations" — are visiting the mountains for brief bursts in the summer.
"It's a combination of small factors behind this" summer growth, Frick said. "Summer is growing more rapidly, but I think there's a ways to go until summer fills the gap on winter."
Most resort communities have seen summer spending climb past high marks set in 2007. (Winter Park and Steamboat Springs have yet to reach 2007 levels.) Winter spending, though, is lagging, with only Vail surpassing the 2007-08 season. All seven resort communities together are pacing about 7 percent behind the 2007-08 winter season, while summer spending is 3 percent ahead of the once-record 2007 levels.
Resorts have been focusing on their warm-weather seasons for several years, and those marketing programs are finding footing.Federal legislation from last year encourages the Forest Service to work with resort companieson federal land to develop summer amenities and stir local economies. Vail Resorts, for example,last summer proposed a comprehensive interactive projectthat would install alpine slides, ropes courses and zip lines alongside educational programs on Vail Mountain.

Read more:Summer spending growing faster than winter in Colorado resort towns - The Denver Posthttp://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_22102925/summer-spending-growing-faster-than-winter-colorado-resort#ixzz2E2GwRxPn
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Monday, November 19, 2012

From The Daily Planet: October A Huge Month For Real Estate Sales


October a great month for property sales


Property sales highest October levels since 2007

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Wednesday, November 14, 2012 6:06 AM CST
October was full of more than just warm weather in Telluride and Mountain Village as property sales heated up.

According to data compiled by Judi Kiernan of Telluride Consulting, eight homes were sold in Telluride during October totaling around $19 million. A high dollar value was seen in other areas of San Miguel County. So far this year, Mountain Village saw a huge increase in home sales with around $43.4 million in sales up from $23.6 million from all of last year.

Kiernan said many factors have contributed to the big jump from last year’s numbers.

“I know anecdotally what people would consider to be the good deals in town are being purchased,” Kiernan said. “The savvy buyers are realizing that it appears our market here in Telluride is beginning to improve, and if they are going to get one of those good deals, now is probably the time to do it. Maybe it’s even past time to do it.”

Since 2007, the number of properties sold each month in Telluride has been inconsistent as some months have been up while others have been down. But according to Telluride Consulting’s data, October of this year was the best October since 2007 with 46 property sales in San Miguel County.

“Needless to say, the market is doing very well,” said Lynn Ward of Peaks Real-Estate in Telluride. “The title company just told me that last month was one of the highest real estate transfer tax months that we’ve had in a very long time.”

Kiernan said one of the contributing factors to October’s strong sales was the completion of some new construction projects. She said in small markets such as Telluride, the completion of construction contracts could offset a month’s sales results.

But as for what November and the remainder of 2012 holds for real estate sales, the stellar numbers of October might not been seen again. October, however, does show the highest dollar volume in sales for that month since 2007, with $49.1 million compared with $56.4 million in October of 2007.

“As I always say, one month does not a trend make,” Kiernan said.

But just about every month this year, property sales in San Miguel County have been above those in previous years since 2007. With 2012’s sales showing an upward trend, the hope is that sales will continue to improve.

“In Telluride if you look at the dollar volume from 2011 to as of right now in 2012 to date, we’re up about 127 percent,” Ward said. “So that’s pretty exciting.”

As for what type of properties are selling in October in San Miguel County, Kiernan’s data shows the top three units selling are single family homes in Telluride with eight units sold, followed by eight Mountain Village half-duplex condominiums and five Telluride half-duplex condominiums, all totaling more than $32 million.

The comeback has been a relief to a lot of people who have managed to hold on to their properties, Kiernan said.

For more information on Telluride real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Telluride Ranked #1 Ski Resort In North America In 2012 Conde Nast Readers' Poll

Following a jump in Telluride's ranking by Ski Magazine readers (up to #5 from last year's #10 ranking), the news was released this week that Telluride has been ranked #1 in North American ski resorts by readers of Conde Nast Traveler.  Resorts were ranked based on terrain, lifts, lines, local ambiance, dining and apres-ski options, with Telluride scoring an average 94.3 out of 100, beating out the #2 resort by a full 2.9 points.

For more information on this or Telluride area luxury real estate - homes, condos or land - please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

From The Daily Planet: New Joint Ski Pass Between Crested Butte and Telluride


New joint ski pass between Crested Butte, Telluride


Ultimate 6 Pass offers three days at Telluride, three in Crested Butte

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Friday, November 9, 2012 6:06 AM CST
Winter is on its way and so are some new ticket deals that offer days in both Telluride and Crested Butte — with no blackout dates.

A new pass called the Ultimate 6 Pass offers up to three days in Telluride and three in Crested Butte. The pass has been put together as a promotional effort between Telluride Ski & Golf and the Crested Butte Mountain Resort. The pass is only available in limited numbers, and though the exact number of passes has not been released, they are available now for $399 at Liftopia.

“Basically it’s stemming from Crested Butte participating with the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization,” said Telski Communications Director Tom Watkinson. “It’s helping to bring people to both resorts, and this is a great way to do that.”

The Crested Butte Mountain Resort announced in late October that it will be a private supporter of the TMRAO, namely the organization’s newest airline, Allegiant. As part of the deal, marketing efforts would be aimed at air passengers focusing on Telluride as well as Crested Butte.

Watkinson said the pass also offers a 20 percent discount on tickets at either resort if someone wants to go over the three days offered.

Telluride and Crested Butte are roughly 158 miles apart by road, with Montrose between them.

While the Ultimate 6 Pass is a good deal to hit up both resorts, Telski and Crested Butte are also offering their season pass holders a half-price deal for single-day tickets. If a Crested Butte or Telski season pass holder wants to buy a day ticket at the other resort, they are eligible to get it at half price. However, Watkinson said the half price deal does include some blackout dates, notably around the holidays.

Telski will be selling discount season passes and other passes at the KOTO Ski Swap Saturday at the Wilkinson Public Library.

This year, Telski is also selling a special three-day pass option for those with passes to Powderhorn Mountain Resort near Grand Junction.

“We figure Junction is such a big market for regional skiers, that we’re offering a three-day pass at $169 with the purchase of a Powderhorn pass season,” Watkinson said. “There’s no blackout dates and it’s available immediately.”

Telski plans to open on Thanksgiving.

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com. 

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

From The Telluride Daily Planet: Telluride To Angle for a Spot in the 2013 Pro Cycling Challenge

Telluride to angle for 2013 Pro Cycling spot


Officials aren’t as keen about it this year

By Katie Klingsporn
Published: Wednesday, October 31, 2012 9:50 AM CDT
Editor

Telluride will throw its name into the host city hat for the 2013 USA Pro Cycling Challenge, but with pressing capital projects, other expenses on the horizon and weaker expectations for getting selected, the town council has less enthusiasm for the event than last year.

The Telluride Town Council decided in a 4-3 split on Tuesday to go ahead with a proposal for the host city spot. Proposals are due in the second week of November.

Council members all said that the race was a tremendous event that was well organized and pulled off skillfully. But with some big expenditures on the horizon, they weren’t as keen to hosting in 2013 as they were a year ago.
 
“I think there’s a lot of things on our plate that are going to be bigger and better investments for our town, not to mention the necessities that we need to come up with,” said council member Bob Saunders.

The town spent approximately $92,000 on hosting the stage 1 finish of the race, according to a town memo.

A great deal of energy was put into securing a host city spot on the 2012 seven-day stage race. Regional officials put together a website complete with a video as part of their proposal. And when it was announced that Telluride had landed a spot, the news was widely celebrated by officials and citizens from the region.

Telluride, Mountain Village, local lodgers and other regional entities spent a great deal of time and significant amount of money working out logistics and preparing for the crush of media, racers and spectators expected during the race.

When the race flashed through Telluride on Aug. 20, it brought a thrilling sporting event. Riders climbed 125 miles from Durango and over Lizard Head Pass before sprinting into Telluride and hurtling westward down Colorado Avenue in front of a roaring crowd.

But in the wake of the event, it became clear that the crowd of 20,000 that organizers had prepared for failed to materialize, and many local restaurants and business owners reported that the event didn’t bring them a boost.


Council member Thom Carnevale said that following the race, he got a lot of emails and phone calls from the local business community. Many businesses put extra employees on, bumped up their inventory and braced for a crush of customers that never came, he said.

Carnevale said that while he really enjoyed watching the race, he’s not sure that the benefits outweighed the costs, and the town should put its focus now on the hefty financial issues it faces. The town plans to help pay for the enclosure of the Hanley Pavilion in 2013 as well as foot a big chunk of the bill for the construction of a new roundabout at Society Turn, and officials recently discovered they are about $5 million short of the money needed to finish the new Pandora Water Treatment system.

“As much as I enjoyed it … I just don’t think that going ahead with it when we have all these other obstacles in front of us is a good idea,” Carnevale said.

Brian Werner noted that many events see small turnouts in their first year and said the town can learn from the event and adjust to fit it better in the future. The media exposure locally, nationwide and internationally was huge, he said.

“I think it’s a great event for Colorado, and I’d like to see Telluride be a part of it,” he said.

Chris Myers also said he thought it was a remarkable event that aligned well with Telluride’s values, but he suggested that Telluride take a year off to step back and learn more about how to make it more successful in the future.

“I’m thinking a pause would be an opportunity to learn more,” he said.

Council member Ann Brady suggested that Telluride submit a proposal to keep its name in the minds of the race organizers, but not put a huge effort into it. She said she believes the race is going to move north and that Telluride won’t get a host spot this year anyway.

Mayor Stu Fraser, who sat on the local organizing committee, was in favor of submitting a proposal. He thinks that Telluride can learn a lot from the first race and find a way to tailor it better to the small town next time around, he said.

“I think we should show our desire to be in it for 2013,” he said.

In the end, Fraser, Werner, Brady and Kristen Permakoff were in favor of submitting a proposal, outnumbering Carnevale, Myers and Saunders.

Telluride Tourism Board President and CEO Michael Martelon said that they will basically spruce up last year’s proposal and resubmit it.

According to USA Pro Cycling Challenge, the 2012 race saw attendance numbers of more than 1 million over the course of seven days and brought an estimated economic impact of $99.6 million to the state of Colorado.

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, November 5, 2012

Telluride Ranked #8 In The Top 40 Ski Resorts In North America By Outside Magazine

Monday, November 05, 2012

The Best Ski Resorts in North America: 08. Telluride Ski Resort

Telluride, Colorado

By:
 
Though people tend to think of Vail and Aspen first when they consider Colorado skiing, Telluride shouldn’t be overlooked. A host of the FIS Snowboard World Cup this year (December 14 and 15), Telluride’s inches of average annual snowfall (300) and rate of powder days per season (11 percent) are respectable. But it’s really the laid-back vibe combined with hands-on service that makes Telluride great.
The staff-to-guest ratio here is one to three, and employees do jobs spanning from ski valet to instructor teaching Burton’s Learn-to-Ride program to facilities manager who’s helped turn this eco-friendly place into a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.
Telluride’s 125 trails have a collective vertical drop of 4,425 feet. And though the biggest number of runs here are for experts, the 2,000 skiable acres are varied enough so that everyone can have their fun. Strung above groomers, and three terrain parks and bowls are 18 lifts whose capacity pushes 22,386 people per hour.
Besides alpine skiing and riding, Telluride offers Nordic skiing, snowshoeing, NASTAR racing, heli-skiing, ice climbing—and, for those who’d rather be aloft for longer, glider rides and paragliding.
The ski patrol is small, and it’s 65 miles to the nearest surgical hospital—a 30-minute airlift—so try to stay upright. The resort does offer a 24-hour emergency service, and there’s at least one onsite physician.
We recommend Hotel Madeline, as lovely as it sounds (unwind at Spa Linnea) and the Inn at Lost Creek, which manages to be simultaneously rustic and upscale. Before your head hits the pillow, though, make sure you’ve squeezed all you can out of a Telluride day: There are three ice-skating rinks, raucous nightlife venues, and good restaurants: Rev in Hotel Madeline is particularly worth trying. The Eco Kids program teaches youth about mountain wildlife, and two pedestrian villages, linked by a free-admission gondola (it gives more than two million rides per year), comprise a historic town whose residents seem to be mostly bearded mountain men.
The number of attractive males at Telluride goes up exponentially in late February during Gay Ski Week, while mid-February brings a comedy festival featuring big-name stand-up artists.
For more information on Telluride or Telluride area luxury real estate (homes, condos and land), please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111 or info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch - Ski Resorts Hope To Rebound in 2012/2013 After a Low Snow Winter in 2011/2012

From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
October 30, 2012
 
Skiers and snowboarders who endured the stingy snowfall of last season are hoping for better things this year.
So are the resorts that saw skier visits — and revenue — drop off in 2011-12, one year after most western resorts in the United States reported record- or near-record snowfall.
"That made it tough, having a bad snow year right after such a great one," said Craig Bannister, spokesman for Colorado Ski Country, a trade association that represents 22 ski areas in Colorado, including large ones like Winter Park, Copper Mountain and Crested Butte.
So what's the best-case scenario?
"We've talked to a number of meteorologists who think it's going to be an el Niño year, and the late season is going to be very good," Bannister said. "Come January, February, March, it looks like we will get plenty of snow."
Then, Bannister hedged. A little. Being a snow-predictor in Colorado "is very difficult," he said. Two feet of powder might fall at one resort, while a neighboring mountain 15 miles away gets little more than a dusting.
The resorts have no control over how much snow falls, so they spend the offseason making improvements and upgrades in areas they can control. With revenue and skier days down last year, many of them spent less in the offseason months of 2012 than they had in previous years. Upgrades were spread out across all areas of many resorts.
At Winter Park, Colo., that meant adding a tubing run. Vail marks its 50th anniversary this year with a new 10-passenger gondola — complete with heated seats and Wi-Fi access. Copper Mountain added a zipline ride that takes riders over a lake in the summer and an ice skating rink in the winter. And some resorts boosted their snowmaking equipment, figuring what Mother Nature won't provide, man will.
At Copper Mountain, for example, the annual average snowfall is 282 inches. Last year? Only 160 inches. No wonder they started making snow on Oct. 2 — the first Colorado resort to fire up the snowguns.
"Of course the forecast is that the snow will be better this year," said Katherine Bush, communications coordinator for the resort that sits just off Interstate 70, 90 minutes west of Denver. "But we want to make sure we do everything we can to make every guest experience a good one."
The season got started — at least officially — on Oct. 17 when Arapahoe Basin won the annual race to be the first resort to open with one lift and one trail available. A Basin, which averages 350 inches of snow a year, measured far less last year. And many resorts closed earlier than usual because of the low snowfall and warm spring.
Colorado isn't the only western state with world-class skiing. Four Colorado resorts earned spots in Ski magazine's annual top resort rankings this season — Vail, Telluride, Snowmass and Beaver Creek. But Utah claimed the No. 2, 4 and 10 spots with Deer Valley, Park City and the Canyons, respectively, while Whistler Blackcomb in British Columbia, Canada, took top honors, and Jackson Hole, Wyo, and Sun Valley, Idaho, also finished in the top 10.
Getting to any of the Western resorts is the biggest battle for most St. Louis area skiers and riders. Many of the Colorado resorts can be reached via a very long one-day drive. When you start talking Utah and Wyoming, flying is usually the choice, which adds big bucks to the cost of a ski trip. And after last year's dismal snow, some Midwesterners might hesitate before plopping down so much money for something that's not a sure-deal.
So some resorts are offering special deals to entice people out. At Keystone Resort, there's a "kids ski free" deal for families who stay at Keystone-owned hotels or condos. All season long, including weekends, kids 12 and under get free lift tickets. At Winter Park, the resort decided to offer early season visitors a guarantee — if the early season (up to Dec. 20) snow is not to their liking, they can reschedule their visit for later in the season. The Winter Park promotion, Bannister said, is meant to give guests the versatility and options they might find appealing.
"I think after last year, everybody is just looking for different ways and different promotions to attract visitation,' he said.
Elsewhere in Colorado, Telluride has improved its on-mountain dining, as did Crested Butte.
Vail Resorts, which owns Vail, Breckenridge, Keystone and Beaver Creek in Colorado, along with Northstar, Heavenly and Kirkwood in California, saw a drop in skier visits last season just like most resorts. But that couldn't stop them from spending big to celebrate Vail's 50th anniversary this season. Sure, there's the new gondola. But Vail will also hold a red carpet premiere on Dec. 14 of a commemorative film by Roger Cotton Brown — on the eve of the resort's Dec. 15 anniversary.
Up until about Dec. 20, the prices are low mostly because the snow can be dicey. Prices skyrocket at the holidays, regardless of the snow.
So skiers and riders looking for the best deals should avoid the Christmas break, President's Day weekend and spring break season in March; snowhounds looking for the best powder should check each resort's snow report on their websites. Even then, though, some resorts seem to take an optimistic approach in their measurements.
"We are an optimistic industry," Bannister said. "After all the difficulties last season, it has to be better this season."
For more information on Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.6655 or info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Legendary Skier, Ski Area Designer, and Coach Emile Allais Dies at Age 100 in France

Emile Allais dies at 100


Telluride Ski Resort’s Allais Alley named for French skiing visionary

By Heather Sackett
Associate Editor
Published: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 10:02 AM CDT
Telluride Ski Resort would not exist, at least not in its current form, without the French skiing champion Emile Allais. Allais died last week at a hospital in France at age 100.

Telluride ski area developer Joe Zoline hired Allais to come evaluate the land and explore the potential for a ski area in the early ‘70s. A renowned ski resort designer, ski racer and coach, Allais was a visionary, seeing the possibility for a world class ski area where others only saw hard-to-access terrain, too-steep pitches and dangerous cliffs. After his initial visit, he agreed to design and act as the technical consultant on the fledgling resort. Allais’ vision and subsequent construction of the ski resort helped transform Telluride from sleepy mining town into a vibrant mountain community.

In March 1970, local skiing expert Billy “Senior” Mahoney guided Allais around so he could get a feel for the rugged territory. Allais then prepared a feasibility study for Zoline.

“Emile and I spent another 10 days laying out all the ski runs, and he wrote a report that there was a good potential there,” Mahoney said. “I don’t think they would have put up the money and built the lifts without Emile’s report.”


The two, beginning at 6 a.m., used snow machines to explore every conceivable place on the mountain from Gold Hill to Bald Mountain to Prospect Basin. They skied the front side five times in one day, Mahoney said. Allais, 58 years old at the time, stayed with Mahoney, then 42, at his home during the visit. Other consultants who Mahoney had previously guided around to evaluate the future ski area didn’t think much of the land. But Allais’ analysis offered the potential for a world-class resort.

“The Telluride terrain is not real nice like Vail,” Mahoney said. “There wouldn’t be a ski area if it wasn’t for that man. He just knew how to do it. That’s just my opinion, and I think I’m right on it.”

According to a March 1970 story in the Planet’s predecessor The Telluride Times, Zoline chose Allais for his knowledge of the ski industry and reputation. Zoline knew skiers from Denver and other urban areas would only come to remote, isolated Telluride if the skiing here were as good or better than other places.

According to The Telluride Times, Allais at first had doubts about the other side of the ridge that leads into Prospect Basin.

“The importance of the proposed runs on the other side of the ridge above town lying directly to the north of Prospect Basin cannot be overstated,” Allais said. “These runs are necessary to tie in the whole complex of runs on that ridge with the proposed base area at the bottom of the basin.”

Allais won gold medals in the downhill, slalom and combined in the 1937 world championships. He also popularized skiing with the skis parallel, a new method at the time. A former coach of the French Olympic team, Allais also taught skiing at Squaw Valley and Sun Valley.


Allais Alley, an expert, narrow, bumpy run with a run-out gully off of Chair 6, commemorates Allais’ contributions to on the ski area.

“It’s right up there on lift 6,” said Johnnie Stevens, one of the first employees and most recently chief operating officer at Telluride Ski Resort. “It was the old lift line. We have moved the lift since then. We named that Allais Alley in 1972.”

Allais also gave Zoline some advice about working with the Forest Service to secure the proper permits for the ski area: Think big. Those words of wisdom have proven valuable as Telluride Ski Resort has expanded and added more lifts and hike-to terrain over the years.

“He said you always want to think big and take all the territory you can possibly get,” Mahoney said. “He even put some runs on Bear Creek as a potential.”

For more information on Telluride area luxury homes, condos and land, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Christie’s International Real Estate Announces Partnership


Christie’s International Real Estate Announces Partnership
 with Art Miami

Telluride Real Estate Corp. is an Affiliate of the world’s leading luxury real estate network which is the “Official Real Estate Partner” for 2012 Art Miami


NEW YORK, NEW YORK (October 17, 2012) – Christie’s International Real Estate, the world’s leading luxury real estate network, and Art Miami, Miami’s original and longest-running contemporary art fair, today announced that Christie’s International Real Estate will serve as the “Official Luxury Real Estate Partner” for Art Miami, taking place December 4 through 9 in South Florida, during what is known as Art Week. The sponsorship extends to Art Miami’s new sister event, CONTEXT Art Miami, an emerging and cutting-edge contemporary art fair that will be connected to the Art Miami Pavilion.

Thousands of collectors, dealers, curators and artists worldwide will converge in Miami to participate in the 23rd annual and globally acclaimed event. With the combination of Art Miami's and CONTEXT's exhibiting galleries, the city’s trendy Wynwood Arts District will be transformed into a thriving international destination, featuring 190 galleries from 21 countries within 250,000 square feet of curated indoor and outdoor exhibition space.

Throughout the duration of the Fair, Christie’s International Real Estate will host a booth to showcase luxury residential real estate offerings, affording Art Miami visitors an appreciation of the global scope of the spectacular homes represented by its network of affiliated brokerages. On display will be properties from the 127 brokerages from across the globe which comprises the Christie’s International Real Estate network. Telluride Real Estate Corp. exclusively represents the Christie’s brand in Telluride and was chosen to join after demonstrating expertise in the marketing and sale of fine properties and exemplary levels of client care.

Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami are held in custom designed state-of-the-art pavilions in Midtown Miami, within the evolving Wynwood Arts District of Miami. The Fair will collectively showcase the best in emerging and cutting-edge contemporary and modern art. This includes paintings, drawings, sculpture, photography and prints from Europe, Asia, Latin America, India, the Middle East and the United States, in addition to numerous specially curated exhibitions.

“The Christie’s brand is an iconic symbol in the world of fine art,” added Nick Korniloff, Director and Partner of Art Miami. “Our clients have many commonalities. These individuals are not only accustomed to traveling abroad in search of quality works of contemporary art, but often own multiple homes in luxury destinations. It is truly an ideal relationship.”

Dubbed by many as the new contemporary art capital of the world, Miami’s evolution as an international center of the arts has mirrored the city’s growth as a true global destination. A recent report noted that Miami International Airport had more international flights than any other airport in the nation. Miami is home to more than 1,400 multinational corporations with regional operations throughout the city. 

“Ours is the only real estate network owned by a fine art auction house,” says Bonnie Stone Sellers, Chief Executive Officer. “Connecting fine art with luxury real estate is at the core of the distinct synergy we offer our clientele and our Affiliates worldwide. We look forward to participating in this renowned and internationally celebrated event and introducing to Art Miami’s audience the highest levels of client service and luxury expertise in residential real estate that our name represents.”

###

About Christie’s International Real Estate
Christie’s International Real Estate is an invitation-only Affiliate network composed of the world’s most proven and qualified real estate specialists. The company has central hubs in London, New York, and Hong Kong; field offices in Beverly Hills, California, Chicago, Illinois, and Palm Beach, Florida; and approximately 127 Affiliates in Europe and the U.K.; North, Central, and South America; and the Caribbean as well as Asia, Africa, and Oceania. The company has recently embarked on an aggressive expansion programme to identify exceptional brokerages in key markets with an aim to invite the most deserving to join our network of luxury real estate specialists. In the past six months alone, the network has added new Affiliates in Hong Kong, the United States, Europe, Africa, Canada, and the Caribbean. For additional information about Christie’s International Real Estate, please visit www.christiesrealestate.com.

About Art Miami
Miami’s longest running contemporary art fair, Art Miami will run from December 4 through December 9, 2012. As the anchor art fair to the City of Miami, the fair will return with a compelling array of modern and contemporary artwork from over 120 international galleries. Art Miami will be held in a state-of-the-art 125,000 square foot pavilion in Miami’s burgeoning Wynwood Arts District. Art Miami’s highly anticipated Opening Night VIP Preview, on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, will benefit the Miami Art Museum. (www.art-miami.com).

About CONTEXT Art Miami
Miami’s newest emerging and cutting-edge living artist contemporary art fair will coincide with the 23rd edition of Art Miami. Trendsetting galleries from around the globe will exhibit in a state-of-the-art 45,000-square-foot pavilion directly adjacent to Art Miami. CONTEXT will feature a curated group of 65 galleries representing exceptional emerging and mid-career artists, including solo artist installations, immersive environments, curated projects and multimedia exhibits. CONTEXT’s highly anticipated Opening Night VIP Preview, on Tuesday, December 4, 2012, will benefit the Miami Art Museum. (www.contextartmiami.com)

Sunday, October 21, 2012

USA Pro Cycling Challenge Sets Record Telluride Sales Tax Numbers for the Month of August

The Town of Telluride sales tax numbers for August 2012 were the highest ever reported for that month, coming in at $467,475, mainly due to the economic impact of the Stage 1 finish of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge bike race, which rolled into Telluride on August 20th.  According to race organizers, 1 million spectators watched this thrilling race statewide, and the economic impact for the state of Colorado totalled $99.6 million, up from $83.5 million in 2011, the race's inaugural year. 

For more information on this, or Telluride area homes, condos or land, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Telluride Named #5 Ski Resort by Ski Magazine - Up 5 Spots From #10!

From Ski Magazine (www.skinet.com):
 
Up five spots from #10 in 2012, Telluride is on the move. This year's top resort better not get too comfortable.
By Greg Fitzsimmons
posted: 09/28/2012
 
Who books a ski vacation based on scenery alone? Folks who’ve been to Telluride, that’s who. Sitting inside a breathtaking box canyon in the San Juan Mountains, surrounded by stunning peaks, Telluride (No. 1 for Scenery) has readers raving. “It is the most scenic resort I have ever skied.” While getting there is a challenge, those willing to make the trip are rewarded with a quaint mountain town coupled with world-class skiing. One reader hits the nail on the head: “It’s a pain to get to, but that’s really a plus.” Be one of the relative few to make the haul and you’ll find a top-notch array of accommodations, dining, and shops along the main drag, Colorado Avenue, with a grid of side streets boasting more finds and earning the resort its No. 2 Character rank. On the mountain, steep, tight chutes and open, rock-littered bowls satiate gung-ho big-mountain skiers, while winding groomers are on hand for families. Or join the locals and take to one of Telluride’s bootpacks. “Amazing destination, has it all.”

On-Hill Lunch >> Bon Vivant’s 40-foot umbrella provides a tasty refuge at the top of the Polar Queen express (Chair 5). The French country fare includes duck confit and elk-sausage cassoulet. 

Bragging Rights>> Palmyra Peak boasts 2,000 vertical feet of skiing into Revelation Bowl; gold Hill Chutes reward hikers with aesthetic lines and tight couloirs; Bald Mountain is a great option for an intro to hike-to terrain.

Don’t Miss>> Commuting in Telluride is as cool as it gets; free gondolas are the transportation between downtown and the slopeside Mountain Village. Rich in character, downtown Telluride is a snapshot of the good old days, while Mountain Village is refined and modern. For the party-hearty, the free gondola runs until midnight.

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

New Air Service From Allegiant to Fly Directly To Telluride From Oakland and Phoenix

Allegiant Air has just introduced new non-stop flights into Montrose, Colorado (65 miles from Telluride) from Phoenix/Mesa, Arizona and San Francisco/Oakland, California.  The flights will begin on December 15th, 2012, and fares will start at $82.99 one way from Mesa and $112.99 one way from Oakland.  These flights will be available on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

For more information on this or Telluride area luxury real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, September 24, 2012

From The Denver Post: Colorado Resort Sales On The Rebound

Rise in Colorado resort real estate sales in 2012 fueling hope of rebound


Posted:   09/21/2012 12:01:00 AM MDT
By Jason Blevins
The Denver Post

The real estate market in Colorado's high country is finally stabilizing as it emerges from the darkness of the past three years — although sales at the highest end remain soft.

Sales in six of Colorado's seven resort-anchored regions are up year-to-date over last year, rising a combined 2.8 percent through July. But sales remain a fraction of the peak boom times seen in 2007, when Routt, Eagle and Pitkin counties each surged past $1 billion in sales by the end of July.

Those heady days may be gone, but steady sales so far this year indicate a rebound from 2009, when the high-country real estate market hit bottom. The new normal is sitting well with brokers ready to get off the roller coaster.

"I think we are finally recovering noticeably. Yeah!" Telluride broker George Harvey said.

Telluride's San Miguel County saw its real estate market fall from a peak of $442 million in sales in 2007 to $118 million in 2009 as resort-area buyers stopped spending at the nadir of the recession.

 
Read more: Rise in Colorado resort real estate sales in 2012 fueling hope of rebound - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_21596305/rise-colorado-resort-real-estate-sales-2012-fueling-hope-rebound#ixzz27QSuw02C
For more information on Colorado and Telluride area resort real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Two More Properties Successfully Sold at Luxury Auction by Telluride Real Estate Corp. and Concierge Auctions



TELLURIDE, Colo., Sept. 10, 2012 -- Saturday was an exciting one for NYC-based Concierge Auctions, as the firm announced the successful auction of two ski condominiums in the upscale community See Forever Village. 18 bidders participated as they vied for the best purchasing opportunities in Telluride's Mountain Village. The properties raise Concierge's tally of successful transactions in the Telluride, Colorado area to four properties in only three months. The auctions were conducted in cooperation with T.D. Smith of Telluride Real Estate Corp, an exclusive affiliate of Christie's International Real Estate.

"We began interviewing auction companies over two years ago and at first were unsure about the absolute platform. Selling absolute is certainly a risk; however, if done in a calculated manner with the right company, it is much more powerful than selling with reserve. The process brought forth buyers from all over the world, including dozens of CEOs, entrepreneurs and investors, many of whom were not even familiar with Telluride," stated the seller, John Abrams. "The Concierge team was professional and fulfilled its commitments. We were the first to test the auction platform for multiple condominium residences in this market, and Concierge's sophistication was the right choice."

The Concierge Auctions advertising and sales campaigns generated 1,354 inquiries and 3,401 website visitors from all US states and 34 international countries. 18 bidders participated in the sale. The winning buyers are from Connecticut and Maryland and are represented by Garrett Simon and Marty Stetina, both of Telluride Real Estate Corp.

"The response to the auction exposure was tremendous. We received 107 inquiries in the first day alone," stated Smith. "My sales team worked in close concert with the Concierge Auctions' project managers and directors to ensure every prospect received a prompt answer to their inquiry, was familiarized with the properties and understood the auction terms. We view the Concierge process as a stronghold tactic for our agents to offer their clients and look forward to working together again soon."

Condo units 127 and 128 at 117 Sunny Ridge Place each include three bedrooms and four bathrooms. They were sold fully furnished and are ideal for either personal use or as vacation rentals. The condominium building is adjacent to the Peaks Resort & Spa and is a short, heated cobblestone walk from the ski slopes.
"Following our closings last month of the Pa Gomo estate, which was the highest sale in Telluride in the past five years, and another ski-in/ski-out luxury cabin in Mountain Village, we are thrilled to continue our momentum in the Telluride market," stated Laura Brady, Vice President of Marketing for Concierge Auctions. "The area has officially joined our repertoire of premier target mountain resorts that have benefitted time and again from our process -- to the likes of Aspen, Colorado, Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Big Sky, Montana, among others."

If you or someone you know is interested in selling a remarkable luxury property through Concierge Auctions, call 888.966.4759 or visit ConciergeAuctions.com.

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com

Thursday, September 13, 2012

According to the Telluride Daily Planet, Telluride's Real Estate Market Continues to Strengthen

Telluride represents the strongest market in the county

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Tuesday, September 11, 2012 6:08 AM CDT
This year, housing sales have had mixed results in Colorado’s resort communities, but since March Telluride’s market has remained relatively strong.

While most Telluride realtors welcome the positive numbers, they are approaching the future with a cautious optimism. Since April, the average dollar amount of housing sales per month in Telluride has been up roughly 30 percent over last year, according to real-estate broker TD Smith.

Smith said he has seen the most sales activity in the Town of Telluride, which he said is good news for the rest of the area. However, resort communities in Colorado have seen a range of sales numbers both good and bad. According to real-estate broker George Harvey, housing sales this year were up around 12 percent in Vail, but were down 12 percent in Aspen.

“The resort markets in general are still a little fickle,” Harvey said. “But I’m very pleased to see that Telluride has got a least a short positive trend going.”


Out of all home sales in Telluride this summer, 25 units were sold for more than $1 million and 14 were sold for more than $2 million, according to Smith. During August, around 35 properties were sold or changed hands in the county, which is up from 25 during August of last year, San Miguel County warranty deeds show.

“We’ve reached a level where pricing has stabilized, and I think there’s a significant amount of investors with excess capital and very few places to put it,” Smith said. “They’re investing — not necessarily because they think prices are going to go up significantly, but because they’re ready for a change in lifestyle.”

Generally, single family home prices in Telluride tend to be less expensive than Mountain Village, but both towns have about the same number of units on the market — around 65, Harvey said. While he cautioned the small sample size and wide range of difference in the houses available, Harvey estimates the average price of a home in Telluride is around $1.5 million, while Mountain Village is around $2.5 million.

As far as who is buying property in the area, realtors say a wide range of buyers from many different parts of the country are looking at property in the region.

Ed Andrews of Andrews Real-Estate Inc. said he has had a busy summer, in part, he thinks, because of better pricing than in years past. He said he has been talking to everyone from doctors to business people.

“I’ve worked with people from Texas, Arizona, California and Virginia, so they’re really coming from everywhere,” Andrews said. “It’s just a wide array [of buyers], you can’t just put your thumb and say XYZ — they’re just from a really wide variety of backgrounds and locations. People, I think, have discovered that Telluride is one of the more beautiful places in the country.”


Other housing units, such as condominiums, have also seen better sales numbers since April, however specifics were not available. The long-term rental market has remained strong with low cost rentals in demand. However, the rental market tends to follow seasonal trends.

“If you look at Telluride, the sale of single family homes last year and especially this year is very, very strong,” Stewart Seeligson, president of the Telluride Association of Realtors, said. “Since the pullback in 2008-2009, all segments [of the market] in Mountain Village and Telluride have experienced recovery. But each segment is operating and recovering at its own particular pace.”


For more information on Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Coming This Weekend: The 39th Annual Telluride Film Festival

Excerpted from www.telluridefilmfestival.org:

"Each Labor Day weekend, the tiny mountain village of Telluride, Colorado triples in size. Swells of passionate film enthusiasts flood the town for four days of total cinematic immersion, embarking on a viewing odyssey, blissfully spending entire days in flickering dark rooms. With only an appreciation of celluloid to guide them, these devotees flock to the show, year after year. Why? Blind faith. We don’t reveal the program until everyone lands in town. Yet the Telluride family trusts that a unique experience will unfold.

The Telluride Film Festival is not just a picture show. It is tributes to luminaries who've propelled the medium forward; it is candid discussions with a film’s creator or the historian who champions it; it is discovering that the person in line behind you made the film you just enjoyed; it is engaging in lively debate with every manner of film lover in the summer sun of a Colorado afternoon, always minutes away from a new exhibition. Our audiences were the first in the world to laugh with JUNO, to observe THE LIVES OF OTHERS, to visit BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, to learn the secret of THE CRYING GAME, to experience BLUE VELVET, and to witness THE CIVIL WAR. We resurrected the silent epic NAPOLEON, and highlighted the genius of animator Chuck Jones.

We take great pains to remain not a competition, but a celebration of the best in film — past, present and future — from all around the world. This is one weekend immersed in an unabashed carnival of film: viewing, breathing, eating, and talking cinema. This is The SHOW. "

All of us at Telluride Real Estate Corp. are looking forward to a busy weekend of film-watching, discussion and review.  For more information on this or Telluride area homes, condos or land, please contact us at 970.728.6655, 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com and www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Monday, August 27, 2012

Monthly Real Estate Sales In Telluride Up As Much As 49% in 2012

After an excellent winter in Telluride with over 17 feet of snow and an uptick in both retail sales and skier days, the real estate marketplace began to gain momentum in March with a 40% increase in gross dollar sales over the same month in 2011.  Sales in April – July increased at 18%, 21%, 49% and 34%, respectively.   It certainly seems that momentum is gaining in our marketplace. 

On another very positive note, over $77M is currently under contract which bodes well for the balance of the summer selling season. 67 properties sold or contracted YTD are over $1M with 37 between $2M - $13.2M ($4.6M average), so it appears as the upper end of the market is experiencing a bit of a revival.

During the past 12 months, the Town of Telluride seemingly has been the market leader with 25 sales over $1M, 14 sales above $2M, 7 sales between $2.9M - $6M and those seven sales averaged $1,097 PSF. The Telluride Mountain Village Market continues to present excellent buyer opportunities with 67 homes currently in market above $1M.  The Mountain Village experienced 32 transactions over $1M during the same period, 17 of those transactions were between $2M - $12.5M.
While Historic Telluride is experiencing appreciation, the balance of the market segments have stabilized, but are not inflating as of yet.  Historically speaking, the Town of Telluride has been the leading indicator for our marketplace after economic downturns.  There are extraordinary opportunities in the overall market at 25% - 30% discounts off of pre-recession pricing. 
For more information on Telluride real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, 970.728.6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Friday, August 24, 2012

Telluride Airport Planning Improvements, Including Runway Approaches

From The Telluride Daily Planet:

Telluride Regional Airport has challenging runway terrain

By Collin McRann
Staff Reporter
Published: Friday, August 24, 2012 9:30 AM CDT
With a recently approved $500,000 transportation grant, the Telluride Regional Airport has started planning some airport improvements — specifically new runway approaches.

Improved approaches could allow slightly bigger 76-seat planes to land at the airport. While much of the plan is still pending, the airport has been working with the Federal Aviation Administration and an airline on the project. If things go as planned, the approaches could be in service by winter 2013.

During Thursday’s Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization meeting, Airport Manager Richard Nuttall outlined the project thus far. He said the airport has difficult terrain to work with, and the design stage of the project might present challenges.

“The process takes a long time,” Nuttall said. “We’re still about a year out — designing, developing and publishing [details] for an approach. So the target date is an October publication date of next year. If that’s the case, then we should hopefully be able to start service with in the winter of 2013-2014.”


The grant was awarded earlier this month and is to be used over a two-year period to help the airport attract new service.

If things go as planned, the airport would like see a trial period take place with just two of the larger planes landing at the airport per week. The planes are likely to fly from the West Coast, specifically Los Angles — though everything is preliminary.

TMRAO Director Scott Stewart said the trial period plan could work because most flight schedules are set during the summer. He said by next summer airport officials will know if such a plan is possible.

Nuttall said the two flights per week plan is ideal because the airport would not have to add any infrastructure to its existing terminal.

“We don’t want to make a huge investment and then after four months they decide they don’t want to come back,” Nuttall told the board. “So if we do this test over the winter and that’s successful and they all want to come back and increase their flights, then we go ahead and do the improvements in the summer and be ready for the next season.”

The airport should know by June of next year if the plan is progressing enough to see the trial period happen by fall.


The grant’s language requires the airport to have something executed within a 12-month period. The airport also plans to have a status report done by January and possibly an airline contract by June.

For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-3111, 970-728-6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com and www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

TREC's Office Makes the News (In Pictures)!

In a recent article on CBS4 Denver's website, a photo showing the crowds on the rooftops of Telluride during the recent USA Pro Cycling Challenge Stage 1 finish in Telluride is none other than Telluride Real Estate Corp's rooftop!  Full story below:

TELLURIDE, Colo. (CBS4) – The first stage of the USA Pro Challenge is in the books. The 700-mile race across Colorado started inDurangohttp://images.intellitxt.com/ast/adTypes/icon1.png Monday morning and took the riders to Telluride.
Organizers say the race is already bringing a lot of visitors to the state and somewhere close to one million people are expected to watch.
One couple from Castle Rock said they are planning to follow the race all week. But some business owners say the large crowds didn’t directly mean good business.
For Pam De Jong, her day started around dawn, planning to get the perfect seat near the finish.
“We didn’t have to be here that early, the next people next to us were here about 8 a.m.,” De Jong said. ‘They’ll be sprinting right past here, so we’ve got our cowbells ready.”
With about an hour left before the finish, a grassy park near the finish line with the race on a large TV was fairly vacant.
“It’s actually a little disappointing. I was expecting more people to be here,” a spectator said.
Nearby at a bike shop, oddly, not too many people had stopped in Monday.

Fans in Telluride during Stage 1 of the USA Pro Challenge — from Durango to Telluride — on Aug. 20, 2012. (credit: CBS)
“For local businesses it’s really been a bit of a mystery. We haven’t known what to expect. We did call around to some local shops that had the Pro Cycling Tour come through last year and they actually let us know it was the slowest day of their year,” Summer Colt with Telluride Life Cycles said.
Another business owner said it was the slowest day of the year for her. But the restaurants and hotels said Monday was something to cheer about.
“Probably 5,000 to 8,000 people, I would guess. Hotels are full, restaurants are packed, so it’s been great,” Ray Farnsworth with the New Sheridan Hotel said.
Many say it’s the worldwide TV exposure that will have the longest lasting economic impact.
A TV cameraman in Telluride during Stage 1 of the USA Pro Challenge — from Durango to Telluride — on Aug. 20, 2012. (credit: CBS)
“This is an incredible feather in our cap as a state to get the world to see Colorado,” Gov. John Hickenlooper said.
“Telluride lives for these types of activities,” Telluride Mayor Stu Fraser said.
Fraser said it is the biggest event he’s seen hosted in town.
“It’s extremely important for our economy. It is very important for the state of Colorado and the town of Telluride,” he said.
Telluride was a part of the state that got left out of having a stage last year.



For more information on this or Telluride area real estate, including homes, condos and land, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, 970.728.6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com and www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.