From The Telluride Watch: TEX Receives Improved Weather Forecast Service

TEX Receives Improved Weather Forecast Service

by Samuel Adams

Dec 29, 2013 | 213 views | 0  | 12  |  | 

TELLURIDE – Every holiday season, visitors flock to Telluride to ski, and many arrive here through the Telluride Regional Airport, TEX. But with the region’s snowy December and frigid temperatures, landing at or departing from the Telluride airport – the highest in North America – can be a tricky procedure, given its short runway and variable winter weather conditions.

This month, TEX began receiving Thermal Aerodrome Forecasts, or TAFs, a service provided by the National Weather Service. Every six hours, TEX receives a detailed TAF forecast, specific to a five-mile radius around the runway. TAFs provide TEX with accurate accounts of such variables as wind speed and direction, visibility, precipitation and wind shear.

TEX air traffic control staff receives the reports from the NWS, and then relays the latest information about weather conditions to pilots.

Since the airport began receiving TAFs, airport operators and pilots have been able to make better weather planning decisions, said TEX Manager Rich Nuttall.

“Additional weather forecasts we receive, coupled with the advanced radar coverage that went into operation this past summer, are continued improvements that will help our airport,” he added.

This summer, TEX installed wide-area multilateration systems, which offer improved radar capabilities for air traffic control, which help to better-predict weather changes. 

NWS meteorologist Jim Pringle is enthusiastic about TEX’s recent improvements in weather prediction, thanks to the TAFs. “Some of the smaller regional airports that don’t have access to TAFs can’t anticipate all these variables in the weather that are essential to safe flying,” Pringle said.

While TAF reports contain much crucial information, the most important is probably its updates on wind shear, specifically regarding the way in which the wind’s speed is changing and its direction over the runway.

“What’s so important about TAFs is that they [detect] wind shear near the runway and report [it] to the airport,” Pringle said. Without TAFs, he explained, “the airport doesn’t know about wind shear until a pilot tells them.” 

Telluride Real Estate Corp. can be reached at www.telluriderealestatecorp.com, 970-728-6655, or email info@telluriderealestatecorp.com. 

From The Telluride Watch: Four Telluride Athletes Vying For Olympic Spots

TELLURIDE – Just over six weeks remain until the Olympic torch arrives in Sochi, Russia, heralding the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics and carrying with it the aspirations of thousands of athletes from around the world.

The countdown to this winter’s Olympic Games is especially meaningful for four Telluride athletes, who are in striking distance of securing coveted invitations to compete at the pinnacle of the world’s winter sports competition. Mogulists Joe Discoe and Keaton McCargo, snowboarder Hagen Kearney, and freeskier Gus Kenworthy have all earned spots on the U.S. Ski or Snowboard Team this year, thus embarking upon a fast-paced few weeks of high-level competitions that could pave the way to Olympic Team berths.

Yet despite the hype surrounding the weeks leading up to the Winter Olympics, it’s business as usual for Telluride’s elite athletes, who each say they are tackling the competitive road ahead with the same goals in mind as they would in a non-Olympic winter. That is, to reach their own personal bests at every opportunity.

“You go to every single event thinking the same thing – that is, you want to win,” explains Discoe, who is a member of the U.S. Ski Team’s Freestyle Moguls B team and has been competing at the World Cup level since 2010. “So there hasn’t been a big change in how I’ve prepared for this year, even with it being an Olympic year, because I’m pushing myself to be the best and to try to work harder every season… although it does add a little more pressure.” 

Discoe’s pre-Olympics competitive schedule ramps up the first week in January with a World Cup event in Calgary, Canada. He has already burst onto the competitive stage with gusto this ski season, taking 11th place at last week’s World Cup event in Finland. That’s his best-ever start to the competitive season, he says, and comes on the heels of a succession of significant finishes last season – among them, taking his first career World Cup podium finish at Inawashiro, Japan, and going on to earn gold in dual moguls at the 2013 U.S. Championships.

Kearney, who is a member of the U.S. Snowboardcross team and has been competing in World Cup events for the past two seasons, also says that he plans to tackle each coming race as its own distinct event, and not necessarily as a precursor to a potential Olympics start. “At the end of the day, all of these competitions are potential Olympics qualifiers. So that’s good to know. But once I’m in the starting gate, all of that goes out the window,” he says, adding that he expects the competitive pressure to build as the calendar gets closer to February 7, the first day of the 2014 Olympics.

Kearney says he is entering this season with more confidence than in years past thanks to the momentum he is carrying from last season, which culminated in a top-ten finish at the season finale World Cup in Spain. He also celebrated a first-ever World Cup SBX team win last winter as well.

Newer to the professional circuit is Telluride teenager McCargo, who made it onto the U.S. Ski Team’s radar last season with her two NorAm Cup wins and three NorAm podium finishes (the NorAm Cup tour is one competitive level below World Cup.)  She finished last winter on a high note, winning both single moguls and dual moguls at the FIS Junior World Championships in Valmalenco, Italy.

As a member of the U.S. Ski Team’s Freestyle Moguls C Team, McCargo says her sights are set on earning a starting spot at upcoming World Cup events. She’ll have that chance this weekend, as she competes at the U.S. Selection Event in Winter Park. The event is used to qualify skiers to start in NorAm competitions and U.S. World Cups.

McCargo says she’s feeling confident, despite the added stress of being continually reminded that this winter marks an Olympic year. “I want to think I’m trying hard and doing my best at tackling this season like any other season,” she explains. “Now I’m in a good position to get on the World Cup, so that is my goal for now.”

Kenworthy, who is on the Freeskiing Halfpipe and Slopestyle Pro Team, will have his shot at winning an Olympic berth in coming weeks as well, as he embarks upon a fast and furious schedule of high-level freeskiing events. Four Olympic qualifying events remain before the U.S. Olympic freeskiing team will be named, with Kenworthy slated to start at one of those this weekend in Copper Mountain. He’s hoping to carry some momentum into this winter from his successful 2012-13 season, in which he won a Euro X Games bronze medal, won slopestyle at the SFP World Championships, and was ranked the top skier within the Association of Freesking Professionals for the third consecutive year.

While earning a U.S. Olympic Team berth will prove challenging for all of these athletes, requiring consistently spectacular results throughout the next five weeks of competition, the fact remains that having four athletes in the running for a Winter Olympics start speaks highly of Telluride’s reputation as the home of elite winter sports athletes. Kearney points to the local education system, which has historically been highly supportive of young athletes pursuing their athletic aspirations. The Telluride Ski Resort also deserves credit for breeding high-level competitors, he says, just by virtue of the terrain found here. Local ski programs, like the Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club, offer young athletes a tremendous springboard for establishing professional careers, he adds.

“Telluride is one of the best mountains in the United States, with some of the best coaches in the world and the most motivated kids,” McCargo said. “That, added with the support we get from the community, means the most to our success.”

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

16" Of Snow In Telluride In 48 Hours!

From the Telluride Ski Resort:

Over 7.5 feet of snow this season!

Telluride is starting the season with some of the best snow conditions in years. By the end of November, 75 inches of snow fell in Telluride, and already in the first week of December another 16 inches has been added to the total. All this snow has made more terrain open to the public earlier than in past years. Here's a breakdown of upcoming lift openings:

Plunge Lift (Lift 9) - This Saturday

Lift 9 will open for the season on Saturday with access via Telluride Trail to Lookout and the 4,5,6 Loop. See Forever and the 4,5,6 Loop will also re-open on Saturday morning.

Prospect Bowl, Lifts 10-14 - Saturday, Dec. 14th

Prospect Bowl, with lifts 12 and 14, will open for the season on Saturday, December 14th. Lift 10, with beginner and intermediate terrain accessed via Lifts 11 and 13, will also open on the 14th.

Oak Street (Lift 8) and Coonskin (Lift 7) - Saturday, Dec. 14th

Lift 8 will run daily from 9am to 1:30pm starting on December 14th. Lift 7 will open on December 14th and will run daily from 9am to 4pm.

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

From The Telluride Daily Planet: Telluride Resorts Rank High On Conde Nast Reader's Choice List

Readers’ choice list includes 10 area resorts

By Katie Klingsporn
Editor

Published: Sunday, November 10, 2013 8:06 AM CST

The guests have spoken: Telluride resorts are top shelf.

Condé Nast Traveler magazine recently released its annual Readers’ Choice Awards, which ranked, among other things, the Best Resorts in the West. On that list of 40 resorts in Colorado, Montana, Utah and Wyoming, Telluride-area facilities occupy 10 spots.

Fairmont Heritage Place, Franz Klammer Lodge is highest on the list, with a No. 3 ranking and score of 94.5. Lumiere Telluride trails close behind at No. 4 with a score of 94.2 and Dunton Hot Springs Resort comes in No. 12 with a score of 93.3.

Other area resorts that made the list: Inn at Lost Creek (No. 20), New Sheridan Hotel (22), Hotel Telluride (23), Camel’s Garden Hotel (25), Hotel Madeline (26), The Peaks Resort and Spa (34) and Mountain Lodge (38).

Guests rated properties on their service, location, design, food, activities and rooms.

Telluride resorts on the list run the gamut from historic properties in downtown Telluride to boutique luxury inns at the base of the ski area to large, modern facilities in the Mountain Village Core. They join well-known Western resorts such as Jenny Lake Lodge in Grand Teton National Park, Wyo., Aspen’s Little Nell and the Four Seasons Resort in Vail.

Local hotel representatives say the rankings provide validation of the work they do to make sure their guests are treated with top-notch service.

The Franz Klammer’s rating of 94.5 points out of 100 illustrates the commitment of the facility to provide excellent service as well as personal connections with its guests, said Ivan Osorio, general manager for the resort.

“The recognition is truly a testament to the quality and dedication of our staff who take pride in making sure each resident feels valued and pampered, while exposing them to all that Telluride has to offer,” he said.

The Franz Klammer, which is located in the Mountain Village Core, provides amenities like complimentary valet parking, ski valet, transportation and access to the property’s spa. It’s amenities like that, along with an effort to make guests really feel at home, that Osario said sets the Franz Klammer apart.

“It is our goal to make each resident feel as though they’re coming home,” he said. “We are honored to be recognized.”

Mike Munno, the manager of the Camel’s Garden, a well established hotel at the base of Lift 8 in Telluride, said he thinks that being a locally owned property with a stable staff of long-time employees helps create a good experience for guests, which likely helped it win the accolade.

“It’s wonderful, there’s no doubt about that,” Munno said of the Camel’s Garden ranking. “We’re psyched.”

Munno also noted the significant representation of Telluride facilities on the list reflects a high level of service overall in the area.

Jim Mikula, the executive vice president at Telluride Ski & Golf Company (which operates the Inn at Lost Creek) echoed that sentiment.

Considering that the awards cover a large four-state region, he said, the one-in-four representation of Telluride resorts is telling of the area’s lodging standards.

“It’s very exciting for the destination,” Mikula said. “It’s a great testament to the quality of the hoteliers and the general managers of this town.”

Mikula noted that the Inn at Lost Creek, a small luxury boutique inn with just 32 rooms, has consistently made the list.

“We’re very proud of it,” he said. “It’s quite an accomplishment, it’s only a 32-room inn and we are competing against the Little Nells of the world.”

He credited the inn’s amenities, such as steam showers and fireplaces in each room, as well as the intimate feel of the hotel, the careful attention of the staff and the beauty of the area, for helping with the ranking.

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.

New Leadership at Telluride Ski Resort

TELLURIDE SKI & GOLF RECRUITS NEW LEADERSHIP

TELLURIDE, Colorado (November 6, 2013) - As Telluride Ski Resort prepares for the 2013-14 ski season, some new faces will be stepping in to help lead this top ranked resort of North America. After an in-depth search for professionals to oversee several departments and the direction of the company, Telluride Ski & Golf would like to welcome four seasoned veterans in the industry to Telluride.

Greg Pack will be joining Telluride Ski & Golf team as President and General Manager. Pack, a Colorado native, has spent the last 6 years of his career as the President/GM of Moonlight Basin Resort in Montana.  His primary responsibilities at Telluride will be to oversee operations and planning of ski, lodging, culinary service, marketing, guest services, spa and golf operations. Prior to his stint at Moonlight Basin, Pack worked for Intrawest as the Vice President and Managing Director of Mountain Creek Resort and Vail Resorts at Keystone and Breckenridge holding numerous positions including Mountain Manager and Director of Recreation. Pack has a strong background in customer service and has overseen all areas of ski area development and operations throughout his career. Serving on a number of boards including Red Cross, Economic Development Partnership, Chamber of Commerce, Airline Guarantee and Resort Master Associations, Pack has a well-rounded professional history. He brings with him his wife of 19 years, Sharon and their two daughters Alyssa (15) and Jessica (12). The family has a passion for the outdoors with a love for skiing, snowshoeing, rafting and other activities. Telluride is a great fit for the family and they are looking forward to becoming part of the community. Pack will begin November 19th.

Brad Larsen joins the team as the Vice President of Sales and Marketing on Wednesday, November 6th. Larsen was most recently the Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Sugarloaf where he led his team to achieve the NSAA Best Overall Marketing Campaign. Honed skills in the industry developed through his Sales and Marketing positions in Tahoe, Welch Village and Snowshoe. Larsen has extensive experience in all aspects of Sales and Marketing and will add his enthusiasm, energy and creativity to an already great team here in Telluride. Larsen grew up in Wisconsin and is an avid outdoorsman with a huge love for college football. His wife Sara and their two children Remy (5) and Harlow (2) have relocated to Telluride from Maine.

Robert Stenhammer will be the new Vice President of Hospitality for Telluride Ski & Golf.  During his nearly 20 years of extensive resort hospitality experience, Stenhammer has overseen the management of over 3,000 vacation rental properties, 40 homeowner associations, hotels, retail outlets, food and beverage, real estate and resort operations. He has previously worked for Vail Resorts, Intrawest, Wyndham Worldwide and is relocating from Hilton Head Island, SC where he served as a Director of the Hilton Head Chamber and Tourism Office Board and Chairman of the Town’s Accommodation Tax Committee. Stenhammer holds a BA in business from the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota and a MBA in Hospitality & Tourism from the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada. Relocating with his wife, Heidi, and daughters Samantha (14) and Mackenna (12), Stenhammer will begin on December 2nd.

Scott Clements has recently come on board as the Director of Ski Patrol and Risk Management from Durango where he held that same title since 2003 at Durango Mountain Resort. Clements started his career with the Forest Service and transitioned into the ski industry 28 years ago as a Ski Patroller and has been a Ski Patrol Director for 20 years. His experience in patrol, leadership and risk management will be a great asset to our team. Clements is working directly with Jason Rogers, Assistant Patrol Director, and Janice Todd, Risk Manager, to improve guest and employee safety throughout all aspects of the mountain. It has been a pleasure welcoming Scott to the team as he began work October 21. His wife, Kari, and two of three sons, Zachary (14) and Michael (13), will be joining Scott here in Telluride soon while their older son Keegan attends the University of Oregon.

Telluride Ski & Golf looks forward to working with these industry leaders as the start of the season rapidly approaches.

For more information, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com. 

From The Daily Planet: Another Record Summer For Telluride Occupancy

Another record summer for Telluride occupancy

September occupancy down, average daily rate up

By Heather Sackett
Associate Editor

Published: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 6:07 AM CDT

Telluride had another record summer lodging season, with the June through September core season inching ever closer to the 50 percent occupancy goal set by Telluride Tourism Board CEO Michael Martelon.

The data, compiled by DestiMetrics, shows a 2.7 percent occupancy rate increase over last summer, bringing the 2013 occupancy rate to 49.7 percent. June was up five points (12 percent), probably due to the Ride the Rockies event starting in Telluride, Martelon said. July was up four points (7 percent) and August was up one point (2 percent).

Had September’s occupancy not been down compared with last year, the region surely would have surpassed 50 percent occupancy for the core summer season. Martelon attributed the 2.3 percent decrease to the disastrous flooding on Colorado’s Front Range, which is a feeder market for the Telluride region. September 2013 occupancy was down from 44.3 percent to 41 percent. But September revenue was roughly the same as 2012 because the average daily rate that lodging properties charged was up about $13.

“When you are dealing with tragedy, the last thing you want to do is get in your car and drive to Telluride,” Martelon said. “And it stretched beyond because it was national news so it affected September.”

But occupancy rates don’t tell the whole story.

“If everyone comes here and fills the rooms, what does it do for food and beverage and what does it do for retail?” Martelon said.

According to Town of Telluride tax data, a 2.7 percent occupancy increase equals about $684,783 in money spent on lodging. Lodging represents about 34 percent of what people spend on a trip to Telluride, restaurants equal about 40 percent and retail and other is about 26 percent. That translates to about $2 million in growth across all segments for summer 2013, Martelon said.

“For me it’s a little bit of a beautiful thing,” Martelon said.

The results of the TTB’s fall Gold Season marketing campaign, which ended last week, are not yet known. But the all-digital effort had a click-through rate of .58 percent on its top-performing ad, well above the industry average of .1 percent.

The TTB is now gearing up to launch its winter marketing campaign this week. A deal inked last month between the TTB, Telluride Ski & Golf Company and Colorado Flights Alliance made Carbondale’s Backbone Media responsible for the placement of all three organizations’ advertisements for the winter season.

Martelon estimates the three-way merger of marketing dollars means the organizations will spend about three times as much on winter marketing as they do on summer marketing. Martelon said Colorado Flights Alliance has also added about 5 percent more seats this winter on their legacy carriers (American, United and Delta) between Montrose and major markets like Chicago, Dallas and Atlanta. Allegiant Air will also offer flights between Montrose and Los Angeles for the first time.

According to DestiMetrics, winter bookings so far are flat to down 2 points. But travel industry experts are predicting that people will travel more this winter, so Telluride’s job is to grab more of that market, Martelon said.

“There’s no alarm to be sounded, but we are down a couple of points,” he said. “The hope is that the marketing plan is going to solve that. And of course snow.”

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

From The Telluride Daily Planet: Telluride's Marketing To Increase Threefold

Three times the marketing

TTB, Telski and CFA collaborate to bring more winter tourism

By Collin McRann
Staff reporter

Published: Thursday, September 26, 2013 6:06 AM CDT

This winter, the area’s marketing push will be a combined effort by three major tourism organizations, which officials say will create more efficiency and exposure.

The deal, which was announced on Monday, now makes Carbondale-based Backbone Media responsible for the placement of much of the area’s advertisements for the winter season. The Telluride Tourism Board, Telluride Ski & Golf Company and Colorado Flights Alliance all came together to sign a contract with Backbone.

The deal is similar to what other regional organizations have been doing to bring consistency to marketing efforts.

In addition, the Telluride Regional Airport decided last month to work more closely with Telski on its marketing.

“It’s going to be a more efficient use of monies, and we should be able to target our markets better by doing this,” said Tom Watkinson, director of communications at Telski. “In the past, it was sort of an unspoken agreement that Telski would cover the winter marketing, and the Tourism Board had the other seasons. But that’s changed in recent years.”

Telski, TTB and CFA will each produce their own creative content for the winter campaign, but common branding and messaging will tie the ads together. Winter ads are slated to launch on Nov. 1.

According to a TTB press release, the winter marketing campaign will include digital banner ads delivered to computers, mobile devices and tablets. And Watkinson said Telski has earmarked additional money for ads in print publications.

The release states that by pooling advertising dollars together, it will result in a more extensive winter campaign by creating buying power and allowing each organization to focus on specific markets without competing or duplicating efforts.

In the release, TTB president Michael Martelon called the partnership unprecedented. He said all three entities have the same goal, which is to bring as many guests to Telluride as possible.

“We are excited that the ski resort has embraced this collaboration,” Martelon said in the release. “Telski provided invaluable data from past winter guests for the data analytics that will play into this very targeted and strategic winter marketing plan.”

Martelon made presentations last week to the Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association and the Mountain Village Town Council about the new marketing campaign.

During the presentations he outlined how different ads will be placed. Ads promoting Telluride will be on everything from Pandora, an Internet music streaming service, to electric billboards in New York City’s Times Square.

Some of the ads focus on flights that connect the area to major cities.    

As flights into the area are a vital part of bringing people to Telluride, the Colorado Flights Alliance is a critical part of winter marketing. CFA Chief Operating Officer Matt Skinner said in an email that there have been prior efforts to coordinate marketing, but the newest effort is the first to center around combined data.

“This is a great next step in collaborative marketing efforts for the destination,” Skinner wrote. “In a competitive industry, we need to be more targeted and more effective with the resources we have, and combining our programs to such a specific level will put us a step ahead.”

The CFA also works with regional communities such as Montrose and Crested Butte to bring more people in on flights. And Telski collaborates with Crested Butte as well as other ski resorts to offer ski pass deals.

“It’s just a smart use of money,” Watkinson said.

For more information on this or 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. 

From The Daily Planet: Telluride Real Estate Sales Surge in August

Real estate sales surge in August

Busy sales follow slow start to the year

By Collin McRann
Staff reporter

Published: Thursday, September 12, 2013 6:26 PM CDT

After a slower than average start to the year, real estate sales picked up in a big way  in August. 

Through the first seven months of the year, the number of sales was down around 13 percent from 2012 while the dollar volume of sales was down  10 percent, according to numbers compiled by Telluride Consulting. But August brought a major boost; the number of sales for the month was up 23 percent from August of 2012 while the dollar volume was up 56 percent. With the August activity, the number of sales for the year is now down only 7 percent from last year and the dollar volume is back to even.

Local realtors are optimistic that things could pick up again in September, but say it’s too early to predict.

According to Judi Kiernan, who owns Telluride Consulting, the August numbers were a big boost for the year.

“One month can make a huge difference because we are such a small market and the news [about August] is a big contrast to July,” Kiernan said, but added that “one month does not a trend make.

“I don’t think there’s actually a reason, I think it’s as random as last month’s poor performance,” she said.

In all, 48 sales were made in August, up from 38 last year and it was best August since 2007. The dollar volume of the sales totaled $46.9 million, up from $30.1 million in August of 2012. It came on the heels of a poorly performing July, which saw 27 sales, down from 34 in July of 2012. The dollar volume for the month was down 43 percent compared with   July of 2012, meanwhile.

Kiernan said about $10 million of the August sales came from condominiums in Mountain Village and another $6.5 million came from land transfers in Telluride.

In Telluride three significant separate land transfers were from Telluride Zoline Properties to the Telluride Transfer Company. The properties are located in what is known as the four corners neighborhood of town, which includes the property south of Village Market across the street.

Real estate broker George Harvey agreed with Kiernan that he would like to see three to four months of strong sales before drawing any conclusions. But he said the poor sales in July included everything from residential homes to condominiums and commercial properties in both Mountain Village and Telluride.

In July, Mountain Village saw the biggest decline, but with August’s numbers, things are looking better for the town.

Another real estate broker, Dirk de Pagter, said September through October is traditionally a strong selling period.

De Pagter also said he thinks a more accurate picture of the market for the year will emerge by mid-October.

Last year was a good year for local real estate as dollar volume was up between 20 and 30 percent over 2011 and the number of sales was also up between 15 and 20 percent. So far, according to Telluride Consulting, total real estate sales in the area for the year through July are 255 units sold; last year at the same time it was 275.

Three areas broadly define local real estate, Harvey said: Telluride, Mountain Village and surrounding areas in the county such as the mesas and other subdivisions.

“The old town of Telluride is a limited product. It is surrounded on four sides where there can’t be any development, so in a certain sense it’s a very predictable market,” Harvey said. “Then you’ve got the Town of Mountain Village which is spread out more, with bigger homes, more condominiums, more vacant lots and land — a completely different product. But right now Mountain Village has a little too much inventory, it’s going to take some time to absorb that for prices to rebound in my opinion.”

Harvey said he has seen the cycle of local real estate go up and down before. He said other resort markets in Colorado such as Aspen, Vail and Steamboat have all been performing better than Telluride this year. But he thinks it is a good time to be a buyer with everything that’s on the market.

“[The numbers are] a good sign, and we would love it to be a good trend, but the good news is it’s the best August we’ve had since the huge spike in 2007,” Kiernan said.

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

Telluride Film Festival Announces Lineup

0th Telluride Film Festival is proud to present the following new feature films to play in its main program, the ‘SHOW’: 

• ALL IS LOST (d. J.C. Chandor, U.S., 2013)

• BEFORE THE WINTER CHILL (d. Philippe Claudel, France, 2013)

• BETHLEHEM (d. Yuval Adler, Israel, 2013)

• BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR (d. Abdellatif Kechiche, France, 2013)

• BURNING BUSH (d. Agnieszka Holland, Czech Republic, 2013)

• DEATH ROW: BLAINE MILAM + ROBERT FRATTA (d. Werner Herzog, U.S., 2013)

• FIFI HOWLS FROM HAPPINESS (d. Mitra Farahani, U.S., 2013)

• THE GALAPAGOS AFFAIR: SATAN CAME TO EDEN (d. Dan Geller, Dayna Goldfine, U.S., 2013)

• GLORIA (d. Sebastián Lelio, Chile, 2013)

• GRAVITY (d. Alfonso Cuarón, U.S./U.K., 2013)

• IDA (d. Pawel Pawlikowski, Poland, 2013)

• INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (d. Joel and Ethan Coen, U.S., 2013) 

• THE INVISIBLE WOMAN (d. Ralph Fiennes, U.K., 2013)

• LABOR DAY (d. Jason Reitman, U.S., 2013)

• THE LUNCHBOX (d. Ritesh Batra, India, 2013)

• LA MAISON DE LA RADIO (d. Nicolas Philibert, France, 2013)

• MANUSCRIPTS DON’T BURN (d. Mohammad Rasoulof, Iran, 2013)

• THE MISSING PICTURE (d. Rithy Panh, Cambodia/France, 2013)

• NEBRASKA (d. Alexander Payne, U.S., 2013)

• PALO ALTO (d. Gia Coppola, U.S., 2013)

• THE PAST (d. Asghar Farhadi, France/Italy, 2013)

• SLOW FOOD STORY (d. Stefano Sardo, Italy, 2013)

• STARRED UP (d. David Mackenzie, U.K., 2013)

• TIM’S VERMEER (d. Teller, U.S., 2013)

• TRACKS (d. John Curran, Australia, 2013)

• UNDER THE SKIN (d. Jonathan Glazer, U.K., 2013)

• THE UNKNOWN KNOWN (d. Errol Morris, U.S., 2013)

Additional Sneak Previews may play outside the main program and will be announced over the course of the five-day weekend.

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.

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY EYEING MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS ACADEMY EYEING MOUNTAIN VILLAGE

Town & Ski Resort in preliminary discussions with NLI-Springbok to bring a sports academy & college preparatory school to Mountain Village

MOUNTAIN VILLAGE, COLO. – August 26, 2013 – The Town of Mountain Village is working with representatives of The Next Level Institute -Springbok International School & Sports Academy (NLI-Springbok) and Telluride Ski & Golf Company (TSG) on the right location for a winter sports academy and college preparatory school for up to 500 student-athletes. The school, along with athletic fields and a recreation facility, would be located in Mountain Village. According to NLI-Springbok, it is in the midst of narrowing its search for its winter campus location; Mountain Village is competing with Park City, Utah, and Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

NLI-Springbok began preliminary discussions with the Town of Mountain Village earlier this year and have worked closely with town officials to identify sites for the planned school, dormitory and recreation facility, which will be among the best in the state. Based on preliminary estimates, the NLI-Springbok Winter Sports Academy and College Preparatory School could potentially generate $30,000,000 of sustained economic development to the Telluride Region on an annual basis, and would create in excess of 75 new, full-time jobs.

In addition to the student-athletes attending the academy during the traditional academic year, from September to early June, the summer months will see an influx of summer students and family members who will ultimately provide economic stimulus to the region on a year-round basis.

“The opportunity to locate a world-class sports academy and its related recreational facilities in Mountain Village would be a great addition to our community,” says Mayor Dan Jansen. "We are working with the developer to see if the project is viable and if so, the community would get a world-class, year-round recreation facility without public investment. This will provide an economic development boost to the region, and specifically Mountain Village. We are doing everything we can to see if Mountain Village and the Telluride area is the right choice for their winter sports academy."

The planned recreation facility, a long-time need for the region, will house a full ice rink, indoor tennis courts, basketball court, a track and field area, indoor and outdoor fields, aquatic center, climbing wall, and a bowling alley, among several other amenities. The recreation facility will be owned and operated by the NLI-Springbok, and would be open to the public and regional visitors through annual, weekly and day passes.

Eric Wells is the director of development for NLI-Springbok’s Winter Operations. According to Wells, the recreation facility will also benefit local sporting clubs, like Telluride Ski and Snowboard Club and Telluride Soccer, by providing year-round training resources. He said local clubs like these will also grow in membership due to the additional student population.

“We see this as a great opportunity to create a very positive economic, social and cultural impact for the region on a long-term basis,” Wells explained. “We have been meeting with Mayor Dan Jansen and his team along with members of TSG for the past few months to see if we can make our plans work in Mountain Village. As of today, no decision has been made as to where we will locate our winter academy operations.”

Michael Martelon is the CEO and president of the Telluride Tourism Board. He said if NLI-Springbok chooses Mountain Village, the international resort destination marketing impact would be significant.

“Initial estimates put the international segment of the student body in the 25 percent range. Ultimately, that means 375 domestic and 125 international ambassadors of the region; add to that, the family and friends of those students and our word-of-mouth marketing starts to see some traction,” Martelon said. “There is simply no stronger marketing than word-of-mouth. An academy of this sort can be a major game-change for our destination and a tremendous boost for our marketing resources.”

NLI-Springbok is an international baccalaureate and advanced placement-accredited world-class college preparatory school for grades 7-12, delivering a collaborative, innovative and character-based learning environment through both an in-class and online educational model along with an interactive educational gaming model and athletic training and facilities. The mission of the not-for-profit NLI-Springtbok is to provide a world-class environment where student-athletes of all nationalities and skill levels can learn, grow, compete and succeed at their highest educational and athletic level.

The main NLI-Springbok campus will be located in Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and its Far East Extension Campus will be located in Eugene, Oregon.

For more information, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Upcoming Telluride Luxury Auction | Stand-Alone See Forever Cabin To Be Auctioned Without Reserve

On August 29th, Concierge Auctions, in cooperation with Telluride Real Estate Corp. and Christie’s International Real Estate, will host a luxury auction in Telluride, Colorado.  A 3-bedroom, 3,296-square-foot luxury stand-alone cabin in the See Forever complex will be auctioned without reserve.  The current asking price on this property is $3.9 million.

Concierge Auctions is the nation’s foremost luxury real estate auction firm. They’ve built a transparent, white glove service that helps buyers locate and purchase stunning, one-of-a-kind properties. They help sellers and agents of those homes market their properties globally, find qualified buyers and produce guaranteed transactions within 60 days. This is truly a one-of-a-kind opportunity, not to be missed.

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

Telluride Named The 8th Friendliest City in the US by Conde Nast Readers

It's official! Conde Nast readers named Telluride, Colorado the 8th friendliest city in the nation: http://www.cntraveler.com/daily-traveler/2013/07/travel-us-cities-charleston-newark-branson-friendly-unfriendly_slideshow_item2_3 For more information or to learn about real estate in Telluride, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

FESTIVAL PROFILE: TELLURIDE WINE FESTIVAL

FESTIVAL PROFILE:  TELLURIDE WINE FESTIVAL

Four-Day Festival Celebrates 32 Years in 2013

According to festival organizers, the Telluride Wine Festival is a weekend full of food, wine, cocktails, and fun, set against Telluride’s breathtaking backdrop. Festival-goers can choose from a multitude of activities, including wine tastings and seminars, cooking demonstrations, sumptuous dinners, lunches and other events. This year’s festival features local, national and international sommeliers, chefs and guest speakers.

For more information on this or Telluride area homes, condos and land, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-6655, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.

Steve Martin's Band To Replace Mumford And Sons At Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers with Edie Brickell have stepped up to replace Mumford & Sons at Telluride Bluegrass in Telluride, CO on Thursday night. The comedian and his bluegrass band will headline Thursday night's action at the long-running festival with a set scheduled to run from 10 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

Mumford & Sons had to cancel their Telluride appearance, along with other dates including a headlining slot at Bonnaroo, to allow bassist Ted Dwane to recover from emergency surgery.

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

From The Telluride Daily Planet: Lodging Numbers Looking Up This Summer

Lodging numbers looking up this summer

Telluride area growing as a summer destination

By Collin McRann
Staff reporter

Published: Sunday, June 16, 2013 6:06 AM CDT

It’s shaping up to be another busy summer in Telluride and Mountain Village as hotel bookings are up, and a full roster of festivals is on the way.

According to the Telluride Tourism Board, bookings are up over last summer. Compared with those made during May of last year, reservations for June, July and August are all ahead. That’s good news because last summer more people came and stayed in Telluride than the previous one and some records were broken.

Last May, local lodgers reported that around 33 percent of their rooms were booked for June, and this May bookings shot up to 38 percent. Though it’s just the beginning of summer, President of the TTB Michael Martelon said the outlook is good.

“If that pacing stays steady as we go, then we will have an opportunity to do better overall than last summer,” Martelon said. “Which of course was better than the summer before. We had a record summer last year in town.”

 

July’s bookings are looking good as well — up about five percentage points, and August is up around four points. And on top of the increase in reservations, the average daily rate (ADR) is also up. The ADR is a measure of the average amount charged for rooms in the region. Martelon said the predicted ADR for June is $215, up about $16. It is up $8 for July and $20 for August. Though September’s numbers are looking flat they could easily improve as the summer goes on.

Martelon said it’s hard to nail down a single reason for the increasing lodging numbers, but he said the area really sells itself. Along with the beautiful scenery of the San Juans, each festival brings its own set of visitors, and the Ride the Rockies event provided an extra boost this year. The tour started in Telluride on June 9 and brought thousands to town, and Martelon said some lodgers were fully booked, which is not common so early in the season.

At the New Sheridan Hotel on Colorado Avenue, summer has been in full swing since May.

“May was really strong for us, and this June is right on track, even up a little bit, from last year,” said Mike Johnson, manager of the New Sheridan Hotel, on Friday. “Bluegrass and Wine Festival are always really strong for us. And we just had a really strong early season with the bike tour. And this weekend there’s a couple weddings in town, and a lot of people are here for Jerry Joseph playing at the Opera House.”

Over the past few years there has been a lot of discussion in Telluride and Mountain Village about how to get occupancy rates up. There have been numerous suggestions, but in January the TTB, Telluride Ski & Golf and the Colorado Flights Alliance (formerly TMRAO) announced they would be collaborating to bring the average occupancy levels up to 50 percent within the next five years. The plan involves offering more flights to the region, new marketing efforts and other measures.

Officials are happy to see the numbers increasing and attribute it to a number of reasons.     

“Ultimately people are gravitating toward our destination,” Martelon said. “Why that is: It can be the marketing of the lodging properties, it can be the public relations push that we’ve been putting on for the past two years and it can be being ranked No.1 in ski resorts by the readers of Condé Nast.”

This summer, Martelon said the TTB will also be utilizing information it collected about its marketing from last summer to better target its efforts.

The Telluride Bluegrass Festival, which is set to begin on Thursday, is one of the busiest weeks of the year in Telluride.   

 

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

From The Telluride Watch: Telluride Farmer's Market Opens With a Slew of New Vendors

by Martinique Davis

Jun 06, 2013

 

TELLURIDE – Studies suggest some people experience a “shopper’s high” from purchasing things like chic dresses and new shoes but in Telluride, some get that serotonin release from buying kale and goat cheese.

Although the organizers of the Telluride Farmer’s Market have only empirical observations from which to base their assessments, their overwhelming consensus is that shopping at the Farmer’s Market actually does make people happier.

And why wouldn’t purchasing locally grown and organic foods and produce give shoppers the warm fuzzies? As Telluride Farmer’s Market Manager Ellie Greene will attest, there’s just something special about buying food from a local farmer.

“When people are considering whether they’re going to shop at a farmer’s market or at a regular retail grocery store, there’s a lot of issues that factor in – like how you’re supporting family farms, creating jobs in your area, supporting the ecosystem by reducing the greenhouse gases created from shipping food long distances… When you look at it, buying food at a farmer’s market is a 100 percent win-win situation. Plus, you have fun shopping, and that makes you happy.”

Whether shoppers flock to Telluride’s Oak Street every Friday for the thrill, or just to fill their shelves with some tasty organic food and local artisan crafts, the Telluride Farmer’s Market has indeed gained a faithful following in its 11 years in downtown Telluride. This Friday marks the start of the 2013 Telluride Farmer’s Market season when it opens at 11 a.m.

In addition to the slew of meat, cheese, produce, prepared food, and craft booths locals and visitors alike have come to know and love over the years, this year’s farmer’s market will also welcome a host of new vendors. Parker Pastures, beef and lamb producers from Gunnison, will have a larger presence this summer at the Market, while Norwood’s Pasture-Powered Meats (a new farm run by past Indian Ridge Farm intern Andrew Riedel) will offer pork products. Organic cheese-lovers will find their mecca, with two new cheese vendors joining the roster this year: Paonia’s Avalanche Cheese Company and Del Norte’s Lazy Ewe Two Bar Goat Dairy will both offer a wide selection of goat and cow, soft and hard cheeses.

While many of the market’s long standing produce vendors hail from the Paonia/Hotchkiss area, two new producers will join the market this year hailing from other regional locales. Colorado Culinary Gardens, which specializes in Asian greens, grows at high altitude from their gardens on Ridgway’s Log Hill Mesa, and Canyon of the Ancients will be another new vegetable producer located in Cortez.

Foodies can expect to see more lunch vendors this year as well, including Telluride local Drew Ludwig’s Fat Rabbit Salad Company, which will be tossing a variety of different fresh and local salads each week, while Paonia’s Skewer booth will be grilling up Japanese-style shish kabobs. Local Lara Young’s Elegant Elephant stand is bound to be a hit with the kids, as she serves up fruit smoothies, artisan sodas, and summer yummy popsicles.

Also new and kid-friendly will be Telluride-bred fairy craft guru Sara Doehrman’s Wings by Sara booth, where in addition to her fantastical fairy wings, crowns, and wands, kids will find weekly art and craft projects.

The Wilkinson Public Library will begin its summer of farmer’s market children’s programming starting June 14 and running through mid-August, with a special kid-friendly event every week at 11 a.m. Live musicians will also provide entertainment every afternoon from 12:30 to 3:30.

All told, the Telluride Farmer’s Market will boast over 60 vendors this year, running June 7 through October 11. The Market is looking for volunteers to help with an array of tasks on market day, who will be compensated with Market bucks; if interested, contact Greene at 970/433-4699, or stop by the TFM booth any Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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.

From The Telluride Watch: First Quarter Financials Show Strong Start to Year

TELLURIDE BRIEFS | First Quarter Financials Show Strong Start to Year

by Samantha Wright

May 28, 2013 

 

TELLURIDE – The Town of Telluride is well on its way to another healthy and possibly record sales tax year. Data for the first financial quarter show town coffers to be 10 percent ahead of last year for January, February and March in terms of sales tax income. 

January 2013 and February 2013, with $439,156 and $458,983 in sales tax revenues respectively, showed the second highest sales tax revenues for those months ever, while the month of March set a new record at $552,392, compared to $505,321 in 2012.

It’s beginning to look like a nice new trend. While 2012 got off to a light start, it turned out to be Telluride’s greatest sales tax year on record, with funds totaling almost $4.5 million, a 3 percent increase over 2011.

Business licenses in 2013 are ahead so far too, reported Town Finance Director Lynne Beck at last week’s Telluride Town Council meeting, partially because of the town’s recently adopted MUNIRevs system helps track both sales tax and business licenses remittance. 

Spending within the various town departments, meanwhile, is “right on for one quarter,” according to Beck’s report. Enterprise funds, as well, are on target for 25 percent of the budget. 

The only dim spots in Beck’s report related to property taxes, which, to date, have shown a substantial drop of 20 percent over last year, reflecting the market conditions of appraisals conducted two years ago at the bottom of the real estate slump, and Real Estate Transfer Tax revenues which are coming in below projections so far in 2013. 

Contributing to Telluride’s bumper crop of sales tax revenues in the first quarter of 2013 was the addition of the low-cost carrier Allegiant Air to the Colorado Flights Alliance (formerly Telluride- Montrose Regional Air Organization) suite of subsidized airfare into the region. “We would have had a flat number of airline seats had we not had Allegiant, which brought in 4,000 more bodies and contributed to the winter season,” said Councilor Chris Myers.

Those extra bodies significantly boost sales and lodging tax for the town.

Unfortunately, Allegiant has suspended service to the region for the summer season, but Myers said it is hoped that the carrier will serve the Montrose and Telluride region again next winter. 

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

From The Telluride Watch:

Report Suggests Another Strong Year in Real Estate

by Gus Jarvis

May 26, 2013

28-Year Market Analysis of Telluride Real Estate Published

TELLURIDE – A new 28-year market analysis, recently published by Telluride Consulting, offers a detailed review of the Telluride region’s cyclical real estate history and offers a positive outlook for 2013. 

Statistics compiled in the report suggest a positive real estate trend will continue after a strong 2012.

For the first time since the real estate market took a plunge in 2008, in the region encompassing Telluride, Mountain Village and San Miguel County, 2012 delivered positive news in both the number of sales and the dollar volume of those sales. According to Telluride Consulting’s Judi Kiernan, there was a 16 percent increase in the number of sales in 2012 and a 47 percent increase in the dollar volume of sales over the 2011 numbers.

For the past five years, the compound annual growth rate for the number of sales has increased 7 percent while the total dollar volume for those sales shows an annual growth rate of 2 percent. And despite a slow January, first quarter statistics indicate 2013 will be another positive year in both the number of sales and dollar volume of those sales. So far, 2013 sales and dollar volumes are close to first quarter statistics posted in 2012.

“Regional real estate activity, various economic indicators, as well as demographic trends, all strongly suggest a resurgence of strength in the Telluride market, despite the slow recovery of the national economy,” Kiernan states in the 71-page market analysis. “Certainly, areas within the region will continue to experience cycles, including declines and plateaus. However, based on data gathered over the past 28 years, combined with the promising signs of increased activity in 2012-2013, it appears that the Town of Telluride, Mountain Village and the remainder of San Miguel County can look forward to a renewal of strong real estate sales and healthy appreciation.”

Because the fourth quarter of 2012 ended on such a high note, broker George Harvey of the Harvey Team said he isn’t surprised that 2013 had a slow start in January. He’s encouraged, though, for the rest of the year as Telluride’s “feeder markets” around the country are booming, and those will eventually have a positive impact on Telluride and Mountain Village.

“I can tell you other resort markets in Colorado have been up and a little down this year, but that is coming off a very big end to last year,” Harvey said. “I will tell you that I am very upbeat for the rest of the year. Denver is booming. They have an inventory shortage and so do markets like Boulder and Fort Collins. Our feeder markets in Texas, including Houston and Dallas, are all booming. When our feeder clients are doing well, it usually means they feel better about spending money in resort markets.

“I actually think we are going to have a booming summer and a booming rest of the year,” Harvey added.

Telluride Sotheby’s International Realty broker Michael Ward said he’s had his best quarter ever in Telluride as many historic properties are starting to sell within the Town of Telluride, and the inventory of undeveloped land and high-end homes are being bought up.

“Right now, I think the Telluride market has been on fire,” Ward said.

Mountain Village properties, he said, are starting to move once again as well, and prices on some of the units are starting to rise, too. Generally, Ward said, when real estate in Telluride is booming, Mountain Village can be flat. When Mountain Village is booming, Telluride is generally flat. With Telluride sales booming right now, Ward said he expects Mountain Village’s turn will come soon.

“They kind of go opposite of each other,” he said. “Right now, what has happened is a lot of properties in Telluride have been bought up and I think we will see a shift in Mountain Village. I think the real estate market has been good for the past three or four quarters and it will continue.”

Ward added that he’s also encouraged by the notion that some of the large condo projects in Mountain Village that have sat untouched over the past few years are seeing life again and will be online soon.

Telluride Real Estate Brokers’ Dirk de Pagter agrees that new development is an encouraging sign.

“There are a lot of development parcels going under contract,” de Pagter said. “If developers are coming to the table, that means the market has significantly turned. They are speculating on bringing a project online in two to four years from now, with higher pricing. This is a very positive and strong sign and in the not too distant future this market is going to turn into a sellers market again.”

“There are lot of ways to look at any kind of property, and this report gives a whole bunch of ways to look at the market,” Kiernan said.

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.