Film awards are announced at the Closing Picnic & Awards Ceremony.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Telluride Ski Resort Honored in Three Categories by the National Ski Area Association
Every year the leading ski industry organizations recognize resorts and individuals for efforts that advance or improve the overall experience and wellbeing of skiers and riders. This year, Telluride Ski Resort and employees of the company were recognized by three different entities in three different categories.
The National Ski Area Association (NSAA) is a trade association formed in 1962 for ski area owners and operators, representing 325 alpine resorts nationwide. NSAA recognizes efforts made to improve the industry as a whole, create a better experience, and educate skiers and riders. The NSAA honored thirteen resorts from around the country this year for exceptional work in educating guests and employees about skiing and snowboarding responsibility. Telluride Ski Resort received the award for the Best Chairlift Safety Program in the nation.
This season’s lift safety program included an increase in the resort’s Chill on the Chair signage and messaging, focused on children’s safety on the lifts, as well as several series of safety signs reminding skiers and riders about their responsibility on the slopes.
Grooming is an integral part of the guest experience at every destination. Perfect corduroy from one side of a run to the other is a magnificent sight and luxurious to ski. Telluride Ski Resort’s very own Steve “Parky” Parkinson was honored as the Groomer of the Year by Colorado Ski Country USA, Colorado’s industry trade group.
Parkinson began his grooming career here in 1980 and was Telluride’s first winch cat driver. Winch cat drivers groom the steepest runs in the country with winch assistance. He is an integral part of providing the renowned skiing and snowboarding on Telluride’s signature runs, including The Plunge, Bushwacker, Milk Run and Silvercloud. He is also a key player with the Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club as the builder of the quality race courses, contributing to the success of our young athletes.
SAM Magazine (Ski Area Management) is the voice of the mountain resort industry, keeping staff from CEOs to the front line informed about current issues and practices. SAM recognizes emerging leaders in the industry with its SAMMY Leadership Award each year. This year’s recipients included TSG Vice President of Sales & Marketing Matt Skinner, along with Jody Churich, president and GM of Boreal, Soda Springs, CA, and Peter Sonntag, GM, Heavenly Mountain Resort, CA. The three were recognized for their accomplishments to date and potential to have an even bigger impact in the future.
Originally from Boise, ID, Skinner has been a part of the resort industry most of his life. He worked in newspapers and television and at multiple resorts, domestic and abroad, before coming to Telluride. Since his arrival, Telluride has been recognized with three NSAA Marketing Awards in the last four years and top rankings in various industry and travel publications.
Telluride continues to gain momentum in the mountain resort industry, and the succession of awards over the past several years recognizes the dedication and hard work that goes into creating that success.
The National Ski Area Association (NSAA) is a trade association formed in 1962 for ski area owners and operators, representing 325 alpine resorts nationwide. NSAA recognizes efforts made to improve the industry as a whole, create a better experience, and educate skiers and riders. The NSAA honored thirteen resorts from around the country this year for exceptional work in educating guests and employees about skiing and snowboarding responsibility. Telluride Ski Resort received the award for the Best Chairlift Safety Program in the nation.
This season’s lift safety program included an increase in the resort’s Chill on the Chair signage and messaging, focused on children’s safety on the lifts, as well as several series of safety signs reminding skiers and riders about their responsibility on the slopes.
Grooming is an integral part of the guest experience at every destination. Perfect corduroy from one side of a run to the other is a magnificent sight and luxurious to ski. Telluride Ski Resort’s very own Steve “Parky” Parkinson was honored as the Groomer of the Year by Colorado Ski Country USA, Colorado’s industry trade group.
Parkinson began his grooming career here in 1980 and was Telluride’s first winch cat driver. Winch cat drivers groom the steepest runs in the country with winch assistance. He is an integral part of providing the renowned skiing and snowboarding on Telluride’s signature runs, including The Plunge, Bushwacker, Milk Run and Silvercloud. He is also a key player with the Telluride Ski & Snowboard Club as the builder of the quality race courses, contributing to the success of our young athletes.
SAM Magazine (Ski Area Management) is the voice of the mountain resort industry, keeping staff from CEOs to the front line informed about current issues and practices. SAM recognizes emerging leaders in the industry with its SAMMY Leadership Award each year. This year’s recipients included TSG Vice President of Sales & Marketing Matt Skinner, along with Jody Churich, president and GM of Boreal, Soda Springs, CA, and Peter Sonntag, GM, Heavenly Mountain Resort, CA. The three were recognized for their accomplishments to date and potential to have an even bigger impact in the future.
Originally from Boise, ID, Skinner has been a part of the resort industry most of his life. He worked in newspapers and television and at multiple resorts, domestic and abroad, before coming to Telluride. Since his arrival, Telluride has been recognized with three NSAA Marketing Awards in the last four years and top rankings in various industry and travel publications.
Telluride continues to gain momentum in the mountain resort industry, and the succession of awards over the past several years recognizes the dedication and hard work that goes into creating that success.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
In A Ski Industry Whose Numbers Are Down, Telluride's Numbers Remain Stable
According to an article in the Denver Post by Jason Blevins:
"SAN ANTONIO — In the worst ski season in 20 years, the winners stayed flat and the losers lost big.
"I think we dodged a bullet," said Dave Riley , chief of Telluride ski area, where visitation remained steady through the 2011-12 season while nationally visits fell 16 percent to 51 million, a 20-year low.
Telluride joins a handful of Colorado ski areas - like Eldora, Wolf Creek, Echo Mountain, Durango Mountain Resort and Aspen Skiing Co.'s quiver of four hills - that saw visitation remain similar to the record season of 2010-11. Wyoming and New Mexico — home to the thriving Taos Ski Valley — were the only states to show annual increases in visitation. Overall, the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, bested the national 16-percent decline with a mere 7.2 percent drop to 19.4 million visits. Resorts in California were on the other end, with visits plummeting more than 20 percent in a season that saw a first-ever snowless December.
The mood at the annual National Ski Areas Association convention — a typically celebratory confab of several hundred resort operators from all snowy corners — was not the same as recent gatherings, where resorts reveled in record showings despite economic turmoil.
Recovery and resiliency reigned at this year's rally of goggle-tanned optimists.
"We are eternally optimistic. We see an anomaly winter and we know it's going to get better next year," said Steve Rice , the managing director of Florida's CNL Lifestyle Co., a real estate investment trust with 16 ski resorts and seven ski-area villages. "Still, I don't think it's hyperbole to say that this year's silver lining is that it demonstrates a worst-case scenario. We know what the bottom looks like."
Indeed, it would be hard to get any worse.
The 20-year low in visitation stalls a record streak that saw U.S. resorts posting three record showings in the last five seasons. The statistical litany of last year's declines revealed what every U.S. resort operator suspected: the 2011-12 ski season will forever rank as one of the ugliest ever, with record levels of decay from coast to coast.
Across the country, average snowfall at ski areas was down 41 percent , marking yet another record low in the last 20 years. Half of the country's resorts opened late with man-made snow and closed early in a sweltering March that saw ski-area temperatures reaching the 80s.
"It takes a season like this to remind us how much snow does inspire visitation," said Dave Belin , an analyst with Boulder's RRC Associates, during a groan-heavy presentation of the season's statistics at the convention of the 321-resort NSAA. "We've survived some of the economic trouble with no problem but snowfall really goes hand in glove for visits."
Still, the silver linings are evident. Lessons increased, as did overnight and international visitation. While season pass use declined, lift ticket yield increased.
And best of all, season pass sales for 2012-13 — sold in the spring and a financial bridge for resorts that typically slumber in summer — appear to be stronger than last year's average of 9,500 pass sales per U.S. ski area.
"That really surprised us and we are encouraged," said Scott Myers , a Wells Fargo lending executive who helps direct $500 million in loans to more than 20 ski areas.
After this season, all but one of those ski areas are in compliance with the lending terms, although all are still making their payments on time. Myers said his team is hoping to increase its lending to ski areas by another $500 million.
"We definitely see opportunity in the ski industry," Myers said. "The ski industry has shown it is insulated through economic cycles and we expect the occasional rough season. We remain committed and we want to grow."
"SAN ANTONIO — In the worst ski season in 20 years, the winners stayed flat and the losers lost big.
"I think we dodged a bullet," said Dave Riley , chief of Telluride ski area, where visitation remained steady through the 2011-12 season while nationally visits fell 16 percent to 51 million, a 20-year low.
Telluride joins a handful of Colorado ski areas - like Eldora, Wolf Creek, Echo Mountain, Durango Mountain Resort and Aspen Skiing Co.'s quiver of four hills - that saw visitation remain similar to the record season of 2010-11. Wyoming and New Mexico — home to the thriving Taos Ski Valley — were the only states to show annual increases in visitation. Overall, the Rocky Mountain region, which includes Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana, bested the national 16-percent decline with a mere 7.2 percent drop to 19.4 million visits. Resorts in California were on the other end, with visits plummeting more than 20 percent in a season that saw a first-ever snowless December.
The mood at the annual National Ski Areas Association convention — a typically celebratory confab of several hundred resort operators from all snowy corners — was not the same as recent gatherings, where resorts reveled in record showings despite economic turmoil.
Recovery and resiliency reigned at this year's rally of goggle-tanned optimists.
"We are eternally optimistic. We see an anomaly winter and we know it's going to get better next year," said Steve Rice , the managing director of Florida's CNL Lifestyle Co., a real estate investment trust with 16 ski resorts and seven ski-area villages. "Still, I don't think it's hyperbole to say that this year's silver lining is that it demonstrates a worst-case scenario. We know what the bottom looks like."
Indeed, it would be hard to get any worse.
The 20-year low in visitation stalls a record streak that saw U.S. resorts posting three record showings in the last five seasons. The statistical litany of last year's declines revealed what every U.S. resort operator suspected: the 2011-12 ski season will forever rank as one of the ugliest ever, with record levels of decay from coast to coast.
Across the country, average snowfall at ski areas was down 41 percent , marking yet another record low in the last 20 years. Half of the country's resorts opened late with man-made snow and closed early in a sweltering March that saw ski-area temperatures reaching the 80s.
"It takes a season like this to remind us how much snow does inspire visitation," said Dave Belin , an analyst with Boulder's RRC Associates, during a groan-heavy presentation of the season's statistics at the convention of the 321-resort NSAA. "We've survived some of the economic trouble with no problem but snowfall really goes hand in glove for visits."
Still, the silver linings are evident. Lessons increased, as did overnight and international visitation. While season pass use declined, lift ticket yield increased.
And best of all, season pass sales for 2012-13 — sold in the spring and a financial bridge for resorts that typically slumber in summer — appear to be stronger than last year's average of 9,500 pass sales per U.S. ski area.
"That really surprised us and we are encouraged," said Scott Myers , a Wells Fargo lending executive who helps direct $500 million in loans to more than 20 ski areas.
After this season, all but one of those ski areas are in compliance with the lending terms, although all are still making their payments on time. Myers said his team is hoping to increase its lending to ski areas by another $500 million.
"We definitely see opportunity in the ski industry," Myers said. "The ski industry has shown it is insulated through economic cycles and we expect the occasional rough season. We remain committed and we want to grow."
Monday, May 7, 2012
Telluride's Summer Festival Schedule
Telluride's Summer Festival Schedule
MAY
24 Gondola Opens
25-28 Mountainfilm
28 Memorial Day
JUNE
1-3 Balloon Festival
4-9 Wild West Fest
8-10 Heritage Festival
21-24 Bluegrass Festival
27-7/1 Wine Festival
27-7/8 Musicfest
29-7/5 Telluride Plein Air
JULY
3 Red, White & Blues Concert
4 Firemen’s 4th of July
4 Rundola Race
8 KOTO Doo-Dah Featuring Ziggy Marley
9-15 Playwrights Festival
12-15 Yoga Festival
13-15 Hardrock 100
19-21 Americana Music Fest
20-28 San Miguel Basin Fair
20 Ah Haa Art Auction
23-27 YPT Summer Spectacular
27-28 Cajun Festival
AUGUST
3 KOTO Duck Race
3-5 Jazz Celebration
9-19 Chamber Music Fest
11-12 Full Tilt in Telluride
16-18 Mushroom Festival
17-19 Festival of the Arts
20-21 Pro Cycling Stage 1
25-26 Rock and Roll Festival
31-9/3 Film Festival
SEPTEMBER
8 Imogene Pass Run
14-16 Blues & Brews
22 Mountain to Desert Ride
For more information on Telluride's spectacular festival lineup, or Telluride area real estate, please feel free to contact us at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com, or http://www.telluriderealestatecorp.com/.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Telluride Area Real Estate On The Rise -- Daily Planet Article
From the Telluride Daily Planet, April 29th, 2012:
By Noya Kohavi
Staff Reporter
The plethora of “for sale” signs on Telluride lawns gives a little glimpse into the state of the local real estate market. There’s inventory — but are there buyers? Brokers say there are — and the volume of sales makes them optimistic that the rest of 2012 will continue to grow.
According to a Telluride Consulting report, the number of units sold in San Miguel County in March is up 26 percent, and volume in millions is up 40 percent over March 2011. The report also showed four consecutive years of annual increases in number of sales, monthly volume and year-to-date volume.
But local real estate brokers say it’s not time for celebrations just yet.
“It’s an incredibly price dependent market,” said Lars Carlson, a real estate broker with Peaks Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty. “Once a property is priced right, people come out of the woodworks. It’s still a buyer’s market, but it’s trending away from that in Telluride. We have a lot of action in homes in town.”
Carlson said people are also gravitating toward buying built property rather than empty lots that need investment in construction. “For at least two years, land has been slower,” he said. “There were some distressed sales and short sales. People don’t look at land as much because homes are affordable. They would rather buy a house and fix it up a little than go into construction.”
He said that out of nine homes he sold in Mountain Village recently, six were fixer-uppers.
Broker Sally Puff Courtney said her office has been busy. “Since the beginning of the year I’ve closed and contracted around $18 million,” she said. “I did $26 million last year, so it’s been good from that perspective.” The challenge, she said, was to come to terms with 2012 property prices. “If the price is right,” she said, “the property will sell.”
In Telluride, there’s more supply than demand, and so it’s still a buyer’s market. But as houses sell, inventory is growing smaller and prices are expected to go up.
“Most of the great value in town has been absorbed,” Courtney said. “Next year, supply and demand will kick in. Town gets five stars — condos are selling for $900-$1,100 per square foot. Mountain Village is doing better. We’re slowly, slowly coming back. I’m optimistic. The way to success in the real estate market today is pricing, strategy and negotiating.”
Buying property during the off-season might not seem like the best way to spend your vacation, but brokers say it’s good timing. “For the local buyer it’s the prefect time to look for stuff, because there’s not much competition,” Carlson said. “A lot of the second homeowners are contacting us now to make a deal. We have a lot of work.”
Courtney said most of her deals took place in March, but some people come back in April. “Sophisticated buyers would do that,” she said. “But the reality today is that if you wait you may miss out. Most of the people who come to Telluride are sophisticated buyers and get a great deal instead of waiting for the bottom of the bottom. Our recovery is slow, but it’s coming back. I feel like we’re going to have a great summer. So if anyone wants to buy real estate in Telluride, they should do it now.”
For more information on this, contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970.728.3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or http://www.telluriderealestatecorp.com/.
According to a Telluride Consulting report, the number of units sold in San Miguel County in March is up 26 percent, and volume in millions is up 40 percent over March 2011. The report also showed four consecutive years of annual increases in number of sales, monthly volume and year-to-date volume.
But local real estate brokers say it’s not time for celebrations just yet.
“It’s an incredibly price dependent market,” said Lars Carlson, a real estate broker with Peaks Real Estate Sotheby’s International Realty. “Once a property is priced right, people come out of the woodworks. It’s still a buyer’s market, but it’s trending away from that in Telluride. We have a lot of action in homes in town.”
Carlson said people are also gravitating toward buying built property rather than empty lots that need investment in construction. “For at least two years, land has been slower,” he said. “There were some distressed sales and short sales. People don’t look at land as much because homes are affordable. They would rather buy a house and fix it up a little than go into construction.”
He said that out of nine homes he sold in Mountain Village recently, six were fixer-uppers.
Broker Sally Puff Courtney said her office has been busy. “Since the beginning of the year I’ve closed and contracted around $18 million,” she said. “I did $26 million last year, so it’s been good from that perspective.” The challenge, she said, was to come to terms with 2012 property prices. “If the price is right,” she said, “the property will sell.”
In Telluride, there’s more supply than demand, and so it’s still a buyer’s market. But as houses sell, inventory is growing smaller and prices are expected to go up.
“Most of the great value in town has been absorbed,” Courtney said. “Next year, supply and demand will kick in. Town gets five stars — condos are selling for $900-$1,100 per square foot. Mountain Village is doing better. We’re slowly, slowly coming back. I’m optimistic. The way to success in the real estate market today is pricing, strategy and negotiating.”
Buying property during the off-season might not seem like the best way to spend your vacation, but brokers say it’s good timing. “For the local buyer it’s the prefect time to look for stuff, because there’s not much competition,” Carlson said. “A lot of the second homeowners are contacting us now to make a deal. We have a lot of work.”
Courtney said most of her deals took place in March, but some people come back in April. “Sophisticated buyers would do that,” she said. “But the reality today is that if you wait you may miss out. Most of the people who come to Telluride are sophisticated buyers and get a great deal instead of waiting for the bottom of the bottom. Our recovery is slow, but it’s coming back. I feel like we’re going to have a great summer. So if anyone wants to buy real estate in Telluride, they should do it now.”
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