Web Blog

Jan 2003

Squaw Valley's new resort community built by InterWest is Awesome!

This new community makes Squaw Valley one of the top destination resorts in the world. If you have been to LionHead of Vail, you will see the similarity. This new building features hundreds of ski in ski out condos with every imaginable shop at the base walk-in level. Everything form a starbucks to boutique ski shops are here.

I know this is acommercializing of the industry, but I like it. I think there are many granola type resorts still out there. IE Kirkwood, Alta etc, but for the glitzy resort atmosphere, this new addition is quite welcome.

December 2002

The season is upon us again with 10 feet of snow dropped in one storm. That is the true spirit of Tahoe.

I'll rant a bit about ski area emplyee policies...

First, I think resorts should go out of their way to help support their emplyees, not pay them the minimal amount possible to keep the staff full. I think happy staffers translates to how they treat the customers. I'm sick of seeing disgruntled emplyees taking it out on the paying guest. Here is what I propose:

Give the emplyee more than minimum wage. Why? If you pay in Bananas you get monkeys!

Take the ski teacher. He gets 8 bucks an hour as a first year instructor. THe guest pays $500 or more for a day of lessons and it doesn't matter who goes to teach it. It could be a seasoned veteran of ski teaching who is very good, or it could be the first year ski teacher getting the 8 bucks. Either way your lesson is given by the luck of the draw!

I say give the poor guy some incentive. Pay him half of the lesson here is why.

The ski teacher jobs will be taken by professionals with top skills. The guest will get a better lesson, and the emplyee will be happy. I think it's win win. Here is why it's not going to happen.

Corporate America has bought up all the top resorts and are squeezing every bit of profit possible. Typical big business bullying!

I say lets buy a resort as employees and make it a cooperative!