Here's an interesting article that came to me from 'across the pond'...
www.http://www.independent.co.uk/ 

How ski resorts are gaining green credentials and skiers can reduce their environmental impact.

​Resorts are realising the impact of their carbon footprint, and taking steps to reduce it. Simon Birch reports... Tuesday, October 20, 2015.

Skiing is undeniably great fun but the bad news is that there's a price to pay for your annual adrenalin rush, and it's the environment that's picking up the bill. From energy-guzzling resorts to the bulldozing of fragile Alpine slopes in order to create red runs, the reality is that skiing is one of the most environmentally destructive sports on the planet. 

The good news, though, is that a growing number of Alpine resorts are now waking up to the sport's negative impact and working hard to reduce the environmental fallout. For most resorts, a pristine environment is crucial for their economic survival. “We have to protect our mountains: this is what our tourists and skiers come for,” says Eric Fournier, mayor of Chamonix, the French town that sits at the foot of Mont Blanc, Europe's highest mountain. 

In 2010 Chamonix became one of the first Alpine resorts to launch its own pioneering climate and energy action plan, with a target of slashing its carbon emissions by 20 per cent by 2020. “If we're going to be able to ski in the future then we must reduce our greenhouse gas emissions,” says Fournier.

With an ambitious programme of energy- saving projects and an extensive public transport system – the centrepiece of which is a free train for skiers – Chamonix is emerging as a frontrunner in the move towards greener skiing. “Climate change isn't an opinion,” says ski instructor and former pro-skier Stéphane Lagarde, “it's a fact.”

Having grown up in Chamonix, Lagarde has witnessed the changes that a warming climate is having in his own backyard, with rapidly retreating glaciers and increasingly erratic snowfall. Such is his concern about the long-term danger that climate change poses to skiing – and in turn his own livelihood – that in 2009 Lagarde launched the groundbreaking Ecorider, a ski school with an eye on global warming.As well as letting his clients know that climate change could send the ski industry downhill, Lagarde is now helping to offset Ecorider's emissions by planting hundreds of trees in the Peruvian Amazon.

In recognition of its environmental work, Chamonix has become one of only three Alpine resorts to be awarded the Flocon Vert – the green snowflake – a label certifying sustainability awarded by Mountain Riders, a France-based group that campaigns for a more sustainable winter sports industry. “We rate resorts on over 40 different environmental and social criteria, from transport infrastructure to use of renewable energy,” explains Laurent Burget, director of Mountain Riders, which also publishes an online guide to the green track record of 250 ski resorts around the world. 

“The aim of the Flocon Vert is to make it easier for skiers and boarders to choose a more environmentally responsible resort and encourage other resorts to raise their environmental game,” says Burget. 

One of the other two Flocon Vert resorts is Villars in Switzerland. Situated at the relatively low height of 1,300m, pocket-sized Villars is aware it's in the climate change firing line, following predictions that by 2050 ski resorts below 1,500m would struggle with snow cover. In response, the resort has been working on a wide range of sustainability projects over the past five years, including introducing a fleet of hybrid buses to ferry skiers about,investing in low-energy snow-making systems and fitting solar panels on the village's public buildings.

While sustainability projects are good news for the local environment, they're also good for local businesses, says Sebastien Angelini, chair of the committee that co-ordinates sustainability projects in Villars, and co-owner of the Hotel du Golf, the first in the region to undergo an extensive environment-focused upgrade.

“There's a clear commercial advantage in being the first hotel to become more sustainable,” says Angelini, who has reduced the hotel's annual electricity use by a third since installing solar panels. “Tour operators are increasingly expecting the hotels that they work with to have environmental credentials.”

And it's not just European ski resorts that are recognising the need to improve their performance; leading the charge on sustainability and climate action in North American is Aspen. The Colorado resort is now on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent by 2020 from 2000 levels, through increased use of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.

Aspen's work has been given the thumbs up by Protect Our Winters, a US-based group that leads the American snow sports community in the fight against climate change. “There's no one doing it any better,” says Chris Steinkamp from Protect Our Winters. “Aspen realises that real change has to come at the policy level so it's mobilising its customers to take real action to force change in Washington.”

How can consumers reduce their environmental impact? “It's now accepted that 75 per cent of carbon emissions from winter sports can be attributed to the transport in getting to your resort whether that be by car or plane,” says Laurent Burget. “Taking the train to your resort can cut your carbon emissions by up to 90 per cent.”

Does this mean European skiers shouldn't be hopping on plane to North America? “Yes,” is the stark answer from Auden Schendler, vice president of sustainability at the Aspen Ski Company, adding, “If a skier really cares about the climate issue then they have to demand that their ski resorts are engaged in both progressive operational practices and climate policy lobbying. Unless I'm missing something, I haven't seen European resorts speaking up, even though they're getting hammered by warming temperatures.”

I think we'll be seeing a lot more of this in years to come.

To book your next trip to Aspen, or any of our other resorts, reach out to our great team of snow vacation planners!

Have a great day!

Joyce

Are you excited for El Nino?

Everybody out here in Colorado is talking about El Nino. We are expecting a record ski season and lots of snowfall. Yayy!

Normally, I wouldn’t believe these early predictions but during a strong El Nino, these long-range forecasts can be more accurate than normal.

The last time El Nino brought a great ski season was in 1997 and according to NASA Climatologis Bill Patzert the trend of this year is even “stronger than it was in 1997”.  (Barclay, 2015)

Let’s see what the forecasts say for our favorite ski destinations according to Chris Tomer (2015):

Lake Tahoe, California: They should finally reach normal snowfall this season. Kirkwood and Mammoth should get 100 percent to 140 percent of normal.

Colorado: Telluride, Durango and Silverton are in good position and should end up with 100 percent to 120 percent of normal snowfall. The central mountains will end up near 100 percent.

Utah: They should do well with 100 percent to 120 percent of normal snowfall. Great for Park City!

Doesn’t that sound promising? Now are you ready or are you ready to book your next ski vacation?

Let me help you find the best ski resort for you!

Email me at Janine@snowsportvacations.com

I look forward hearing from you!

Janine

My Cousin / Friend Can Get Me a Great Deal...

How many times have you heard or said that?  We all know someone who's gonna take care of us on the 'inside'.  YUP! VIP at a 5-star resort on your best pal's comp pass.... And who doesn't want it ALL THE TIME!

Today I'm here to tell you that's what WE do. We are your friend, cousin, brother-in-law, sister's roommate's mother's neighbor's boyfriend! And we are good.  I'll soon tell you about 2 of our impressive accomplishments from only last week, but first, let's make sense of the task.

You are curious about a trip to a snow destination.  So, you phone your friend who brags about his ventures 'out west' all the time.  By golly, he knows EVERYTHING!  He tells you where to go, where to eat, which dude at which ski shop has the latest and BEST gear, which hotel has the best breakfast, and so on. And he tells you who to call (hopefully us!!) to make the arrangements.

But... He goes single. You've got a wife and 3 kids.  He likes to meet ladies. Your mother-in-law is coming. And all of a sudden he's become as helpful as the plethora of travel ads in the local newspaper.

Here's where we come in :-)

We will give you the 'insider' deal whenever we can.  We will personalize, customize and organize your package to best suit your needs at the best price possible.  Why not call your buddy???

• Your buddy lives where you do.  We live IN the snow destination resort(s).
• Your buddy books 1-2 ski vacations per year.  We each book lots each day.
• We've been to ALL the restaurants and our daughter's best friend's mother is possibly the maitre' de at a very 'hard-to-get-into' restaurant.. but NOT when we call.
• We've either been to the accommodation you are interested, or have a pal who works there.
• We've can rattle off which airlines go to which mountain airports.. EASILY!  And we'll tell you whether to pay bag fees for your gear or rent it when you get here.

And so on... Ask us ANYTHING!  

Here's a couple of  'special' things we were able to accomplish for our customers last week:

1. We had quoted a stay at a selected hotel and unexpectedly overnight, the 30% off promotion expired.  We were able to retain the quoted price from the day prior and the guest saved 30% exclusively and only for HIM!  Try and haggle with any website on rate.  Ya! Good luck!
2. A guest was considering a hotel.  We visited the property, introduced the potential guest and by the time we left, the guest was on the VIP list for his upcoming stay! 

The team at Snow Sport GUARANTEES that we will be your cousin, friend, in-law, neighbor, whatever you prefer... NO PROBLEM! 

We hope you'll call your NEW 'buddy' at Snow Sport!

Joyce

Dreaded Fees Come to Vacation Rentals

For this week's blog, we thought we'd share an article from yesterday's USA Today.  It talks about the onslaught of fee that are directly affecting our industry and many of the accommodations we represent at Snow Sport. (credit to author Christopher Elliott.. special to USA Today. September 14, 2015)

The article might cause for you to 'move forth with caution".  Because the team at Snow Sport deals with this regularly, please feel free to use us a both a source and ally for protection.  We look forward to keeping you well informed and confident that there will be no negative surprises hidden in the 'fine print'.

Dreaded Fees Come to Vacation Rentals, 9.14.15, USA Today:

First, there was a $25 "check-in" fee when she arrived, which, though disclosed in the fine print of her contract, was unexpected. And then there was a mandatory $200 "cleaning" fee for her unit after she checked out. Neither was part of the original price.Rhonda Moret's vacation rental in Park City, Utah, came with a few surprises.

To add insult to injury, a construction crew in a nearby unit woke her at 7 a.m., on her first morning at the mountain resort.

"So much for relaxing with the mountain breeze," says Moret, a healthcare marketing consultant who lives in Del Mar, Calif.

Don't look now, but vacation rental companies are piling on the fees, many of them pure junk. Among the most common: booking fees, change fees, cleaning fees, hot tub fees, parking fees, reservation fees and — everyone's favorite — amorphous "convenience" fees.

Simply put, rental fees are exploding. And there's a reason why...  

"Rental managers only get a commission on the rental part of the transaction," explains Andrew McConnell, the chief executive of Vacation Futures, an online vacation rental marketplace. "But most negotiate that they get to keep 100% of fees. In this way they can make owners think they are getting a great deal with a lower commission, but actually take more of the all-in revenue by shifting more of the revenue to other fees."

It's a model that closely follows the one used by airlines, which quote a low base fare but then add fees for everything from carry-on luggage to seat assignments — items that had traditionally been included in the price of a ticket.

These fees seem to be getting worse, although no one formally keeps track of them. Reputable vacation rental companies are resisting the surcharges, but eventually, the lure of easy money may prove too difficult to turn down.

While it's true that vacation rental owners and managers have to shoulder expenses that other lodging companies like hotels don't, renters will invariably say there is only one right way to sell a rental: by quoting a price that includes all mandatory fees.

But the vacation rental site Vacasa.com recently tested customer pricing preferences on its site and determined that more guests booked a vacation rental when they saw a low base price with the added fees broken out.

"Customers actually preferred to have each tax and fee line item listed in the quote," says Scott Breon, Vacasa’s chief revenue officer.

Of course they do. Time and again, travelers claim they hate surcharges, but then are lured by the product with the lowest price tag, even when the added fees may ultimately make it more expensive. Businesses say they're simply meeting a demand.

Fees are the perfect way to alienate your customers," says Michael Straus, who co-manages a ranch and organic farm in Northern California that can be rented. At the Straus Home Ranch, the fees are simple: a cleaning fee and a refundable security deposit.

That's in line with the industry's so-called best practices, which roughly translate into "the thing they ought to be doing."

"Disclose all fees up front," says Isaac Gabriel, the president of EZ Resort Vacations, an online timeshare rental marketplace, "regardless of the amount."

But the revenue vacation rental companies and owners receive from these fees is hard to turn away. In many ways, fees are the ultimate win-win for rental owners. You can quote a low price, making your rental look cheaper than the competition with an all-inclusive amount. Then you can pile on the extras and make lots of extra money.

Bottom line: as always, buyer beware. "Review the booking policies on the management company's website, and ask a representative questions about rental cleaning or additional occupancy fees to avoid unnecessary and surprising charges," says Mark McSweeney, the executive director of the Vacation Rental Managers Association, a trade group.

Vacation rentals are fast becoming the most fee-happy segment of the travel industry. Don't get taken.

How to avoid a vacation rental 'gotcha' 

• Do your homework before booking. "Ask if there will be any additional fees or charges before placing your deposit," says Jeanne Dailey, founder and CEO of Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, a property management company in Northwest Florida. Steer clear of a rental agency you've never heard of or that has bad online reviews. Reputable agencies don't charge junk fees.

• Watch the big fees. Change fees are the worst, ranging from several hundred dollars to the cost of the entire rental. They're often unavoidable, but a good insurance policy can protect you if you need to change your vacation plans, says Devon Puryear, revenue manager for Palmetto Dunes Oceanfront Resort on Hilton Head Island, S.C. "Travel insurance is often offered when renting a villa or home, usually through a third party," he says.

• Make them explain. Some fees, like the "convenience" fee and the "hot tub" fee, are so absurd that a company may have some trouble justifying them. If you're confronted by a surprise fee, even after doing your homework, challenge it. You may be able to negotiate your way out of paying it.

You don't need to do this on your own.... Let a Snow Sport agent be your source for full disclosure, best value recommendations, and mostly, save you LOTS of time planning!

Joyce

Wait, summer is almost over?

“Wow, it was cold this morning!” “The color of the leaves is changing!” “It’s September already?”

This is all I heard last week. So I had to act to make sure I am making use of the last few nice days of this summer. What’s the best way to do that in Colorado? Hiking? No, getting on the river! Thank God, a friend is a raft guide and was able to get a big raft for us to join!

Should we take the dog? “No, we are going to hit class III rapids!” All right then, off to Shoshone in the Glenwood Canyon!

The weather forecast just changed and rain was showing for 1PM. But hey, it’s only 10.30 and we are in the mountains. The weather forecast changes every 5 minutes so let’s go! Grab life jackets, water and anything that’s unnecessary for a boat and shuttle to the Shoshone exit.

God, it felt great to be on the river! The rapids were so much fun and once we finally made it to some hot springs, we were able to warm up and get soaked! Plus, no rain until we made it back to the car!

What a fun trip and a great way to enjoy the last bit of summer! Thanks to our friend for taking us out!

I hope you are enjoying your last days of the summer. Or are you ready to plan your next ski vacation?

I am here to help! Send me an email and I’ll get you started: Janine@snowsportvacations.com

The Truth About the Family Celebration: aka.. Infiltrating the Fortress

As niche' destination travel agents, we often times plan, sell, and officiate group and family gatherings, such as weddings, anniversaries, and family reunions.  We guide the group leaders through the process and often mediate decisions.  Having the privilege of offering our beautiful snow / mountain destination resorts (year round) is invigorating and exciting. The rewards on 'game day' are innumerable... The 'thank yous' and 'hugs' make it that much more fun! 
If you are thinking about what to do for your next celebration, let us tell you!

The Perfect Guest Experience, Right?

This past weekend, I had the privilege of being a guest at a family Bar Mitzvah.  Knowing full and well what the family is going through to prepare and execute this massive event, one wants to lay low, act independently, and if called upon to help, be timely, decisive and accurate...
But, when large #'s family members actually get together, the results offer new and unanticipated challenges...

In this case I learned, much too slowly, the importance of  'keeping an eye on my room key'.

 

The First Invasion (or Who's knocking in the middle of the night?):
I was staying with my cousin and early in the morning on the day of the Bar Mitzvah, specifically 5:58 AM, someone was desperately trying to get into the house. Phones are ringing and doors are banging. I just assumed my cousin, with whom I had not stayed with in many years, had 24/7 friends, so I rolled over and let him 'deal with it'. He ultimately answered the door and in walks another relative from 3000 miles away who thought it would be 'fun' to decline his invitation and 'surprise' us. All I'm thinking is 'another one in line for the shower'...

Act Two (or the neighbors wondering "Who's the psycho lady in the street in a bathrobe?"):
'Surprise guy' had left his luggage in his car and realizes such AFTER kicking me from the bathroom and immersing himself under the shower spout... And noisily and desperately he yells from the bathroom and sends me out to his car to get his suitcase.  Well... the door had closed behind me and of course... I am locked out... with suitcase in hand and wearing only a bathrobe. A second rescue by same cousin, who fortunately, was no longer under water in his shower. Whew!

No End in Sight (or Bring your own key or stick with someone who has one.):
The synagogue service was over.  Bar Mitzvah boy is now a MAN, speeches are done, hugs and kisses exchanged, and father of  Bar Mitzvah boy is holding an inventory of envelopes in his breast pocket and silently is wishing that he could keep it all to help pay the invoice for the day. We all are free for a few hours until the BIG party that evening.  I had ridden to the synagogue with cousin and 'surprise guy', who reveals that he had only come for a short time and must get to the airport. Well, cousin wants to visit elsewhere, and I want to go home.  So, 'surprise guy' agreed to take me back to the house on his way to the airport.  We arrived with a small cushion of time to make the flight and only then realized that cousin had our only house key between the three of us. This most challenging rescue required a dash to another cousin's home where a spare key had been staged after a myriad of frantic phone calls.

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect (or Who's the homeless guy without the shirt?):
Once back in the house, I went to change clothes and 'surprise guy' was rushing to get himself together for his flight... Or, so I thought... Yet ANOTHER knock at the door... NOW WHAT?? I open it to find him standing there shirtless and once again, locked out. Apparently, he found it necessary to iron his shirt before leaving for the airport. (This, in itself, is quite a bizarre way to spend limited time cause who, in a hurry, really needs to wear a freshly pressed shirt to sleep on an airplane?  WHATEVER!!) Apparently, in his search for the ironing board and iron, he had wandered beyond the confines of the locked fortress.... 

Perhaps I learned something? YES! There's very good reasons for lots of alcohol followed by loud music and the complete inability to hear one another in conversation. But, never assume you'll stick with the cousin with the key :-)

A Message to Our Hosts:

You took charge of everything, You told us where to go and when to be there. You planned our meals, our entertainment, and who we should sit with. You told us what to wear, chose our music and party favors. You shared great speeches, granted numerous honors and expressed enormous gratitude to us for coming from so far away... We loved it all, and thank you. We hope you are enjoying this 'back-story' :-)

After all this, invaluable advice from a seasoned travel professional:

1. When checking in, ask for as many room keys as possible.
2. Be sure to stage reliable cousins in the area with extra room keys.
3. Reconsider answering the door in the middle of the night.
4. Pay it forward by sharing your story.

And finally, I'll close with wise words written and recited by the Bar Mitzvah boy... a fine reiteration of his studies and lessons learned:

"...one mitzvah really interested me.  It is the LAW of the “Rebellious Son”.  “When parents have a difficult son who does not obey his father and mother, they shall discipline him. If the son refuses to listen, gets drunk, and eats like a pig, and the community agrees that he cannot be controlled, the men of the community shall stone him to death.  In this way you will remove the evil influence, and the young people of Israel will hear about the punishment, be afraid, and in turn, be respectful and obey their parents”.  But, according to the rabbis, a rebellious child has never been stoned to death, and this punishment does not really exist.  So I asked myself, if this has never happened in history, why is this law in the Torah?  After thinking about this question, I realized this “law” is just to scare children into behaving! I managed to turn 13 without getting stoned to death... " JK August 29, 2015

It's probably appropriate to close with a quote an often used by 'surprise guy':  "That's my story and I'm sticking to it." 

What's yours? Call me and I'll help you create it :-)

Joyce