7 min read

Countdown to Ski Season - News from the Hottest Resorts in North America

The winter ski season is getting closer. With less than two months to go before the slopes open, there is a lot of fresh and exciting news from ski resorts across North America. From culinary learning experiences to extreme-skiing adventures, there is something for everyone in some of the top mountain destinations and resorts in the world. Highlights include:
  • Forget going to the same-old, cafeteria-style lunch on the mountain. These new offerings at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa think outside the (lunch) box with an artisanal lunch buffet, luxurious “Haute Tub” service and even teen cooking classes.
  • Take a bucket-list style winter vacation with the Destination Dream List from Destination Hotels & Resorts. The management company’s resorts are introducing exclusive adventure packages in top mountain destinations, such as Vail, Tahoe, Telluride and Stowe.
  • The luxurious properties of the Four Seasons Mountain Collection in Jackson Hole, Vail and Whistler created experiential packages for the winter that cater to both novice and expert skiers, and couples looking for a romantic respite.
  • Celebrate 10 Years of Turns at Moonlight Basin, in Montana’s Rocky Mountains, where the slopes offer incredible steeps, glades and more, but rarely has a lift line.
  Check out more details on these new, ski-season offerings below, or send me an email for more information.   See you on the slopes!   Stephanie Stephanie.Panico@TurnerPR.com @stephpanico      

Winter and Ski Season News, 2012/2013

Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa: Located in the heart of Beaver Creek, at one of Colorado’s most celebrated mountain resorts, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa is a 190-room resort offering Beaver Creek’s only true ski-in, ski-out access. Beaver Creek Resort provides access to 146 runs on 1,805 acres of skiable terrain and lift tickets interchangeable at nearby Vail Ski Resort. New this Season:
  • Haute-Stuff:  Park Hyatt is launching “Haute Tub” service. Guests will can reserve one of five dedicated, slopeside hot tubs for up to six people (in one hour increments) when opting for bottle service. Think Vegas-style, poolside cabana service –with the most enviable location in the Rockies.  Soakers choose from a selection of Champagne or liquor, plus mixers, a dedicated waitress, a sampling of snacks including the property’s famous truffle popcorn, warmed towels and robes, and more. Bottle service starts at $300 per bottle.
  • Teen Cooking Classes: Parents traveling with teens know how hard it is to find anything that grabs their interest, other than their phones and, just maybe, The Food Network.  Which is why Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa and the culinary team from 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill are launching weekly, complimentary, teen focused cooking classes inspiring teens to trade texting for chopping.  Classes will include themes such as basic knife skills, gourmet pizza making, sushi rolling, cold weather “mocktails” and lessons on how to make barista style coffees at home.
  • Artisanal Winter Lunch Buffet: A quick, on-mountain lunch no longer needs to consist of burgers and pizza, this winter 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, located at the base of Beaver Creek Mountain, is launching a new artisan lunch buffet making it easy for skiers to quickly enjoy a gourmet lunch on the restaurants sunny, slopside patio.  Diners can enjoy homemade soups including smoked trout chowder and creamy potato leek as well as handmade sandwiches prepared in a wood fire grill and healthy salads featuring fresh, organic produce.  The “dine and dash” has never tasted so good.
  Destination Hotels & Resorts:   With nearly 40 independent, upscale hotels and resorts, Destination Hotels & Resorts is the fourth largest hospitality management company in the country and boasts the largest collection of mountain properties in the U.S. New this Season: The collection just launched a bucket-list style travel program, the Destination Dream List, and mountain resorts are introducing exclusive adventure packages in Vail, Tahoe, Telluride and Stowe. Highlights include:
  • Manor Vail Lodge, Vail, CO
-          Backcountry Hut Trip Ski or snowshoe through the Rockies to a 10 th Mountain Division hut. Vail, the birthplace of North American Resort skiing is celebrating its 50 th Anniversary this year , and while the mountain is legendary, the best way to see it is not in a lift line but by exploring the backcountry.
  • Vail Cascade, Vail, CO
-          Blue Sky, Cloud Nine Vail Ski Package - There is no bigger rush than laying down first tracks on a mountain. Blue Sky, Cloud Nine gives snow enthusiasts the exclusive opportunity to shred Vail’s pristine white powder. This winter, Vail Cascade rolls out the white carpet with presidential accommodations, a First Tracks Vail Mountain experience, VIP lift access, hot stone massages and après ski craft beer flights and dinner.
  • The Gant, Aspen, CO
-          “ Magic of Skiing,” For someone who’s looking to improve their skiing – both physically and mentally – The Magic of Skiing combines full days of skiing and snowboarding with Thomas Crum’s off-mountain training, a totally unique and enriched learning experience that focuses on mind/body coordination, fitness and health, relaxation and awareness, conflict resolution, and harmony in relationships. Ski the group’s choice of Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk, or Aspen Highlands. Program dates are Feb 2-8, 2013 and March 9-13, 2013.
  • The Hotel Telluride, Telluride, CO
-          “Heli-of-a-Trip” Take on six heli runs through more than 22,000 acres of skiable terrain in the pristine San Juan Wilderness then relax a Hotel Telluride’s spectacular spa and soak in the beauty of the Colorado landscape.
  • The Resort at Squaw Creek, Tahoe, CA
-          Heli-Skiing    – Take an epic ski vacation via helicopter to the top of Tahoe and ski down glades, bowles and chutes along the Sierra Crest.
  • Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, VT
-          Winter Zip-line Adventure and Snowshoeing View Vermont’s highest peaks on this award-winning zip line adventure and a snowshoe trek -          Yurt Snowshoe Tours: An evening excursion, guests of the Lodge snowshoe by headlamp out to a yurt located in the woods near our Nordic center for a cozy dinner with drinks and dessert too, and then are brought back in the Lodge’s Mercedes after dinner. -          Sunrise and Sunset Snowshoe Tours: Offered several times throughout the week, they are a highlight for guests. Particularly the Sunset tour, which takes the last chair up at 4 p.m. and then snowshoes down as the sun goes down and the stars come out, and finishes with hot chocolate. -          Family Ski Scavenger Hunt on the mountain: Families get clues from the Alpine Concierge for questions that can only be answered while skiing or snowboarding on the mountain. Each weekend and during holidays, the first three families to turn in all the questions will receive a prize. It’s a great way to get the whole family to ski together, even if it’s just for an hour to complete the scavenger hunt and win a prize. Then, the kids can go to the terrain park and the parents can ski the more mellow groomers after a little family time.   -          In addition to the savings offer, Destination Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Obermeyer, an Aspen-based performance skiwear outfitter, to give away performance outerwear throughout the promotion. As part of this “Fan of the Week” Facebook promotion, DH&R will also give away a different prize each week from the hotels or resorts within the collection. http://www.destinationhotels.com/countdown-to-winter.   Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole : Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole features 124 luxurious guestrooms and true ski-in/ski-out access, three slope-side restaurants with panoramic mountain views, a base camp concierge, ski valet and a full service spa. New this season: -          Ultimate Couples Escape – With new direct flights to Jackson Hole from major hubs around the country, it’s easier than ever to jet off to this winter “hot spot” for a long weekend romantic getaway.  To set the mood, Four Seasons Jackson Hole is offering a new “couples escape package”, ideal for a winter retreat with your honey.  This 4-night experience features a customizable itinerary complete with special in-room amenities, spa & dining experiences along with the opportunity to ski the epic terrain this destination is known for. -          “Pizza Pie to Powder High” The Ultimate Beginner’s Package – This customized three day package is the ultimate introduction to skiing. Beginners will enjoy the ease and comfort of meeting their instructor the night before where they will be introduced to the terrain of the mountain, given a personal boot fitting and introduction to skiing. -          Customized Beginner Package Includes:
  • 3 day private lessons including lift tickets & equipment rental
  • Amenity package to include Khul fleece, arnica cooling cream from the spa, chap stick, sunscreen
  • Peak Performance Massage
  • Personalized in room boot fitting upon arrival
  • Ski Rentals
  Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail : Nestled at the base of one of North America’s most acclaimed ski destinations, Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail offers 121 guestrooms outfitted in a contemporary alpine lodge style. The resort provides a complementary Ski Concierge that provides Four Seasons service all the way to the slopes. New this Season: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail is rolling out the “gold carpet” to celebrate Vail’s 50 th Anniversary.  2012 marks the golden anniversary of the opening of Vail Mountain on December 15, 1962. To celebrate this important milestone, two distinctive packages to ensure you celebrate Vail’s 50 th in style: -          “1962” Vail visitors in 1962 did experience epic skiing but not the luxurious accommodations of Four Seasons. Fifty years later, they can. The “1962” level of this package includes:
  • $1962 for a luxurious executive suite per night
  • 50-minute massage at the resort’s award-winning Spa
  • $50 credit daily at Flame Restaurant
  • Two 1960s classic cocktails at Fireside Lounge
  Four Seasons Resort Whistler    As Canada’s only AAA 5-diamond property, Four Seasons Resort Whistler provides easy access to Whistler Blackcomb, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Encompassing 273 guest rooms, suites and townhouses – along with a selection of private residences – the Resort includes a superb spa and mountain dining. New this Season: -          “Ski the Dream: The Ultimate Ski Experience” – Guests fly via helicopter from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler for 4 nights of luxurious accommodations. Includes 2 days with a Whistler Blackcomb instructor, personally guiding them to the greatest spots on both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. This will help prepare them for a day of heli-skiing in the back country. The area has 432,000 acres, 475 runs and 173 glaciers to choose from while heli-skiing. Guests will have a chance to demo local ski brand Prior Skis or snowboard, tour the factory and even choose a high performance pair of skis or snowboard that will be made and shipped home. To help with aches and pains, the package also includes two 50-minute après-ski massages in the Four Seasons spa. At the end of the trip, guests board the helicopter for a ride back down to Vancouver International Airport. Offered Dec. 1 – April 5 th, 2012/2013   Moonlight Basin A year-round resort in Montana’s Rocky Mountains that offers an unrivaled alpine experience. The resort is easily accessible from Bozeman, MT and is located in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts.  With more than 5,500 acres of ski terrain, Moonlight Basin is part of the Biggest Skiing in America and offers some of the best downhill skiing anywhere, but seldom a lift line. Moonlight Basin also features a world-class spa, a variety of dining options and luxury accommodations that are perfectly suited for families or couples.
  • 10 Years of Turns – Moonlight Basin, part of the Biggest Skiing in America, is celebrating its 10th ski season of exceptional skiing and riding in Montana’s Rocky Mountains.
   
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