Thu, Jan 08 2009
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Published November 07, 2008 12:03 pm - Ski deals available nearly everywhere By JOHN MARSHALL Associated Press BEAVER CREEK, Colo. — Mike and Pam Mathe have taken their two kids skiing at Beaver Creek over Christmas break each of the past five years. It’s their one big vacation for the year, a luxurious respite from Mike’s traveling, the kids’ classes. No way are they going to let the economic downturn stop them from going this year. “We need this vacation; this is what we look forward to every year,” Pam Mathe said. “Realistically, it hasn’t been a toll on us business-wise as it has for a lot of people, but if I had to buckle up and save for this, I would.” The good news for the Mathes — and anyone else who wants to go skiing — is that the penny pinching might not be so bad this year thanks to the creative measures ski resorts are taking to combat the slumping economy. Extra nights lodging, ski rental packages, cut-rate lift tickets, stay-and-ski deals, upgrades — all are part of the promotions resorts are using to lure people to the mountain. Of course, there’s always going to be a portion of the population that’s going to ski no matter what; snow’s falling, they’re headed for the hills. For the rest of us, skiing is a luxury, something easily cut from the budget when things get tough. Paying rent or skiing? There isn’t much debate. Ski resorts are aware of the competition for consumer money and they’re doing everything they can to hold onto their share. “There’s all kinds of tactical responses the individual areas are going to make, lots of energy within the industry to kind of counter the reasons why people might not ski this year,” said Michael Berry, president of the National Ski Areas Association. “There’s a lot of people paying a lot of attention.” There’s plenty of reason. Hotel bookings in Vail are down significantly and skiers who do show up are expected to spend less money per person. Some are predicting one of the worst winters ever for the town’s economy. Though the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek isn’t expected to be hit too hard by the economic downturn because of its affluent clientele, holiday bookings are down from a year ago. Many resorts also are seeing a shorter booking window from guests who normally make reservations early, keeping early-season money off the books. “We’ve definitely seen a falloff in pace from last year, even over some of the key holiday periods,” said Scott Gubrud, Park Hyatt’s director of marketing and sales. “I think there are people still planning on doing a vacation, they’re just kind of on the fence a little bit in terms of waiting to decide what’s happening in the economy, what’s happening in the election, before they make a decision.” 
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