Skiing and snowboarding are winter sports beloved by many, but they’re also pastimes that rely on tradition. And from a ski operator’s perspective, there are so many different pieces that have to seamlessly match up, from dining to grooming the slopes, safety patrol (and explosives), hospitality – not to mention the whims of Mother Nature – that it’s not easy to make drastic changes. Yet that’s just what ski resorts had to do in the face of the Covid pandemic. 

In this episode, Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra Mountain Co., and Natalie Ooi, the program director of the ski area management program at Colorado State University, shared with Travel Weekly editor Robert Silk (who also handles our ski coverage) and host Rebecca Tobin several facets of skiing and riding a la 2021: the challenges of having to prep for the unknown. Massive investments in technology that are enabling services – from food to ski instructors – to be brought directly to guests. Unexpected guest behavior in the face of the pandemic. And the “new” measure of success.

Plus, our favorite ski runs of all time.

Related coverage: Focus on Ski: Skiing apres-pandemic https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Skiing-apres-pandemic A weekend in Vail: Ripping powder and retreating to the lodge https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-resorts-restaurants-and-ripping-powder 

Hitting the slopes is popular, even with apres-ski sidelined https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Hitting-the-slopes-still-popular-even-with-apres-ski-sidelined 

Alterra won’t require reservations by passholders https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Alterra-will-not-require-reservations-from-ski-pass-holders 

Vail reservations policy sets a precedent for ski areas https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-reservations-policy-sets-precedent-for-ski-areas 

Ski operators expect serious challenges for 2020-21 season https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-operators-expect-serious-challenges 

Ski resorts suddenly shutter https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-resorts-suddenly-shutter-coronavirus 

Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Backcountry bonanza https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Backcountry-Bonanza 

Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Indie slopes https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Indy-slopes 

 

Skiing and snowboarding are winter sports beloved by many, but they&rsquo;re also pastimes that rely on tradition. And from a ski operator&rsquo;s perspective, there are so many different pieces that have to seamlessly match up, from dining to grooming the slopes, safety patrol (and explosives), hospitality &ndash; not to mention the whims of Mother Nature &ndash; that it&rsquo;s not easy to make drastic changes. Yet that&rsquo;s just what ski resorts had to do in the face of the Covid pandemic. In this episode, Rusty Gregory, the CEO of Alterra Mountain Co., and Natalie Ooi, the program director of the ski area management program at Colorado State University, shared with Travel Weekly editor Robert Silk (who also handles our ski coverage) and host Rebecca Tobin several facets of skiing and riding a la 2021: the challenges of having to prep for the unknown. Massive investments in technology that are enabling services &ndash; from food to ski instructors &ndash; to be brought directly to guests. Unexpected guest behavior in the face of the pandemic. And the &ldquo;new&rdquo; measure of success.
Plus, our favorite ski runs of all time.
Related coverage: Focus on Ski: Skiing apres-pandemic https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-on-Ski-Skiing-apres-pandemic A weekend in Vail: Ripping powder and retreating to the lodge <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-resorts-restaurants-and-ripping-powder">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-resorts-restaurants-and-ripping-powder </a>
Hitting the slopes is popular, even with apres-ski sidelined <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Hitting-the-slopes-still-popular-even-with-apres-ski-sidelined">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Hitting-the-slopes-still-popular-even-with-apres-ski-sidelined </a>
Alterra won&rsquo;t require reservations by passholders <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Alterra-will-not-require-reservations-from-ski-pass-holders">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Alterra-will-not-require-reservations-from-ski-pass-holders </a>
Vail reservations policy sets a precedent for ski areas <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-reservations-policy-sets-precedent-for-ski-areas">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Vail-reservations-policy-sets-precedent-for-ski-areas </a>
Ski operators expect serious challenges for 2020-21 season <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-operators-expect-serious-challenges">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-operators-expect-serious-challenges </a>
Ski resorts suddenly shutter <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-resorts-suddenly-shutter-coronavirus">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Ski-resorts-suddenly-shutter-coronavirus&nbsp;</a>
Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Backcountry bonanza <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Backcountry-Bonanza">https://www.travelweekly.com/North-America-Travel/Focus-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Backcountry-Bonanza </a>
Prepandemic coverage: Focus on ski: Indie slopes <a href="https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Indy-slopes">https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Hotel-News/Focus-on-Ski-Mountain-Travel-Indy-slopes </a>
&nbsp;

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they’ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors explore ideas, share experiences and provide insight into what they&rsquo;ve uncovered while reporting on some of the biggest trends in travel.

Hosted by Rebecca Tobin, managing editor of Travel Weekly

The Folo by Travel Weekly

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week. 

In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about.  

You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do. 

Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.

Travel Weekly's team of reporters, editors and contributors take a deep dive into the biggest travel story of the week.&nbsp;
In each episode, we invite invite our team of journalists and their trusted sources to delve into major travel trends that industry insiders, or just travelers, want to know about. &nbsp;
You may be wondering: Why the Folo? Well, a folo -- f o l o -- is a journalism term, a kind of shorthand that basically means to follow a breaking news story with more in depth reporting and analysis. And at the Folo podcast, that's what we do.&nbsp;
Hosted by Travel Weekly managing editor Rebecca Tobin.