Tuesday, November 25, 2008

PCMR opening delayed, weather too warm

Many local merchants say it's no big deal
by Andrew Kirk, OF THE RECORD STAFF
Posted: 11/21/2008 04:43:11 PM MST

Park City Mountain Resort isn't open today. It was supposed to be, but according to Krista Parry, resort spokesperson, in the last five years the resort hasn't been ready on its scheduled opening day more often than it has. The delayed opening isn't expected to have much bearing on the season, though. During the last five winters the number of skiers in Park City has increased, and last winter it seemed to never stop snowing, she said. Snow during Thanksgiving week is a "bonus," she said. Skiers understand November snow is never guaranteed, and most people who booked this week in the hotels did so for family and the holiday. . The resort said Tuesday afternoon that 72 hours of subfreezing temperatures are needed to ready the slopes, and the unseasonably warm temperatures made snow-making impossible. Seasonal workers, meanwhile, cannot start their jobs. Parry said the resort itself staggers the arrival of visiting workers to avoid overstaffing early in the season. Those already arrived now simply have more time to "settle in," she said. But employees of resort-dependent businesses unable to start their jobs are milling around town looking for part-time work. Kate Ellis, manager at the Pizza Hut on Sidewinder Drive, said she's seen a lot of that lately. "Usually in winter we need extra servers, cooks and drivers but we're slow, too, before the resorts open so we don't need people," she said.
A few small eateries are also left in a bind. Susan McGraw of the restaurant Boua' Thai at the Resort Center is frustrated because her kitchen has made 5-gallon buckets of sauce in preparation for Saturday that won't freeze or keep. "It really screws up our inventory," she said. The restaurant spent all the money allotted for supplies in November and now has to wait and see if there will be anyone to serve. Catie Weekes, an employee at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory at the Resort Center, said her store bought four large boxes of apples for dipping in chocolate that will now have to be used for something else. But most businesses are indifferent, remembering warm Novembers in the past. Jane Salaya, reservation supervisor at The Yarrow, said November isn't a big time for bookings. Out-of-town skiers usually wait until December, she said. Thanksgiving hasn't been a big holiday for the local ski industry, explained David Holland Zatz of David Holland Resort Lodging. The real value of early-season snow is getting skiers excited about booking a trip during the heart of the season. November skiers are mostly Utahns, he said. But if someone is wavering between skiing and a cruise in January, early snow helps "get them off the fence," he explained. "Whether or not we're open for Thanksgiving isn't critical to our bottom line," he said. Erik Boller, manager at Rennstall Ski Tuning, said he's busy enough getting skis ready that he doesn't worry much about when the resort opens. Once the snow falls, he'll hire more people, but until then everything is business as usual. Elizabeth Dowd, spokesperson for The Canyons, said the resort continues to prepare for an opening day of Nov. 27. Parry at PCMR said there's value in setting an early opening date because having a projected opening helps the resort plan and prepare for the season. She also expects new features still under construction such as a high-speed ski lift and the remodeled Mid-Mountain Lodge will be ready for the later opening day. Parry also said she reminds people that all it takes is one big snow storm for everything to be ready.

The Alpine Coaster will be open Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and businesses at the Resort Center have staggered business hours.

PC Calendar of Events 11.23.08 to 11.29.08

The Egyptian Theatre Presents The Music Man
November 21, 2008 - January 3, 2009
Location: The Egyptian Theatre
Phone: 435-649-9371
www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org
This classic musical with its traveling con-man and the lonely piano teacher has been charming audiences for decades. Come, bring the whole family to this heartfelt and uplifting entertainment and spend the holidays with us at The Egyptian Theatre. Please call for show days and times.

First Annual Park City Turkey Trot
November 27, 2008
Times: 8am registration; 8:30am start
Location: Park City LDS Stake Center, 2300 Monitor Drive
Phone: 435-647-9379
Admission: 2 cans of food
parkcityturkeytrot.com
A 3.4 mile fun run/walk on Thanksgiving Day, benefitting the Christian Center of Park City Food Pantry. Pre-registration at parkcityturkeytrot@gmail.com

Park City Film Series - Bottle Shock
November 28, 2008 - November 30, 2008
Times: Friday & Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at 6pm
Location: Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave
Phone: 435-615-8291
www.parkcityfilmseries.com
In 1976, a small American winery bested the exalted French wines of the time and sent the wine industry into a tizzy - putting California wines on the map for good. Based on a true story, Bottle Shock chronicles the events leading up to the famous Judgment of Paris tastings, told through the lives of father and son, Jim and Bo Barrett. A former real estate attorney, Jim (Bill Pullman) sacrificed everything to realize his dream of creating the perfect hand-crafted chardonnay. Meanwhile in Paris, unwitting British wine shop owner Steven Spurrier (Alan Rickman) hopes to revive his own failing business by sponsoring a competition which will pit the traditional French powerhouse against the California upstarts. Little did Steven and Jim realize that they were both on course to change the history of wine forever.

Park City Gallery Association Presents The Gallery Stroll
November 28, 2008
Times: 6 to 9pm
Admission: Free
www.parkcitygalleryassociation.com
On the last Friday of each month, members of the Park City Gallery Association offer a unique showcase highlighting artists, special exhibits, and art events. The last Friday Gallery Stroll is a free community event that gives locals and Park City visitors alike the opportunity to enjoy light refreshments while exploring Park City's exciting art scene. Please visit any of our participating galleries to pick up a free gallery guide.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Wall Street a Faceplant for Skiers?

Utah resorts say a cautious no - hope for big season
By Mike Gorrell The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 10/27/2008 06:47:05 AM MDT

The people in Utah's ski industry are fretting, naturally, about what the economic maelstrom will do to business this winter. But there is an underlying confidence that if any place in the country is positioned to weather the onslaught, it is Utah. The main reasons - location and snow. More than ever, the ease of getting from Salt Lake City International Airport to numerous Wasatch Front resorts is expected to be inviting to visitors more likely to shorten their stays than to cancel their beloved ski vacation altogether. Having a big metropolitan area within a short drive of these ski areas also provides access to lodging of every price range, a luxury not shared by many resort towns courting thriftier-than-usual visitors. "You can't stay at the Motel 6 Aspen," quipped Ski Utah President Nathan Rafferty. When it comes to snow, no ski region in the country can match the dependable consistency of Wasatch Mountain accumulations. A 700-inch season may be a rarity, but it's a snow total Utah ski marketers can cite legitimately wherever they go. And among the diehard ski community, it's well known that the leanest winter in Utah would be the best year some places have ever had. "Our ski product is eminently saleable," said Rafferty, whose organization serves as the marketing arm of the state's 13 resorts and their extended $1 billion-a-year industry. "The ski industry is going to have a tough time. Nobody knows how hard it will be, and I don't think anyone is immune," he acknowledged. "But we have options that other destinations don't have." Rafferty is not alone in his restrained, somewhat hopeful, confidence. Joni Dykstra, who handles marketing for the venerable Alta Lodge, said bookings actually are ahead of last year at this time (and it turned out to be a good year). "We have a great brand and a rich tradition and loyal guests," she said. Bookings have been slower than usual at Utah Vacation Homes, which has economical-through-luxury lodgings around Salt Lake City and Park City. But assistant general manager Robyn Orme said her company expected that, given all the losses on Wall Street. The decline isn't a major reason for concern yet, she added, especially because ski people increasingly book late, waiting until snow conditions dictate when to travel. "Past years have shown that snow trumps all," Orme said. Her competitor over at Wasatch Front Ski Accommodations, Gayleen Johanson, sees things similarly. "I would have expected some kind of slowdown, but I haven't seen it," she said. "I'm seeing that people want fewer days. But if people are avid skiers, they're going to find the money to come out and ski." Like most Utah resorts, Snowbird depends extensively on locals to make ends meet. So even before the bottom fell out of the stock market, resort officials determined that the deteriorating economy warranted more discount deals to entice Utahns to take up the slack from destination visitor losses. The price of a young adult pass was cut from $1,000 to $625. A package for a family of four went from $2,500 to $2,000. Some early season lodging rates were lowered to $99 per night. That approach has helped to soften the blow, said Snowbird spokesman Jared Ishkanian. "Bookings are slightly down, and Snowbird is certainly feeling a small effect of the bigger conditions on Wall Street," he said. "The good thing is that season pass sales are up. . . .We have a strong local pool of skiers. We're just trying to respond to difficult economic times, trying to make it as affordable as we can." Other Utah resorts also are offering plenty of deals. Resorts will need every edge they can get in what promises to be a highly competitive environment, the likes of which "none of us has ever seen before," said Ralf Garrison, organizer of last week's Mountain Travel Symposium for the hospitality industry. "The storm clouds are a'coming," he said, noting that advance reservations in the Rocky Mountain states are 9 percent off last year's pace. In addition, "the [nightly] rate is down 2 percent, for the first time in recent memory." Garrison's featured speaker was Peter Yesawich, chairman and CEO of Ypartnership, a marketing, advertising and public relations agency serving travel, leisure, hospitality and entertainment clients. Addressing an online audience on a day in which the Dow Jones index plummeted 733 points, Yesawich said he was "deeply concerned about the short-term impact of what's happening in the markets now." To survive the immediate crunch, he advised resorts to develop inducements for potential clients whose tightening finances leave them strapped for time and actively seeking the best deals they can get. "Even more-affluent travelers will be far more value sensitive in the year ahead," he said. "They don't want to overpay. And people are now armed with the most important technology in commerce, the Internet, to make sure they don't overpay." Yesawich's message also reinforced the importance of the accessibility issue highlighted throughout Utah's ski promotions. "As we become more time impoverished, the radius of marketing efficiency is contracting. The maximum travel time is four to six hours, driving or flying," he said. "If people only have four days, and it takes a day to get there and a day to get back, that destination goes off the list." Brian Head Resort is emphasizing proximity in its promotional campaign in Las Vegas, its primary source of visitors. The drive to the southwestern Utah resort is much shorter than it is to anywhere in California, said Brian Head spokesman Bob Whitelaw. "As long as we can get that good snow, especially early in the season, and get people excited that we have everything open, people will come," he predicted. Mindful of the time and money constrictions facing its target audience, the Utah Office of Tourism and its private-sector partners are poised to unleash their advertising campaigns on Nov. 5, the day after the presidential election. In ads on national cable channels and in the all-important Los Angeles market, Utah's main theme will be, "You don't waste any time getting on the slopes," said Tourism Office managing director Leigh von der Esch. Just as importantly, the campaign will emphasize "more value per mile," she added. "No doubt the economy is on everyone's minds. That's why it behooves us to show that you can get the family vacation you expect, and the value, in Utah." mikeg@sltrib.com

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

PC Calendar of Events 11/16/08 to 11/22/08

Park City Film Series - Elegy
November 21, 2008 - November 23, 2008
Times: Friday & Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at 6pm
Location: Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave
Phone: 435-615-8291
www.parkcityfilmseries.com
With humanistic warmth, wry wit and erotic intensity, Elegy explores the power of beauty to blind, to reveal and to transform. Sir Ben Kingsley plays David Kepesh who glories in the pursuit of adventurous female students but never lets any woman get too close. When gorgeous Consuela, played by Penelope Cruz, enters his classroom, however, his protective veneer dissolves. Her raven-haired beauty both captivates and unsettles him. Even if Kepesh declares her body a perfect work of art, Consuela is more than an object of desire. She has a strong sense of herself and an emotional intensity that challenges his preconceptions. This is one of the most adult and satisfying American independent films of the year.

The Egyptian Theatre Presents The Music Man
November 21, 2008 - January 3, 2009
Location: The Egyptian Theatre
Phone: 435-649-9371
www.egyptiantheatrecompany.org
This classic musical with its traveling con-man and the lonely piano teacher has been charming audiences for decades. Come, bring the whole family to this heartfelt and uplifting entertainment and spend the holidays with us at The Egyptian Theatre. Please call for show days and times.

Christmas in the Meadow Holiday Boutique
November 22, 2008 - November 23, 2008
Location: St. Mary's Catholic Church
Start and finish your holiday shopping with unique arts and crafts from around the Wasatch front and beyond. Admission: adults $1; children under 12 free. Located on Hwy 224 and White Pine Canyon Rd.

Norwegian Outdoor Exploration Center's Annual Fundraiser Gala
November 22, 2008
Location: Deer Valley Resort's Silver Lake Lodge
Phone: 435-649-5322
www.outdoorcenter.org

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

PC Calendar of Events 11/09/08 to 11/15/08

Park City Film Series - The Memory of a Killer
November 12, 2008
Times: 7pm
Location: Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave
Phone: 435-615-8291
Admission: Free
www.parkcityfilmseries.com
An idealistic cop and a hard-bitten assassin are the subjects of this intricate thriller. The story takes place in Antwerp and other locales in Europe. The good guys and bad guys, partial to dangerous weaponry, hard drinks and pliant women, fill the twisted plot. This film is noted for its exceptionally fine performances and careful attention to detail. Part of the Reel Classics Free Screenings.

Park City Film Series - Up The Yangtze
November 14, 2008 - November 16, 2008
Times: Friday & Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at 6pm
Location: Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave
Phone: 435-615-8291
www.parkcityfilmseries.com
Director Yung Chang uses the construction of China's massive Three Gorges Dam as a springboard to better understanding the social hierarchies and changing times in his homeland in this documentary focusing on a luxury cruise ship that carries predominately Western tourists down the Yangtze River. Constructed as a symbol of modern progress in China, the Three Gorges Dam has forced millions from their ancestral homes, and will soon swallow up numerous towns and villages. This unusual film reveals the hidden difficult realities of life in rural China

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

St. Regis Deer Crest Photo Update

First Snow Fall Ski Season 08/09
November 5th, 2008











Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Park City Calendar of Events

11/02/2008 - 11/08/2008

Adopt-A-Native-Elder Annual Rug Show and Sale
November 7, 2008 - November 9, 2008
Location: Snow Park Lodge, Deer Valley
Phone: 435-649-0535
www.anelder.org
Friday, Nov 7: Special Event--adults $30, children under 12 $10, preview and sale, hors d'oeuvres, entertainment, live auction. Saturday, Nov 8, 10am to 6pm--$5 or canned food, weaving demos at 1pm. Sunday, Nov 9, 10am to 6pm--$5 or canned food, Veteran's Ceremony at 11am, weaving demo at 1pm, dances and Pow-Wow at 3pm.

Park City Film Series - Tell No One
November 7, 2008 - November 9, 2008
Times: Friday & Saturday at 7pm; Sunday at 6pm
Location: Jim Santy Auditorium, 1255 Park Ave
Phone: 435-615-8291
www.parkcityfilmseries.com
Tell No One is based on the international best-selling novel by Harlan Coben. An innocent man is on the run after he's accused of murder and his spouse seemingly returns from the grave in this thriller from France. The film stars Kristin Scott Thomas, Nathalie Baye and a cast of top French actors in a film of suspense and intrigue that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Park City Ski Swap
November 7, 2008 - November 9, 2008
Location: Park City Field House
Phone: 435-649-8749
www.parkcityskiteam.org

Green Building Consumer Trade Show
November 8, 2008
Times: 10am to 3pm
Location: Grand Summit Hotel at The Canyons
Phone: 659-6990
www.recycleutah.org
The Park City Board of Realtors Environmental Issues Committee, Recycle Utah and The Canyons will sponsor the Green Building Consumer Trade Show. Experts will speak on indoor air quality, renewable energy, utility incentives, ice dams and alternative energy vehicles. More than 40 vendors will be on hand to explain the latest technologies.