A Blizzard of Ski Dollars

Recession? » Not at Utah resorts this holiday season
By Mike Gorrell
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 01/02/2009 11:18:19 PM MST

Deer Valley » The lifts had just started running Friday morning and already the Snow Park Lodge plaza was abuzz with activity.
Lines at a half dozen ticket windows were steadily four to five people deep. Green-jacketed ski instructors were everywhere, rounding up their classes. Hundreds of people hustled about.
Lunch was no different at the Empire Canyon Lodge. Not an empty table was to be found on either the first or second floors. A few people even sat on the floor to eat.
"It doesn't look like a recession," said Sheryl Allen, a Bountiful resident and state lawmaker who was skiing with her grandson. "I ski here a lot and it's been years since I've seen lines this long. I've been surprised."
Surprised might not be the word Utah's ski industry officials would use to characterize this all-important holiday week during the worst economic times in 80 years.
But pleased certainly would be applicable. There was plenty of worry to go around earlier in the month, with economic news seemingly going from bad to worse daily. Lodging bookings were down and, just to ante up the apprehension, there was hardly any snow.
But then it started snowing. And good times are abounding at the resorts.
"The holiday period met our expectations, thanks to strong last-minute bookings," said Park City Mountain Resort spokeswoman Krista Parry. "We had several guests book holiday vacations less than a week in advance. Our accessibility to an international airport again proved priceless."

Snowbird marketing director Dave Fields said out-of-state bookings are still "off the normal pace," but snow has helped. "We've seen normal overnight guest demographics, just fewer of them."
At Solitude, spokesman Jay Burke said holiday bookings "could be better, but are not bad," a tune echoed by Alta general manager Onno Wieringa and Snowbasin spokeswoman Mary Rowland.
On an upside, "this has been our best holiday season by a large number," said Wolf Mountain Resort GM Bill Cox. Powder Mountain, also above Ogden, reported record numbers at its New Year's Eve party and strong night skiing throughout the holidays.
Deer Valley's daily ticket sales this past week kept pace with last year's record numbers. "Late bookings really helped," said spokeswoman Emily Summers.
Utah ski resorts do not disclose individual ticket sales.
Among the crowd Friday at Deer Valley, Kathleen Braun of Washington, D.C., said her family never dreamed of canceling their annual vacation because of the economy.
"For us, it's a tradition," she said. "It's a trip we would not forgo. We would give up other things before this."
Like many of this year's travelers, John and Diane Tuzee of Pismo Beach, Calif. were not about to give up, but did shorten, their holiday vacation with daughter, Michelle, son-in-law Craig Gropper and three grandchildren.
"We have three ski days this time. Normally, we have five," John Tuzee said. "I'm a little more conservative this year."
mikeg@sltrib.com