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 of lodging, ski rental packages, cut-rate lift tickets, stay-and-ski deals, upgrades -- all are part of the promotions resorts are using.

Of course, there's always going to be a portion of the population that's going to ski no matter what. For the rest of us, skiing is a luxury, something easily cut from the budget when things get tough.

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.

Bookings in Vail are down significantly, and skiers who do show up are expected to spend less money. Some predict one of the worst winters ever for the town's economy.

Many resorts also are seeing a shorter booking window from guests who normally make reservations early.

"We've definitely seen a falloff in pace from last year, even over some of the key holiday periods," said Scott Gubrud, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek'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 in waiting to decide what's happening in the economy ... before they make a decision."

The key is luring those people off the fence.

Grand Targhee in Wyoming is already a lower-cost option to nearby Jackson Hole -- its family pass is cheaper than Jackson's single adult pass -- and is trying to lure more regional skiers with cheaper multi-day lift tickets and discount punch cards.

Mount Snow in Vermont has a strong drive-up business, so it isn't trying anything drastic. Instead, it's dusting off some of its old tried-and-true favorites, including a one-night stay-and-ski deal for $72 and a discount card for frequent visitors.

Heavenly Mountain Resort near South Lake Tahoe, in California, in conjunction with Rock Resorts, is offering a variety of deals, including unlimited ski rentals, fifth-night-free lodging, even a $50 baggage bailout to combat baggage fees from the airlines.

"We acknowledge that vacation dollars are going to be tight this year, so we're just trying to make it as compelling and accessible as possible for people to make it up to the mountains," said Russ Pecoraro, Heavenly's director of communications.

Even luxury resorts, which normally don't feel the economic sting quite as bad, are taking measures to keep their numbers up.

The Park Hyatt Beaver Creek has taken the unprecedented step of extending some of its discount offers to the holidays, when the hotel usually fills up without much effort.

"This year's going to very different, so we've had to get a lot more promotional and provide a lot more of a value proposition as it relates to our guests," Gubrud said. "The good news for them is, I think there's going to be a lot of great opportunities in the travel marketplace -- particularly here -- to take advantage of some deals they weren't able to get before."

Here's a look at some deals:

Beaver Creek

Where: Vail Valley/ Colorado Rockies, http:// beavercreek.snow.com

The promotions: Fifth night free during the holidays, third night free with upgrade and breakfast, free Epic pass with Technique Week purchase.

The lowdown: The resort is offering a fifth-night-free promotion during the holidays. There's also a third-night-free package -- available anytime except the holidays -- that includes a one-category upgrade and breakfast for two, starting at $949 a night. Beaver Creek mountain is offering a free Epic pass -- a $579 value -- to anyone who signs up for the first week of Technique Weeks, an all-inclusive program with five nights of lodging, four days of personalized instruction and four lift tickets for $3,049.50.

Grand Targhee

Where: Wyoming/Grand Tetons, www.grandtarghee .com

The promotions: SnowCat adventure package, eight- and six-day punch cards.

The lowdown: Grand Targhee's family pass, at $1,725, is already less than one adult season pass at Jackson Hole. Multi-day lift ticket prices have gone about $7 per day. The resort also is offering three days, three lift tickets and a ride on a SnowCat for $369 through Dec. 21.

Heavenly Valley

Where: South Lake Tahoe, Calif., www.skiheavenly.com

The promotions: Unlimited ski rental, baggage bailout, fifth night free.

The lowdown: Rock Resorts is extending its fifth-night-free program to all six holiday periods and its baggage bailout program gives guests $50 off to cover airline baggage fees. There's also an unlimited ski rental program for $359; daily demo rentals usually run between $70-80.

Mount Snow

Where: Southern Vermont, www.mountsnow.com

The promotions: Discount lift ticket pass, $72 one night midweek ski and stay, electronic billboards.

The lowdown: The Fanfare Card costs $99 and gives skiers a 50 percent discount on midweek lift tickets, 25 percent on weekend and 10 during the holidays. The $72 ski-and-stay deal is $3 less than the normal cost of a single-day lift ticket, plus it includes a room. The mountain also has electronic billboards on Interstates 91 and 95 in the Northeast, which is can be updated within minutes; nothing draws skiers out faster than seeing snow on the mountain.

Comments

(Requires free registration.)

0 comment(s) found!