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| To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Breckenridge will make 50 guests’ wishes come true this season. |
In the wake of its acquisition—and $30 million renovation—of Northstar California resort (formerly Northstar-at-Tahoe), Colorado-based Vail Resorts is rolling out enhanced dining options and social media ventures to shore up the company’s home base. To help agents sell in the new season, the company is launching targeted, fully commissionable packages to help them connect the proper ski experience with their clients.
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Breckenridge, Vail will run the “50 Wishes” campaign throughout the season. This year, guests can submit any wish they’d like to see come true at the resort. Then Breckenridge staff will compile 50 of them and make them come true during the year.
“Even though it’s our birthday season, we thought it’d be great to focus the celebrations on our guests and truly give them the experience of a lifetime,” said Pat Campbell, SVP and COO at Breckenridge. “It’s our way of celebrating in that signature Breck style, and at the same time, thanking our guests for their support over the last half-century.”
This season also marks the return of Vail’s EpicMix app, which allows guests to share their ski and snowboard experience via social media.
Agent Advice
“Make sure you book an airport shuttle; this helps clients save on car rental fees and they won’t have to worry about the terrible winter road conditions,” says Marrilee Foukal McLean of Alabama World Travel.
“Tell clients to try to get their ski or snowboard rentals the night before they start skiing. This way they will have that taken care of, and they will see that the lines are so much shorter than if they wait till the morning. Tell them not to forget their swimsuits for the pool and/or hot tubs at the hotel. Everyone loves swimming in the snow!”
New Dining at Vail
Vail’s newest dining experience is The 10th, named for the legendary 10th Mountain Division of Colorado. This mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out restaurant, which overlooks the Gore Range, has full, sit-down lunch service or express options at the bar. The 10th opens on December 1.
Also new this November is the upscale steak house Elway’s at The Lodge at Vail, A RockResort (lodgeatvail.rockresorts.com). In town, acclaimed Chef Nobu Matsuhisa opened Matsuhisa Vail in the Shops at Solaris this past August. Recommend clients to check out the omakase, a special menu that showcases the chef’s picks of the day.
Targeted Packages
To help agents sell their clients on Vail, the resorts are giving a selection of packages aimed at targeting key client demographics. For families, Vail offers the “Camp Adventure Ridge” package at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Vail.
Based on a family of four, the package includes five-nighs’ accommodations; private family ski/snowboard instruction; family lunch at Tavern on the Square; ski rentals; the Adventure Ridge Family Pass; a family welcome basket; and a mountaintop family photo. For families traveling with teens, a complimentary teen room offers Wii, billiards, foosball and air hockey in between hitting the slopes.
For luxury clients, recommend the “Mountaintop Luxury” package, a friends-and-family getaway atop Beaver Creek and Vail Mountains. This package is for a group of six people, and boasts a two-night stay at Game Creek Chalet on Vail Mountain and two nights at Trappers Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain, daily breakfast, après-ski and nightly dinners with a private chef, on-mountain lunch at Game Creek Club on Vail Mountain and Beano’s Cabin on Beaver Creek Mountain, ski/snowboard rentals, an adventure session with a private ski/snowboard instructor, and an iPad to capture the experience.
The “Gentleman’s Adventure” is a guy’s getaway, available at The Arrabelle at Vail Square, A RockResort and Austria Haus Club & Hotel, both of which are close to Vail’s après-ski bar scene. This four-night package includes ski biking at Vail Mountain’s Adventure Ridge, private ski/snowboard instruction, dinner for two at the new Elway’s at The Lodge at Vail, lunch at the new 10th restaurant, and daily breakfast.
All of the above packages include transfers to and from Eagle Vail Airport and custom ski/snowboard jackets. Vail is 30 minutes from Eagle County Airport via Colorado Mountain Express van service, rental car or taxi.