Aspen Non-Stop Air Options Increase!

Austin, TX and Orange County, CA Now Offer New Non-Stop Service to Aspen for 2021/22!

According to last week's Aspen Times, "nonstop commercial flights to Aspen-Pitkin County Airport from up to six airports between Texas and California are part of a schedule that is all but finalized for the upcoming winter ski season."

The newest locations for non-stop service include Orange County, California and Austin, Texas.

“I think this is a pretty solid plan,” said Bill Tomcich, a consultant to Fly Aspen Snowmass, which is an alliance among Aspen Skiing Co., Aspen-Pitkin County Airport, Aspen Chamber Resort Association and Snowmass Tourism.

On Friday, what Tomcich said is the final piece to the winter flight schedule came with the announcement of two daily direct flights between Santa Ana, California, and Aspen. United Airlines will offer the flights starting Dec. 16 and running through March 26. The incoming, nonstop flights to Aspen will originate from John Wayne Airport.

The two newcomers join San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, Houston, Chicago and Atlanta giving guests a wider choice of route options than the town has had in many years. This is surely a sign of the continued popularity of Aspen/Snowmass as a vacation destination.

Now that you know how to get here why not pay us a visit this winter? Gareth can connect you with the best possible luxury lodging whenever you choose to come! Call (970) 309-7649 or email him at [email protected] and reserve your accommodations today!

Aspen Snowmass Shifts Winter Marketing for 2020/2021

Scaling Back and Moving Online

A recent article in the September 30 Aspen Times reports on the challenge of promoting winter sports during these uncertain times. The Aspen Skiing Company rethought everything and the resort scaled back their support staff and magazine ad buys.

“Aspen Skiing Co.’s marketing campaign will look significantly different this winter, both in substance and execution,” writes Times reporter Scott Condon. “There will be no national branding such as the “Give a Flake” effort of recent seasons.”

The management company for the mountains of Aspen/Snowmass has let some staff members go and tightened up their strategy in response to the current economic environment.

“It’s definitely going to be a different kind of marketing campaign,” Jeff Hanle, Skico vice president of communications, said Tuesday. “You have to remain flexible and ready to pivot.”

Gone is the campaign urging skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor lovers to “Give a Flake” and get involved in concrete action to ease global warming.

“We’ve moved on from that. That was the plan already,” Hanle said.

The article goes on to state that “an advertising agency was working with Skico officials on a new campaign, but that’s been put on hold. There won’t be any advertisements in ski publications in January, for example, because conditions could change so drastically by then, Hanle noted. The ads would have to be finalized now to run in January.”

“Instead, Skico will remain nimble with messages that will be shared primarily through digital platforms. They will ...focus on education about protocols to keep customers safe from the spread of the coronavirus, trumpeting fresh snowfall and renewing the spirit during a tough time by getting outdoors, according to Hanle.”

The types of visitors the resort typically sees will change this year with fewer international visitors and more “drive-time” domestic visitors. The resort expects guests to stay longer than what would be typical during an average year.

A big part of the marketing effort will be education about the new hands-free procedures that will be in place for everything from ordering food at restaurants to buying lift tickets.

Both the town and the resort are working hard to plan and educate guests on how to have fun and stay safe this winter.

For the full article click here!

Winter 2018/9 Snowmass Base Village

Snowmass Base Village

The resort out here making the most news this winter isn’t Aspen! Snowmass Ski Area and the new Base Village have captured the spotlight with a host of new development and on-mountain amenities. The 10-year project fully realizes the vision partially developed in 2004 but halted by the great recession in 2008. On Mountain improvements for seasoned skiers such as the super light weight Sheer bliss quad and the new High Alpine quad have opened up access to The Cirque and the Wall like never before. Aspen Snowmass know how to deliver the goods to all levels of skiers.

Even Gwyn’s High Alpine restaurant has had more than a little work done. All in the name of refreshing the way for new generations.

The Snowmass Legacy – A New Chapter

It is all happening now at Base Village.

Only nine miles down the road from Aspen or a quick 20 minute free bus ride, Snowmass Mountain is as big as Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk put together and has always appealed to families with it’s excellent value and emphasis on all-ages fun. The mountain boasts a wide array of terrain for all abilities, including the wide-open cruisers at Elk Camp and Big Burn and the always-rewarding extreme terrain of Hanging Valley Wall. But for many years the resort became mired in on-again, off-again attempts at renovations and expansion. It’s been a resort town with no central focal point. That’s all set to change in a big way.

Snowmass Base Village is a collaboration between East West Partners, Aspen Skiing Company and KSL Capital, all of whom are based in Colorado. The goal is to complete Fritz Benedict’s original master plan crafted back in 1967. Benedict, a celebrated Aspen architect and visionary, viewed Snowmass Ski Area as the ultimate ski-in, ski-out resort anchored by a pedestrian village at the base. The three partners have committed $600 million towards this effort and it’s currently the largest family-oriented mountain resort development in North America.

Update: Limelight construction from Snowmass Base Village on Vimeo.

Builders are hard at work as we speak on the current phase of construction including the new 99-room ski-in, ski-out Limelight Hotel and residences. In fact, their goal is to have the hotel ready for guests when the mountain opens late this November! That’s just the beginning, however. There will be a new public events plaza with an ice-skating rink, new restaurants (including a new Creperie), new bars and a community center.

New Limelight Hotel

The new Limelight Hotel will have an official grand opening on December 15^th and features an indoor/outdoor lounge area, a kids game room, a fitness center, a five-story indoor climbing wall that the public can use, and spa pools right on site. Paired up with the hotel are the Limelight Residences, eleven free market ownership units and the exclusive Snowmass Mountain Club. Members get private access to on-mountain parking, lockers and their own lounge area.

Other parts of the development Lumin, three-private access residences with contemporary interiors and One Snowmass, 41 brand-new condominiums spread across two buildings connected by a shmantzy pants signature glass walkway.

Come Visit

What does this all mean for guests visiting Snowmass this winter? It means that its time to revisit Snowmass explore the new village and checkout the new restaurants as well as taking some laps in Powerline glades! Those of you who have enjoyed winter in Aspen/Snowmass might just like what you see well enough to take the plunge and purchase a place of your own. There is a good range of inventory in Snowmass Village from the swanky new development to classic ski condos in need of a new owner. Single family home prices have seen a full recovery and new homes are replacing the 1970’s chalets.

Call lifestyle guru Gareth 970 309 7649.