Top Winter Trends and Ski Season News from North America’s Hottest Resorts and Destinations
From East Coast gems to the majestic Rockies of the West, 2012/13, big trends include:
Smart Kids.
Forget amusement parks and video games; young travelers are more sophisticated than previous generations, and they’re looking for activities and amenities that engage and inspire.
Backstage Access.
The next best thing to private slopes? Private guides that take you to parts of the mountain the masses will never access. And if backcountry isn’t your style, try Fresh Tracks or a private “haute” tub service to ensure that you snag an unforgettable experience that few can try.
Adrenaline.
Heli-skiing, hut trips, ziplines, oh my. 12/13 is going to be the year that extreme adventure goes mainstream.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa:
Located in the heart of Beaver Creek, at one of Colorado’s most celebrated mountain resorts, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Re
sort and Spa is a 190-room resort offering Beaver Creek’s only true ski-in, ski-out access. Beaver Creek Resort provides access to 146 runs on 1,805 acres of skiable terrain and lift tickets interchangeable at nearby Vail Ski Resort.
New this Season:
Haute-Stuff: Park Hyatt is launching “Haute Tub” service. Guests will can reserve one of five dedicated, slopeside hot tubs for up to six people (in one hour increments) when opting for bottle service. Think Vegas-style, poolside cabana service –with the most enviable location in the Rockies. Soakers choose from a selection of Champagne or liquor, plus mixers, a dedicated waitress, a sampling of snacks including the property’s famous truffle popcorn, warmed towels and robes, and more. Bottle service starts at $300 per bottle.
Teen Cooking Classes: Parents traveling with teens know how hard it is to find anything that grabs their interest, other than their phones and, just maybe, The Food Network. Which is why Park Hyatt Beaver Creek Resort and Spa and the culinary team from 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill are launching weekly, complimentary, teen focused cooking classes inspiring teens to trade texting for chopping. Classes will include themes such as basic knife skills, gourmet pizza making, sushi rolling, cold weather “mocktails” and lessons on how to make barista style coffees at home.
With nearly 40 independent, upscale hotels and resorts, Destination Hotels & Resorts is the fourth largest hospitality management company in the country and boasts the largest collection of mountain properties in the U.S.
New this Season:
The collection just launched a bucket-list style travel program, the Destination Dream List, and mountain resorts are introducing exclusive adventure packages in Vail, Tahoe, Telluride and Stowe. Highlights include:
Manor Vail Lodge, Vail, CO
Backcountry Hut Trip– Ski or snowshoe through the Rockies to a 10th Mountain Division hut. Vail, the birthplace of North American Resort skiing is celebrating its 50th Anniversary this year, and while the mountain is legendary, the best way to see it is not in a lift line but by exploring the backcountry.
The Gant, Aspen, CO
Magic of Skiing,” For someone who’s looking to improve their skiing – both physically and mentally – The Magic of Skiing combines full days of skiing and snowboarding with Thomas Crum’s off-mountain training, a totally unique and enriched learning experience that focuses on mind/body coordination, fitness and health, relaxation and awareness, conflict resolution, and harmony in relationships. Ski the group’s choice of Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, Buttermilk, or Aspen Highlands. Program dates are Feb 2-8, 2013 and March 9-13, 2013.
The Resort at Squaw Creek, Tahoe, CA
Heli-Skiing – Take an epic ski vacation via helicopter to the top of Tahoe and ski down glades, bowles and chutes along the Sierra Crest.
Stowe Mountain Lodge, Stowe, VT
Winter Zip-line Adventure and Snowshoeing View Vermont’s highest peaks on this award-winning zip line adventure and a snowshoe trek
Yurt Snowshoe Tours: An evening excursion, guests of the Lodge snowshoe by headlamp out to a yurt located in the woods near our Nordic center for a cozy dinner with drinks and dessert too, and then are brought back in the Lodge’s Mercedes after dinner.
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole :
Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole features 124 luxurious guestrooms and true ski-in/ski-out access, three slope-side restaurants with panoramic mountain views, a base camp concierge, ski valet and a full service spa.
New this season:
Ultimate Couples Escape - With new direct flights to Jackson Hole from major hubs around the country, it’s easier than ever to jet off to this winter “hot spot” for a long weekend romantic getaway. To set the mood, Four Seasons Jackson Hole is offering a new “couples escape package”, ideal for a winter retreat with your honey. This 4-night experience features a customizable itinerary complete with special in-room amenities, spa & dining experiences along with the opportunity to ski the epic terrain this destination is known for.
“Pizza Pie to Powder High” The Ultimate Beginner’s Package - This customized three day package is the ultimate introduction to skiing. Beginners will enjoy the ease and comfort of meeting their instructor the night before where they will be introduced to the terrain of the mountain, given a personal boot fitting and introduction to skiing.
Customized Beginner Package Includes:
3 day private lessons including lift tickets & equipment rental
Amenity package to include Khul fleece, arnica cooling cream from the spa, chap stick, sunscreen
Peak Performance Massage
Personalized in room boot fitting upon arrival
Ski Rentals
Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail:
Nestled at the base of one of North America’s most acclaimed ski destinations, Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail offers 121 guestrooms outfitted in a contemporary alpine lodge style. The resort provides a complementary Ski Concierge that provides Four Seasons service all the way to the slopes.
New this Season: Four Seasons Resort & Residences Vail is rolling out the “gold carpet” to celebrate Vail’s 50th Anniversary. 2012 marks the golden anniversary of the opening of Vail Mountain on December 15, 1962. To celebrate this important milestone, two distinctive packages to ensure you celebrate Vail’s 50th in style:
“1962” – Vail visitors in 1962 did experience epic skiing but not the luxurious accommodations of Four Seasons. Fifty years later, they can. The “1962” level of this package includes:
$1962 for a luxurious executive suite per night
50-minute massage at the resort’s award-winning Spa
$50 credit daily at Flame Restaurant
Two 1960s classic cocktails at Fireside Lounge
As Canada’s only AAA 5-diamond property, Four Seasons Resort Whistler provides easy access to Whistler Blackcomb, site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Encompassing 273 guest rooms, suites and townhouses – along with a selection of private residences – the Resort includes a superb spa and mountain dining.
New this Season:
“Ski the Dream: The Ultimate Ski Experience” - Guests fly via helicopter from Vancouver International Airport to Whistler for 4 nights of luxurious accommodations. Includes 2 days with a Whistler Blackcomb instructor, personally guiding them to the greatest spots on both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. This will help prepare them for a day of heli-skiing in the back country. The area has 432,000 acres, 475 runs and 173 glaciers to choose from while heli-skiing. Guests will have a chance to demo local ski brand Prior Skis or snowboard, tour the factory and even choose a high performance pair of skis or snowboard that will be made and shipped home. To help with aches and pains, the package also includes two 50-minute après-ski massages in the Four Seasons spa. At the end of the trip, guests board the helicopter for a ride back down to Vancouver International Airport. Offered Dec. 1 – April 5th, 2012/2013
A leader in worldwide guided active adventure programs, REI offers more than 140 adventure travel trips to more than 40 countries worldwide. The company offers unique itineraries focused on sustainable, human-powered outdoor adventure; hiking, biking, kayaking, climbing and more. Guests experience iconic destinations while exploring off the “beaten path,” getting to know the local people, their culture, the flora and fauna and discovering things they would not be able to duplicate on their own or with another travel company. Winter trips include:
Lake Superior Snowshoeing: New for 2012! Come experience winter on the shores of Lake Superior! This adventure combines amazing snowshoe hikes past frozen waterfalls and sea caves with comfortable lodging in log cabins, cozy fires and fresh organic meals.
Ice Climbing Basics: New England winters create the perfect conditions for world-class ice climbs to form consistently each season in the idyllic White Mountains of New Hampshire. For those wishing to discover the thrill of this exhilarating and fast-growing sport, this introductory course features a great environment, furnishes all the necessary technical equipment, and boasts outstanding instruction from experienced guides.
Zion New Years Adventure: Our mid-winter Zion & Bryce Canyon hiking and snowshoeing adventure provides a unique opportunity to discover these magical national parks when visitors are few and the landscape is filled with an air of tranquility and renewal.
A year-round resort in Montana’s Rocky Mountains that offers an unrivaled alpine experience. The resort is easily accessible from Bozeman, MT and is located in close proximity to Yellowstone National Park, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. With more than 5,500 acres of ski terrain, Moonlight Basin is part of the Biggest Skiing in America and offers some of the best downhill skiing anywhere, but seldom a lift line. Moonlight Basin also features a world-class spa, a variety of dining options and luxury accommodations that are perfectly suited for families or couples.
Nestled against Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park is a stunning Colorado mountain village. The town is an outdoor-lover’s paradise, offering year-round activities for outdoor enthusiasts including world class hiking, horseback riding, flies fishing, wildlife and bird watching, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and camping. Estes Park is an affordable alternative to higher-priced ski and resort towns and is ideal for families, couples and road-trippers.
