Mild Winter, Economic Crisis Weigh Heavily On Minds of Local Ski Resorts

This article was written in the good old days of summer, when high fuel prices and a sluggish economy were all Americans had to worry about. Now, in a post Wall Street crash world, this piece on a mild winter, high airfare costs and high prices takes on a new intensity.

It is important to point out that American Airlines has some pretty sweet deals to Grand Junction and to our area ski resort, Powderhorn. Rather than break the bank this winter on Aspen or Vail, why not choose Colorado's Wine Country and the Wine Country Inn instead. Tough economic times doesn't mean you have to skip the champagne powder.

Under the headline, "Mild Winter a Chilling Thought for U.S. Ski Resorts," Scott Malone writes the following analysis:

"BOSTON (Reuters) - With the U.S. economy stuttering, the owners of the nation's ski resorts get chills worrying if a mild winter and the growing hassles of airline travel will leave their slopes bare this year.

"The nation's 10.6 million well-heeled downhill skiers and snowboarders typically find a way to get out on the mountains when snow falls, data shows. But current worries about the economy may prompt some, particularly in the Northeast, to drive to nearby mountains rather than flying to destination resorts in Colorado and Utah this year.

"That could leave resorts light on guests during the off-peak weekends, when traffic is not boosted by school and work holidays.

"'The concerns this year may center on the higher cost of air travel, the nickel-and-diming by the airlines,' said Hayley Wolff, senior research analyst at Rochdale Research, who follows the tourism sector.

"Rising airfares, not to mention moves by carriers including American Airlines (AMR.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) and United Airlines (UAUA.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) to hike fees for checked luggage, could turn off skiers, who travel with bulky equipment."

You can read the rest of the article here.