Situated at over 9,000 feet in the majestic Rocky Mountains, yet only two hours from the Denver International Airport, Winter Park Resort is one of the most accessible of the major ski and summer resorts in Colorado. From a skiers point of view, it's also one of the best. Just check out these stats…
3,078 acres of ski terrain with a 3,060 ft vertical - the longest trail, 7.4 miles
26 lifts, including two high speed six packs and seven high speed quads
4 new lifts in the last 4 years - plus a whole new base Village!
Consistently rated # 1 for bump skiing in North America on Mary Jane (where else of course) by Ski & Skiing Magazine
Average 354 inches of dry Colorado powder each winter
300 days of annual sunshine
And finally, if experience and innovation count, how about …
70 years of continual operation, resort development and history - right here at Winter Park
Here is a bit of the early history… up here it's all around you.
Skiing began in Winter Park, then known as "West Portal", in the 1920's. The construction workers, building the Moffat Tunnel were looking
for some diversion and a bit of excitement. They found it on the steep slopes above their camps. It was a hike up and fly down adventure on basic barrel staves, the woman skied in heavy woolen dresses.
By the late 1930's, the City of Denver, saw the potential for Winter Park as a year round playground for city dwellers and out of town tourists. The Winter Park we know was dedicated on January 28, 1940, opening for the ski season with one T-bar on Hughes. Lift tickets cost a dollar.
By the late 40's there were seven lifts and many more trails. Serious development had begun. To better manage the resort, the Winter Park Recreational Association was established and they soon hired Steve Bradley (of the legionary '39 Dartmouth ski team) to run the resort. Steve introduced the "Bradley Packer" which is recognized today as the prototype of mechanized slope grooming. You can see photos of Bradley Packers in action in West Portal - where SkiTops Trade Show is to be held.
The 50's saw further innovation - with the construction of The Balcony House, the first at any ski area to use passive solar heating. Winter Park was 'green' before it was cool.
The Ski Train is yet another historic and charming aspect of skiing at Winter Park. Operating continuously since the early days, SkiTops was pleased to ride this train and ski Winter Park as a group back in 1998 when Network was held in downtown Denver. The SkiTops party on the train ride home is something of a legion as well.
Under the leadership of Jerry Groswold, the 70's saw the development of the world renowned National Center for the Disabled. Countless numbers of disabled skiers attribute their love of the sport to those first experiences at Winter Park.
Since then, Winter Park has only improved - the expansion into Mary Jane (1975/1976), Vasquez Ridge (1986/1987), Parsenn Bowl (1992/1993), and the Vasquez Cirque (1998) quickly come to mind. Not to mention the brand new Village at Winter Park completed this past winter offering expanded lodging, restaurant and retail space.
Then in 2002, under the leadership of the current President, Gary DeFrange, Winter Park Resort and the City of Denver joined forces with prominent developer Intrawest to carry the Resort to the next level. SkiTops members will see the fruits of that collaboration this August - it's pretty amazing.
Today, this year round resort community offers more than outstanding skiing - it's a summer playground as well. The mountain biking, the hiking, the golf nearby - it's all outstanding. Best of all, at 9,000 ft, it's nice and cool up here, and at night the stars come out and really shine.
So sit back and relax while you read about our upcoming three day adventure - fashioned around business and learning, as well as a good time. This August we are off to scenic, friendly and very historic, Winter Park, Colorado. SkiTops University Agenda:
Check-in: The registration desk will open at Noon and be in the Zephyr Mountain Lodge.
Note: All Tour Operator Sales Agents will need to arrive at the resort no later than 3:30 PM. All others will want to arrive no later than 6:30 PM.
4:00 PM - 6:45 PM: All Tour Operator Sales Agents please gather in the lobby of the Zephyr Lodge to embark on your guided tour of Winter Park Resort Lodging. This tour will consist of all the properties managed by Winter Park Resort Lodging. Be sure to bring a camera, a pad of paper and a pen. Pay close attention, take notes. There will be a test directly following the tour, and the three Agents with all the correct answers will be entered into the Grand Prize drawing to be held Tuesday night. Be a winner.
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Welcome Reception / Dinner to be held at West Portal. All SkiTops attendees are invited. The dress is resort casual (no jeans this evening).
Tuesday, August 25, 2009:
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Tour Operator Breakfast / Business Meeting takes place in the Five Mountain Tavern located in the Vintage Hotel. One designated voting member from each Tour Operator is required to be in attendance.
Note: If you are lodging in the Winter Park Village (Fraser Crossing, Founders Pointe or Zephyr Mountain Lodge), then allow for about 10 minutes transit time to the Vintage Hotel via the new Village Cabriolet - located at the south end of the Village. It's a nice ride.
9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon: Site Inspections for all the Tour Operator Sales Agents, this time incorporating a number of lodging properties not managed by Winter Park Resort Lodging. Once again, bring your camera, a pad of paper and pen, as a quiz, developed by the properties involved will be administered at the end of the tour, and those agents with all correct answers will be entered once again in the Grand Prize drawing scheduled to take place at the Farewell Dinner.
Suppliers Please Note: Below is an addition to the Agenda …
9:30 AM – 10:00 AM: Optional Supplier Meeting.
All Supplier Members are invited to meet with SkiTops Board of Directors Supplier Representatives Peter Hunter and Adam Feehan in the Timbers conference room at the Vintage Hotel for 30 minutes prior to the General Meeting.
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM: Coffee Break. OR, if you are a presenter at the SkiTops University sessions there will be a quick orientation in the Timbers conference room.
10:20 AM - 12:00 Noon: SkiTops General Meeting, to be held in the Pines conference room at the Vintage Hotel. All SkiTops Members, Tour Operators and Suppliers alike are invited to attend.
12:00 Noon - 1:00 PM: Hosted lunch for all attendees to be held in the Five Mountain Tavern, The Vintage Hotel.
1:00 PM - 5:30 PM: First Session, SkiTops University to be held in the Timbers conference room, Vintage Hotel. All Tour Operator staff are invited to hear a series of presentations from participating SkiTops Supplier Members, see below for details.
1:00 PM - 5:30 PM: Recreational activities, multiple options, open to all those not attending the first University session. Prior registration may be required for some activities. Details to follow.
6:30 PM - 8:00 PM: Winter Park Mountain BBQ, to be held at the WP base between the Gemini and Arrow lifts. Casual dress, everyone's invited.
8:00 PM - Midnight: Winter Park is providing buses to transport everyone into downtown Winter Park, first to enjoy a delicious dessert event at a special venue and then to embark on an informal, unstructured sampling of the local night life. The buses will run loops to bring people home as the night progresses. The last bus departs downtown WP at 11:50 PM. After that, cab service is available.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
PLEASE NOTE A CHANGE IN THE AGENDA FOR THIS DATE.
In order to make the best use of our time together in Winter Park, the agenda for this afternoon has officially been revised. The TRADE SHOW will now directly following lunch, finishing up at 3:30 PM. Then, following a 90 minute break, the GROUP EVENT will start at 5:00 PM sharp, leading directly into dinner that evening. Jeans and a jacket are suggested attire for the Group Event and Farewell Dinner.
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Second session of SkiTops University, with Supplier presentations in the Timbers conference room, Vintage Hotel. See below for details.
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Free time for the Tour Operators / Suppliers not attending the University. Recreational opportunities will be provided. That said, consider this a good time to schedule a meeting with that Tour Operator or Supplier you have been looking to talk to.
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch on your own - with terrific "specials" being offered by several of the new Village at Winter Park restaurants. Be sure to bring your SkiTops badge to qualify.
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM: This is it. SkiTops Supplier Members Trade Show. Everyone please proceed to West Portal.
Note: All attending SkiTops Supplier Members are eligible to exhibit at the Trade Show for the very modest fee of $50.00 per booth. Suppliers, be sure to bring your pop up display (full floor model or tabletop) and ample brochure materials. Each exhibitor will be provided a skirted table and two chairs. Don't look for a fancy pipe and drape booth arrangement; rather, expect a series of draped table tops. SkiTops will provide refreshments for everyone. By the way - a year ago, 41 of the 50 Supplier Members in attendance participated in the Trade Show. That was a 10% increase from the year before. This is a popular event - and a very affordable way to get your message out to the Tour Operators. Be sure to be there.
5:00 PM – 6:40 PM: Group recreational activity - it's a surprise event. Everyone please gather at the base area, near the Zephyr high speed lift - and be sure to dress in casual attire, comfortable shoes and be sure to bring a jacket.
6:40 PM - 9:30 PM: Everyone please gather by the Zephyr high speed chair (remember the warm jacket), as shortly we will all be transported to our Farewell Dinner atop the mountain at Sunspot, the most amazing venue at Winter Park Resort. During dinner, prizes will be awarded in a "walk off" to the top Sales Agents as measured by the quizzes administered earlier in the week.
9:30 PM - We begin to download back to the base of Winter Park. The balance of the evening is on your own.
Thursday, August 27, 2009:
Day of departure - or stay another night and enjoy Winter Park, and the cool evening breezes. It's nice up here.
This year the presentation portion of University will be held over 2 half day sessions, the first on the afternoon of Tuesday, August 25 from 1:00 PM - 5:30 PM, and the second to be held the next morning, from 8:30 AM - 1:00 PM. On stage, a series of 21 different Supplier Members will take the stage, one by one, to address in any manner they choose, the sales agents seated classroom style before them. Specifics Regarding SkiTops University Presentation Slots:
Question: Can Tour Operator Owners / Senior Managers join their full time Sales Agents for the University presentations?
Answer: Certainly, SkiTops Tour Operator members are welcome to attend any or all of the Supplier Presentations. This could be a good chance to work with your new agents for example, drawing on your experiences to enhance their knowledge base.
SkiTops University / Presentation Schedule
Presenters Please Note: The following will be available for use during each presentation session at no extra charge …
Podium
Microphone / PA system
Screen
LCD Computer Projector with connection to the PA system
Computer stand
Click each logo for a connection to their University presentation
Tuesday Morning, August 25, 2009
10:00 AM - 10:20 AM - If you are a presenter at either of the University sessions there will be a quick orientation in the Timbers conference room.
Presentation Schedule
Tuesday Afternoon
1:00 PM - 1:18 PM - Introduction, review and SkiTops.com
5 minute break
1. 1:23 PM - 1:48 PM - Aspen Skiing Company
5 minute break
2. 1:53 PM - 2:18 PM - Whitefish Mountain Resort
5 minute break
3. 2:23 PM - 2:48 PM - Vail Resorts - Vail, Keystone, Breckenridge, Beaver Creek and Heavenly
12:43 - 1:10 PM: End of Supplier Presentations. Graduation, presentation of certificates and class photo. The Sales Agents and Presenters now take the Village Cabriolet from the Vintage Hotel to the Village at Winter Park, joining the rest of the group for lunch.
Q: Well, about ready to sign up for SkiTops University?
Great! This brings us to …
What steps to take now as you proceed to register.
If you are a Tour Operator …
Determine today who among your full time Sales Agents you want to bring to SkiTops University. Note: We encourage you to bring several agents and have provided significant incentives for up to two agents from your company to attend, see above for details.
If you are a Supplier Member …
Determine today if you wish to be a SkiTops University Presenter, and if so, act immediately to secure one of the Presentation Slots, selecting either the long or the shorter version, whichever best suits your needs, via the Registration Form below. If you intend to share your slot with others in your community, then be sure those partners are SkiTops Members, and plan with those companies accordingly. SkiTops University Registration Form:
Zephyr Mountain Lodge is a rustic and contemporary lodge with a slopeside location at the base of the Zephyr Express chairlift and is the prime location for the Resort’s winter “playground”. This unique, two building property is comprised of 230 condominiums ranging from one to three bedrooms. Each building has a private outdoor hot tub and heated underground parking. In addition, a variety of shops and restaurants are located on the ground floor in the Zephyr Plaza. One bedroom/one bath condominiums will sleep up to four. Each has a queen bed in the master bedroom and a queen sofa sleeper in the living area. The two bedroom/two baths will sleep up to six, with a queen in each bedroom, and a queen sofa in the living area (we do have a few two bedrooms with two beds in the second bedroom instead of a queen). The three bedroom/three bath units have a queen in each bedroom, and a queen sofa sleeper in the living room. Each can sleep up to eight. 
Located at the entrance to Winter Park Resort, The Vintage Hotel is comprised of 118 rooms that feature beautiful mountain vistas and is the closest lodging option to the resort that is pet-friendly. The full-service Vintage Hotel has traditional rooms, studios, one, and two bedroom suites with many rooms featuring kitchenettes and gas fireplaces. Five Mountain Tavern, located just inside the lobby is the perfect place to catch up with friends and family. The Vintage Hotel also offers an outdoor pool, hot tub, and business center. www.vintagehotel.com
Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe are the two newest properties at Winter Park Resort and offer guests the convenience of a prime location, just steps from the resort and the ski lifts. Fraser Crossing and Founders Pointe offer 195 units comprised of studios, one, and two bedroom condominiums. Each has the comforts of home and feature high-speed internet, access to an outdoor spa, fireplace, and BBQ, in addition to a convenient private underground parking garage with storage lockers.
Reservations
