Perhaps the most valuable website name related to snowsports, Ski.com, belongs to a company that started 39 years ago as S&L Travel, then changed its name in 1974 to Aspen Ski Tours. After purchasing the prize moniker in 1999, the largest privately held ski tour operator in North America took on the Ski.com name.
While the website draws clients, the heart of the company's services is still the more than 75 "mountain vacation specialists" who have the enviable task of experiencing the ins and outs of scores of ski resorts. "That’s what really differentiates us is we do have a great website with lots of information, but we encourage our clients to call in and talk to our agents who have experience on average of about 15 years," said Ski.com CEO Harry Peisach. "They know every property. They know every resort very well."
"I’ve walked the walk. I’ve skied the mountain. I can tell them OK, if you have kids in ski school, this is where you need to stay. If you want this and this, then this is what you need and so on," said Leslie Shor, a mountain vacation specialist in her 18th winter with the company.
"You can talk about a vacation with someone who knows it like the back of their hand," Dan Sherman, Ski.com director of marketing communications, said. "Yet because of our size, you're going to get the best pricing, because of our relationships with the resorts and properties. It's a great combination."
Ski.com helps destination skiers book travel to about 100 resorts in the United States, Canada, South America and Europe. The company also started a partnership this ski season with Canadian Mountain Holidays (CMH) for heli-skiing.
At each resort, Ski.com works with a variety of lodging properties at different price levels. At the high-end, the Viceroy at Snowmass, Colo.; Waldorf-Astoria at Canyons Resort, Utah; St. Regis Deer Crest Resort at Deer Valley, Utah; and Ritz-Carlton at Northstar-at-Tahoe, Calif., are a few examples. Shor also pointed out the new construction of One Ski Hill Place of Breckenridge, Colo., that fills a niche for upscale, slopeside lodging at the resort.
For value, skiers can head to resorts that are close to major airports in cities such as Denver or Salt Lake City to take advantage of generally less expensive airfares. Other factors such as an area's prime tourist season can affect prices.
"One of the most unique ski areas I’ve ever skied is Lake Louise (Canada). It’s known more for summer tourism, so it’s a fabulous, fabulous value in winter," Shor said. "Crested Butte (Colorado) is quite a little gem, because of the village improvements, the lodging developments in the last five or six years, the on-mountain improvements and it still has the great charm it’s always had. I think it’s kind of overlooked if you will."
Most of the mountain vacation specialists for Ski.com are based in Colorado and may be reached by calling 800-264-4006 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. MST.
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