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Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract And Plan To Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics In Its ‘Commitment To Zero’

Beaver Creek solar panel. Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract And Plan To Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics In Its ‘Commitment To Zero’. Photo: Vail Resorts.

Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract and Plan to Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics in its ‘Commitment to Zero’

Vail Resorts, Inc.  yesterday took major steps in its ‘Commitment to Zero,’ as the Company announced a long-term wind energy contract to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 100 percent of its estimated FY 2019 North American operations by 2020. Additionally, Vail Resorts announced a partnership with Eco-Products to supply all of its North American restaurants with compostable and recycled-content items and eliminate conventional single-use plastics, a process which will begin during the 2018-19 winter season.

Eco - Beaver Creek Gold Dust Trail Snowmaking Compressor- Photo: Vail Resorts. Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract And Plan To Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics In Its ‘Commitment To Zero’.
Eco – Beaver Creek Gold Dust Trail Snowmaking Compressor- Photo: Vail Resorts. Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract And Plan To Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics In Its ‘Commitment To Zero’.
  • The agreement with Lincoln Clean Energy will produce enough wind energy to reduce the emissions associated with Vail Resorts’ estimated FY19 North American electricity use by 100 percent, which includes 17 resorts and their associated retail, hospitality, and corporate offices
  • Eco-Products named ‘Official Zero Waste Partner’ of Vail Resorts to help divert nearly 300 tons of waste from landfills through sustainable sourcing, including a Smart Straw initiative  
  • Today’s announcements are a part of the Company’s first EpicPromise Progress Report around its ‘Commitment to Zero’ initiative and corporate giving programs

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) today took major steps in its ‘Commitment to Zero,’ as the Company announced a long-term wind energy contract to purchase the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 100 percent of its estimated FY 2019 North American operations by 2020. Additionally, Vail Resorts announced a partnership with Eco-Products to supply all of its North American restaurants with compostable and recycled-content items and eliminate conventional single-use plastics, a process which will begin during the 2018-19 winter season.

Continue reading “Vail Resorts Announces Long-Term Wind Energy Contract And Plan To Eliminate Conventional Single-Use Dining Plastics In Its ‘Commitment To Zero’”

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Cortina d’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships

Having an outdoor evening time in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Photo www.bandion.it - Cortina Marketing. Cortina D’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships.

Cortina d’Ampezzo is gearing up and getting ready for a great winter season and for the 2021 Ski World Championships.

The ski pistes of the Tofana Area, where the Ski World Championships will be held are being improved for the ski season: the Olympia and Vertigina pistes have been enlarged and slightly modified in their slope and bends to respond to requirements for the World championships.

Wherever you look at, the views are amazing in Cortina D'Ampezzo. Cortina D’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships. Photo: www.bandion.it - Cortina Marketing.
Wherever you look at, the views are amazing in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Cortina d’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships. Photo: www.bandion.it – Cortina Marketing.

Snowmaking facilities are being upgraded, three tunnels were dug to enhance the access to the slopes, and work to prepare the finish area of the Rumerio is ongoing. These improvements will be completed prior to the 2019 Female Ski World Cup (19th-20th January) and will provide world class slopes to Cortina’s guests for the rest of the season.

The Tofana-Freccia nel Cielo cable car has reached its 50th year anniversary. On this occasion, the lift managing company presented a project to renew the first stretch of the cable car, from the centre of Cortina to Col Druscié, venue of the slalom competitions in 2021. The project includes the substitution of the current 70 cable cars with a new lift with 10-seat gondolas, increasing the transport capacity from 700 to 1800 skiers per hour. With a new intermediate stop at Colfiere, the gondolas will also substitute the current chairlift serving the A and B pistes of Col Druscié.

Cortina da Cojana. Photo: Cortina Marketing. Cortina D’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships.
Cortina da Cojana. Photo: Cortina Marketing. Cortina d’Ampezzo is gearing up for a great winter season and the 2021 Ski World Championships.

Considering the upcoming start of the work for the new road of the Col Druscié and Rumerio areas, the gondolas will also serve as a convenient and environmentally friendly way to reach the Finish Area of the Ski World Cup and 2021 Ski World Championships.

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The Ski Resort Gudauri in Georgia is rebuilding one lift and adding six new lifts by Doppelmayr and Poma.

The ski resort Gudauri is rebuilding one of its lifts and is installing six new lifts by renowned companies Doppelmayr and Poma. These lifts will increase the skiers uplift capacity by 3.5 times and help in reducing queues.

As a result of this, the ski area will be expanded with new trails by 20 per cent due to the installation of the new lifts and the reconstruction of the existing one. A second phase of installation of artificial snow making system will be installed in Gudauri. This will be ready for the 2018-19 ski season in a second piste. The first phase was installed for the 2015 ski season.

Gudauri ski resort will reconstruct one lift and add six new lifts from Doppelmayr and Poma. Photo: Mountain Resorts of Georgia.
Gudauri ski resort will reconstruct one lift and add six new lifts from Doppelmayr and Poma. Photo: Mountain Resorts of Georgia.

The Mountain Resorts Development Company, which depends from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, has trained its staff’s qualification in accordance to European standards. We have already reported of this in a post. Employees understood a series of technical training this year.

Continue reading “The Ski Resort Gudauri in Georgia is rebuilding one lift and adding six new lifts by Doppelmayr and Poma.”

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Vallnord-Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift

A chairlift takes you up Vallnord-Pal Arinsal . Photo Vallnord- Pal Arinsal. Vallnord-Pal Arinsal, Andorra. Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift.

The director of the Vallnord-Pal Arinsal (Andorra) ski resort, Josep Marticella, has assured that these degradations will not affect the station’s opening forecast, set for December 1st. He denounced, however, an attempt to “sabotage”.

The Andorran police opened an investigation after an alleged “sabotage” attempt against ski lifts at the Pal ski resort in Vallnord, in the parish of La Massana, one of the seven in the principality, it was reported Tuesday with the police.

Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift.
Police investigate sabotage attempt after cable cut on chairlift. Ouest France Facebook page

The police were required Monday by the station officials for “a cable cut” on a chairlift while the station has not yet opened.

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Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

These unique Dolomite vistas encompass the extensive Alta Badia ski area, with magnificent views of the Sasso Lungo Peak and the Sella Mountain Range. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets. Photo: IDM Sudtirol.

Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets

When you think of Sudtirol you think of the Dolomites in Northern Italy. The province of South Tyrol, or Sudtirol is bordering in the north with the Tirol in Austria and to the south with Trentino. The scenery is to die for, in reality, I have never seen more impressive and beautiful terrain in the world, the mountains are impressive and very rocky sculptured peaks, and at dawn or dusk, they turn into pink, thanks to the Enrosadira effect.

Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.
Cross-country skiing through the calm winter idyll with a view on Mount Sciliar/Schlern: the snow-capped wooden fences of the high plateau are the sole witness to the pastoral activities of summer. Season Opening’s at the different ski resorts of Sudtirol and Christmas Markets.

Enrosadira is the term given to the phenomenon whereas the peaks of the Dolomites turn into a pink/reddish colour, and then gradually turning into a violet. The reason of these changing colours is because the calcium carbonate and mangnesium carbonate of the dolomite, the mineral found in large quantities in the rocky walls of the Dolomites. Enrosadira is a Ladin term meaning ‘turning pink’. Ladin is an ancient language of the inhabitants of the Dolomites.

There are more than 30 ski areas located across all of South Tyrol. Most of these are part of the two larger ski associations.

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The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The Alpine huts along the ski slopes of the Gardena Valley serve local fare mixing traditional Italian with South Tyrolean dishes; against the magnificent background of the snow-capped peaks of the Sella Mountain Group in the Dolomites. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time. Photo: IDM Sudtirol - The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

Only two weeks after the tragic meteorological event at the end of October, which has brought numerous damages in the Alps, also blowing away the roof of the Comici hut of Selva Val Gardena, works to rebuild the roof are almost completed before the imminent snowfalls.

The time schedule of the works seemed almost impossible, but it was being able to be restored in record time – in just 11 days, with an already final solution that will be completed in the coming days, just in time for the start opening season.

The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.
The roof of the Rifugio Comici in Selva Val Gardena was restored in record time.

This success was due to the coordination of the Marzola group and to the workers of the companies Lignosystem and Zumprafux who have worked uninterruptedly and with great skill at 2153 m to make all this possible. The Comici hut will therefore open in perfect normality at the beginning of the next winter season on Thursday 6 December 2018.

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Aspen Mountain to Open Early, Saturday, Nov. 17

Mattpowerphotography.com 2/24/15 SkiCo Aspen Mountain Shoot. Aspen Mountain to Open with Skiing and Riding Memorial Day Weekend.

ASPEN SNOWMASS, Colo.—Nov. 9, 2018— Aspen Mountain will open for daily operations Saturday, Nov. 17, five days prior to the resort’s scheduled opening date.

Snowmaking operations began Nov. 1 and have continued at a steady pace throughout the last week due to cold temperatures at night. Alongside snowmaking, recent storm cycles have delivered up to 20 inches of new snow on Aspen Snowmass pushing the snowpack above average.

Aspen Mountain to Open Early, Saturday, Nov. 17. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.
Aspen Mountain to Open Early, Saturday, Nov. 17. Photo: Aspen Skiing Company.

“With above average snowpack and cold temperatures we have been hard at work preparing the mountain and we are excited to open early for the community and our visitors,” says Katie Ertl, senior vice president of mountain operations. “Opening early is always a great way to kick-off the highly anticipated ski and snowboard season.”

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Emma, the World’s First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort

A groomed run in Vail Mountain. Photo- Jack Affleck. Vail Resorts Commits to $175 Million to $180 Million in Capital Investments to Reimagine the Guest Experience for the 2019-20 Season

Emma, the World’s First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort

– Emma, a first generation technology, offers guests real-time information on everything from snow conditions and parking to rentals and personal performance stats

– Designed to get smarter the more she interacts with guests, Emma is launching first at Keystone to take advantage of the early ski season

– To interact with Emma, guests at Keystone can text her at 77477  

Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN) announced yesterday that Emma, the world’s first digital mountain assistant, has begun her inaugural winter season, launching in beta at Keystone Ski Resort in Colorado, which opened ahead of schedule this week. Emma is using the early season to better understand how guests ask questions while at the resort and will launch at eight additional ski resorts later this season: Vail, Beaver Creek and Breckenridge in Colorado; Park City in Utah; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in Tahoe; and Whistler Blackcomb in Canada.

Through simple text messaging, Emma (your Epic Mountain Assistant) offers guests real-time information on everything from snow conditions, parking and personal performance stats to recommendations on rentals, lessons and dining options. This first generation technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) through natural language processing (NLP) to answer questions, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through short message service (SMS) text. As Emma interacts with guests, she will get smarter, expanding her knowledge base and insight throughout the season.

Emma, the World's First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort (PRNewsfoto/Vail Resorts, Inc.)
Emma, the World’s First Digital Mountain Assistant, Kicks Off the 2018-19 Winter Season in Beta at Keystone Ski Resort (PRNewsfoto/Vail Resorts, Inc.)

“We are excited for Emma to launch in beta at Keystone. The earlier Emma can interact with guests on a variety of topics, the faster she will learn and adjust to guest preferences,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer for Vail Resorts. “Emma is the world’s first digital mountain assistant and continues a decade of pioneering technological firsts from Vail Resorts to enhance the guest experience.”

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Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.

Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th. Photo Federico Modica. APT Val di Fassa.

Val di Fassa is opening its lifts on December 6th. The strong wave of bad weather that hit, in recent days Val di Fassa has not compromised the start of the ski season that as scheduled, will kick off in early December.

After the heavy rains and gusts of winds that have lashed the territory between the nights of the 29th and 30th October, which caused crashes of trees and some landslides, there were no major damage done to the ski lifts and slopes of Val di Fassa, and all is back to normal.

Gruppo del Sella view from Pian de Frataces. Photo APT Val di Fassa. Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.
Gruppo del Sella view from Pian de Frataces. Photo APT Val di Fassa. Val di Fassa is ready and opening its lifts on December 6th.

To reassure all ski and snowboard fanatics, in a note published on November 5th by Daniele Dezulian, president of Val di Fassa and Carezza cableway assembly, he states that “Bad weather caused limited damage to infrastructure. These problems can be restored in time to allow the regular start of the ski season, scheduled for December 6th. The damage was caused by the fall of trees due to strong winds, as documented by various newspapers and news services. Water, on the other hand, has compromised some stretches of forest roads, preventing vehicular access in some high-altitude areas, where restoration work is still under way.”

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Important Pet Travel Scheme Update for Eurotunnel’s passengers

Get ready to take your pet abroad after Brexit is imposed. EU Regulations for travelling with your dog if we have a 'No Deal Brexit'. Photo Unsplash Jeremy Bishop.

Important Pet Travel Scheme Update for Eurotunnel’s passengers: thought that this might interest to those going to the mountains, whatever time of the year from the UK with their furry pals.

Eurotunnel has sent a DEFRA’s update on the Pet Travel Scheme if there is a ‘no deal’ Brexit.

This week DEFRA announced their recommendation that pet owners planning to travel immediately after 29th March 2019 contact their vet at least four months in advance of travel to check what they need to do.

Driving to the Mountains. Pet Travel Scheme. Eurotunnel. Picture Unsplash: Randy Fath
Driving to the Mountains. Pet Travel Scheme. Eurotunnel. Picture Unsplash: Randy Fath

For example, if you are travelling on 30th March 2019 the recommendation is that you visit your vet as soon as possible, and before the end of November 2018 at the latest.

DEFRA have advised that customers will still be able to travel with their pet to Europe after Britain leaves the EU, however they may need to take some additional steps to allow their pet/s to travel in a ‘no deal’ scenario.

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