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Paul Toner |
TravelAge West recently caught up with Paul Toner, vice president, sales and marketing for RockResorts and Vail Resorts Hospitality, to get the scoop on the company’s new green- and outreach-oriented programs.
RockResorts’ Give and Getaway outreach program, which is in its third year, includes recreation trail restoration and working with local farmers. As part of the program, RockResorts has introduced a new green wedding package offering recycled paper invitations, an environmentally friendly car, access to community-based volunteer projects for guests to partake in, and much more.
Vail Resorts’ 360 program is committed to preserving Colorado’s iconic landscapes and strengthening its local communities. Through the company’s charitable donations to almost 100 nonprofit organizations, employee engagement in communities and stewardship programs which includes the National Forest Foundation program. Together, Vail Resorts and RockResorts have raised more than $1.2 million for area conservation efforts in the White River National Forest in Colorado and the Lake Tahoe Basin.
What makes RockResorts different from other beach or ski resorts around the country?
Our green commitments — we are a true reflection of the local area.
What kinds of environmentally friendly programs have been implemented at RockResorts?
We have implemented several brand-wide programs including the Give and Getaway promotion. It has been very successful the past two years and in our third year, we have expanded across the entire division to include green weddings, green meetings, green guestrooms and sustainable cuisine. It’s a commitment from the entire company and the Vail Resorts 360 program.
What kinds of environmentally friendly programs do you anticipate for the properties opening in the next several years?
We will continue to expand our current brand-wide programs, such as greener weddings, events and meetings, sustainable cuisine, Give & Getaway and other guest engagement programs, as well as focus on resorts that support casual luxury while embracing the unique settings of the resort location wall with attention to efficiency and sustainable features.
What does RockResorts do to cater to families?
Our goal is for families to create lasting memories while vacationing at RockResorts — whether it’s from participating in family-bonding group activities to catering to individual’s desires to ensure that each member of the family enjoys themselves.
For example, The Arrabelle at Vail Square offers a ski nanny who meets and greets children in the lobby and takes them over to Vail’s acclaimed ski school. This service allows children staying at The Arrabelle the opportunity to bypass check-in lines and parents can take comfort in the fact that they can avoid the hustle and bustle of an early morning check-in and get right to the slopes. The ski nanny also arranges a meeting spot and time for the parents to pick up their child after a day of skiing.
The Osprey offers a Nintendo Wii entertainment system and board games in the lobby areas. Also, kid-sized robes are available in-room.
The Pines Lodge is offering a rafting package for families which includes a rafting trip to either the peaceful Upper Colorado River or a challenging run through the Shoshone Rapids. Rafting will be booked the day after arrival. Nightly accommodation rates at The Pine Lodge start from $138 per person. The length of stay allowed for this package is one to 28 nights and this package is valid through Oct.1.
What programs or services are offered for both parents and children?
Epic Summer from Vail Resorts Hospitality and Give and Getaway are terrific ways for clients to be together as a family and teach children the benefits of giving back to a community while everyone has a fun time on vacation. Epic Summer appeals to the adventurous vacationer with a variety of athletic activities, while the Give & Getaway program promotes guests involvement with nonprofit organizations by offering a discounted lodging rate and value-added amenities.
How does RockResorts work with the travel agent community to bring business to its properties?
RockResorts values the travel agents who support us in all markets. We offer a program called Site and Stay for agents at a heavily discounted rate valid at all of our properties. We know that if they experience our properties, they will be able to sell them more effectively. Our corporate leisure sales managers are on the road, making personal sales calls, thanking agents for their business, as well as calling on new agencies to inform them on our portfolio. All of the RockResorts properties have a dedicated leisure sales manager who is also on the road, talking to agents, and available for any special requests or assistance.
What do you see with regard to the future of RockResorts?
We are excited about our expansion projects that include: Tempo Miami scheduled to open in 2009; One Ski Hill Place in Breckenridge, Colo., opening Spring 2010; The Mansfield Inn at Stowe in Stowe, Vt., opening in winter 2010/2011; Rum Cay Resort Marina in the Bahamas, opening 2011; and the Third Turtle Club & Spa, Turks and Caicos, opening 2011.
We are also looking at other warm-weather destinations for future RockResorts properties.
www.rockresorts.com
www.vailresorts.com
