Top 10 Ways to Revitalize Killington

[throbster]

Okay geniuses, let's hear your ideas.

[andyzee]

That's a vague question, depends on what you're looking for. Are you looking for the Killington of old, true Beast of the East, long season, no frills skiing. Or are you looking for a Mega Resort, with a village and stuff as it appears Powdr is working on? Are you looking for a true skier mountain, or are you looking for a resort where ritzy types come take a run or two, hang out in the restaurants and bars and shop throughout the day.

[Dr. NO]

We talkin the town or mountain? Town, I know nadda except to figure what to do in the off season. Stage race is a good start.

The mountain? Well, how about putting the signs back and modify them a bit.

"Killington, skiing from early November to Memorial Day, sometimes into June"

that would be a good start.

BMMC, PARTY CENTRAL. OK, they say they had a good turn out for the concerts this past season, but add to that the normal party atmosphere and great comps and BOOM you have KILLINGTON, the BEAST. Stop this BS with regard to State Liquor and personal consumption on public land. Move events to SPRING to make it more enjoyable and bring more bodies in.

MEMORIAL DAY TRI! May Day Fun Slalom. June 1st Fun Slalom! Add some good prizes to it also, like hats, t's, maybe a pass for the #1 guy and gal. June, go back to the Smith era where skiing was free on June 1st if you raced, you got a free T and they had a free BBQ on the mountain. OC used to bring at least 2 buses to that event on Downdraft.

[andyzee]

Are you talking the whole Killington Experience? Or are you talking just the skiing? Do you mean profits, or experience?

[tt431]

Make Superstar a dry slope and never close the mountain.

[junior]

1 through 5: Open really early in the fall.

6 though 10: Stay open really late in the spring/summer.

[ski]

It's a no-brainer

[rogman]

1. I thought the weekend business was about right, they need to revitalize the midweek business. Preseason: offer the equivalent of the K50 for midweek, at an attractive pricepoint, say $40, or even $39.
2. Do what Jay does, offer passholders from other mountains the $39 rate. Again, this could be midweek only.
3. Start marketing. They had a pretty good product last season, but the word didn't get out. Twitter, FB, and the rest of the social media only preach to the converted. They need to
get into papers and the radio. Midweek is often an impulse buy: "F' work, Lets go skiing TOMORROW".
4. Fix the WWW site. It's awful. Is there anyone who thinks it doesn't suck, both visually and functionally? Old site was far better.
5. Offer a midweek day ticket deal for college students. They are on a limited budget, but typically bring a carload. (They may be doing that already).
6. Work with the Access road businesses. Stop viewing them as competition for HH or for the Wobbley, but as an added draw to the area. It is one of Killington strengths. When they weaken the Access road, they hurt themselves long term.
7. Accept that Killington will never be Deer Valley. As a ski area it's strength are its terrain, abundant snowfall, and proximity to major urban areas. Quit trying to make it something it isn't.
8. Treat your customers with respect. Always tell the truth, no matter how painful. Don't assume you know more than your customers, you're always wrong. Always be listening, particularly when your customers are telling you something you don't want to hear. I have the impression that John Cumming grew up with enough money that he never had to learn any of those lessons.
9. Your pass holders are your base. Their word of mouth is far more valuable than any other form of advertising.
10. Ignore Kzone, Azone, and the rest at your peril. Among them they get pretty good coverage. Don't expect to win any arguments, you won't. Don't get into any debates, you'll lose. However, when a lie goes unchallenged, it becomes the truth. When someone purports to speak for the mountain, but doesn't, that needs to be addressed as well. Accept that the best you can hope for is damage control.
11. Quit referring to snow as "The Product". It isn't. "The Product" is recreation. It is possible to have a great time with a lousy surface. More importantly, beware that people may have a lousy time even with a great surface. Everything that happens during a guest's visit contributes to that perception, positive or negative.

[shortski]

OK rogman one more well thouhht out and insightful post and your history. We a KZone take pride in being nothing more than naysayers and complainers. Your recents posts are damaging this perception, you have been put on double secrect KZone probation.

[andyzee]

OK rogman one more well thouhht out and insightful post and your history. We a KZone take pride in being nothing more than naysayers and complainers. Your recents posts are damaging this perception, you have been put on double secrect KZone probation.

Thank you. I was outraged by his post!

[Mister Moose]

Cliffnotes version of Rogman's comments:

1. Ideas
2. Ideas
3. Ideas
4. Ideas
5. Ideas
6. Ideas
7. Quit trying to make it something it isn't.
8. Treat your customers with respect. Always tell the truth, no matter how painful.
9. Ideas
10. Ideas
11. Rogman can't count.

[Marc Shepherd]

"Killington, skiing from early November to Memorial Day, sometimes into June"

that would be a good start.

Can someone please educate me on this?

By the time Killington closed, there were only about 3 resorts in the Northeast still open. A week later, there were zero. Therefore, the failure to remain open till Memorial Day cannot be Killington's sole problem, or even its main problem, since nobody in the Eastern time zone remained open past the last weekend in April.

[andyzee]

"Killington, skiing from early November to Memorial Day, sometimes into June"

that would be a good start.

Can someone please educate me on this?

By the time Killington closed, there were only about 3 resorts in the Northeast still open. A week later, there were zero. Therefore, the failure to remain open till Memorial Day cannot be Killington's sole problem, or even its main problem, since nobody in the Eastern time zone remained open past the last weekend in April.

And that's what set Killington apart from the rest.

[Nevada West]

"Killington, skiing from early November to Memorial Day, sometimes into June"

that would be a good start.

Can someone please educate me on this?

By the time Killington closed, there were only about 3 resorts in the Northeast still open. A week later, there were zero. Therefore, the failure to remain open till Memorial Day cannot be Killington's sole problem, or even its main problem, since nobody in the Eastern time zone remained open past the last weekend in April.

And that's what set Killington apart from the rest.

+124

[Marc Shepherd]

"Killington, skiing from early November to Memorial Day, sometimes into June"

that would be a good start.

Can someone please educate me on this?

By the time Killington closed, there were only about 3 resorts in the Northeast still open. A week later, there were zero. Therefore, the failure to remain open till Memorial Day cannot be Killington's sole problem, or even its main problem, since nobody in the Eastern time zone remained open past the last weekend in April.

And that's what set Killington apart from the rest.

Really? Even without operating in May, Killington's season was as long as, or longer than, about 98 percent of Northeast ski areas. On top of that, Killington has numerous advantages that, taken in totality, few others can match (location, size, terrain, climate, access).

So I'm asking a sincere question. How could the length of the season be the main problem?