There is a new opportunity for destination weddings or other parties in New England: a ski resort that has said it’ll run its lifts only for you and your guests, and no other members of the public.
Vermont’s Pico Mountain announced the new offering, which is seen rarely, if ever, in the ski industry.
“There’s going to be no lift lines,” predicted Pico Mountain’s Kristel Fillmore.
On certain days from Jan. 8 to April 4, Pico will allow people to rent the resort for parties, weddings, corporate outings or other events—as in, no one else on the trails, aside from you, your family, and friends.
The private mountain rental, for lift-served top-to-bottom skiing and riding, is $6,500 for up to 250 guests for a whole day, with extra charges for meals, lodging, and additional guests.
However, the offer is only available on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Those tend to be quiet days Pico stays closed anyway, when its nearby sister resort, Killington, handles midweek skiers and riders.
Local
In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area.
“Ideally, we attract first-time business with this offer and those people come back as a family vacation or they bring a different group,” Fillmore said, explaining one business goal behind the move. “We want to turn first-time visitors into regular visitors.”
Vermont’s critical tourism and hospitality sector is really welcoming this new offering because Tuesdays and Wednesdays historically have been the toughest days to attract travelers and the economic activity that comes with them, a state tourism official said.
“It’s a challenge for us,” Steve Cook of the Vermont Department of Tourism & Marketing acknowledged about midweek visits, even during Vermont’s busy autumn and winter seasons.
Cook said the unusual private ski experience could attract a new stream of out-of-state visitors, helping boost a $3-billion travel and hospitality industry that supports tens of thousands of jobs statewide.
“This industry is very competitive with other destinations, so anything we can do to set Vermont apart from our competitors is a great thing,” Cook told NBC10 Boston & necn.
Cook praised the Vermont ski industry for always looking to innovate, citing many resorts’ expansions for summer guests, and now, Pico’s exclusive mountain concept.
Cook called Vermont’s ski resorts vital to the rural state’s economic growth.
