Gondola Gossip

"I love living in the mountains, but hate watching people sacrificed for profits." It's really sad to see how things have finally reached the point of diminishing marginal returns. Profits may be up. And that maybe great for investors on Wall Street, but its damaging the reputations of mountain resorts and communities as cold, greedy and heartless.

People used to come to the mountains because of the weather and returned because of the experience, combined with the people who made their living doing these very jobs. Unfortunately, like all disasters this one began with the best intentions. Many people forget or are to young to remember the floundering ski industry in the 1980's. It wasn’t bloated with rich hotels and gaper second home owners. And that was a good thing!

Enter the real estate saviors. Well, only for a short time and now that time is up. Most of the locals, who want to be padded on the back for everything… are the same ones responsible for the current conditions. They sold their real estate and businesses to the highest bidders and they profited grossly simply by being in the right place at the right time. So some real estate folks and a handful of locals made a fortune and forgot all about the community they claim means so much to them. Their opinions should count no more or less than any other resident or worker.

Second homes and Air BnB have ruined the resort and community for the majority of visitors and residents on many levels. From driving up prices to driving people away from snow sports all together. Things like ski lockers, private clubs to exclusive parking lots are examples what's wrong . This makes less space for all the residents and customers who are there spending money… compared to those uber wealthy who seek special privileges one or two weeks a year. If more ballot initiatives were put forth to punish greedy landlords and employers we'd probably see them pass since most of the people profiting off these resort communities no longer live there and therefore they can't vote there either. So, to an extent the local politicians who claim they care should be scrutinized more closely as to why the communities are not doing more.

This is real simple. When rich people come to a resort town a think it's about me and what I want, because I can afford it… almost everyone in town hates you, including your employees…and YES, they all talk badly about you and your family behind your back. Where do you think this gossip comes from? How many times have you raised the prices on rooms or a beer over the years? Now how many times have you elevated your employee's wages? Just because people and employees are nice to your face does not mean they do not think badly of you and how you treat them and other people. If they want to keep their jobs they wouldn't dare. And oh yeah, if you think "I'm a good person" and "that's not me and my business"…you're probably dead wrong. 

Less bars, restaurants and parking for the real customers are replaced with more luxury hotel rooms, clubs and ski lockers results in lack of après, dining and nightlife options for the vast majority, while catering the wealthiest few who are barely ever at the mountain. The resulting customer dissatisfaction combined with the loss of parking, employees and F&B tax and other revenues is where the community again suffers to cater to the wealthiest few who can afford to pay for things.

"Somewhere along the line last season I had to stop telling visitors I was a local. For years and years I enjoyed meeting visitors and sharing a conversation on the chair or gondy, but last season all visitors wanted complain soon as they found out you were a local. Like somehow we are the resort or towns complaint department." Why is everything so expensive? Why is the service not as good as it used to be? Why can't I find a place to park? Why can't I get into a restaurant without waiting 2 and 3 hours after being on the mountain all day? What happened to our "nice" mountain town or resort? Why do I feel that I'm not getting my money's worth here anymore? 

Guess what? All good questions, but you're complaining to the wrong people. Your service stinks, because the local businesses can't or won't pay real residents with pride in their community what it takes to do these jobs. Locals who are left know what it takes to be able to afford to survive, not live, in these communities. When the residents can longer afford a decent standard of living they are forced to leave. They are replaced by cheaper temporary and seasonal workers with a fraction of the experience and even less care for a community they'll be leaving in a few months. Not to mention any honest business will acknowledge the loss in quality of service between experienced professionals who have a stake in something compared to seasonal employees looking to ski, snowboard and party for a season.

So who and what are you really paying for?

Think about it.