pyro_boarder Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Montage's Future Concerns Businesses Hotels and restaurants in the area are afraid of the upcoming winter season and it has nothing to do with the weather. Area businesses are worried that if the sale of Montage Mountain is delayed they won't have the customers they count on for ski season. More..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DHarrisburg Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 ruh roh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papasteeze Posted September 13, 2006 Report Share Posted September 13, 2006 Hotels and restaurants in the area are afraid of the upcoming winter season and it has nothing to do with the weather. Area businesses are worried that if the sale of Montage Mountain is delayed they won't have the customers they count on for ski season. It's the advance sales that are the chief concern now. People book package vacations from Philadelphia, New Jersey and Washington D.C. to come up to ski. They bring dollars local businesses count on. "When there's a bad ski season we pay the price," said Dan Edwards, Comfort Suites general manager. He just hopes there is a ski season. The status of nearby Montage Mountain is still in limbo. A multi-million dollar offer accepted by the county has been challenged and that has people in the hotel business feeling unsettled. "If the new owners take over, they could possibly have different rates than the county could have, so it's a little sticky for us right at the moment," Edwards added. "With the hotels being our next door neighbor, the hotels fill up when the ski slopes are busy, so we get naturally a lot of business," said Jeff Zehner of Marvelous Muggs. The restaurant relies on skiers and people who come along for the day and don't ski during the winter. "They must be gamblers anyway because they've got to hope for a good snow to have a good weekend," Zehner added. Though skiers may be gamblers, county officials are not. They want this squared away just as soon as possible, for taxpayers, for businesses and for visitors. "I'm getting very concerned at this point. We have not made intentionally, the capital investments that you make in an off season," said Commissioner Bob Cordaro. He added he is confident a deal can be finalized and that the mountain will benefit with private ownership. That looks like a good thing for the restaurants and hotels counting on their customers. "I have people calling to book ski packages and we set a deadline for the last week in September. We have to publish rates regardless, so if the rates are wrong then we're going to have to absorb the loss," said Edwards at Comfort Suites. The case is due back in court next week. A judge expected to rule on minority commissioner Mike Washo's lawsuit to stop the sale of Montage to the company, Sno Mountain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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