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Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS), the mountain travel industry’s largest and longest-running conference, to take place in picturesque North Lake Tahoe, CA, April 14-19, 2024
Mountain Trade Network - October 27, 2023
This annual event brings together over 900 mountain travel professionals from 35+ countries to forge business connections, exchange ideas, and to learn about what’s trending in the industry.
'More than skiing': A ski veteran reflects on how the industry grew
Travel Weekly - April 14, 2023
BANFF, Alberta -- In 1978, when Michael Pierson took over as head of sales at Crested Butte Ski Resort in Colorado, he quickly set about attempting to broaden the mindset of winter travelers.
Vail plays host to the 2022 Mountain Travel Symposium starting Sunday
Vail Daily - April 2, 2022
The Mountain Travel Symposium is a kind of combination of family reunion, speed dating, trade show and summer school. The event returns to Vail starting Sunday.
Driving diversity on the slopes
Travel Weekly - March 28, 2022
The U.S. ski industry, partnering with nonprofits, is introducing more women and people of color to skiing and snowboarding.
Ski industry clientele got younger, more diverse during Covid
Travel Weekly - April 24, 2021
Going into the pandemic, the ski industry faced challenges due largely to its core constituency aging out of the activity and younger generations showing less interest in hitting the slopes.
The Folo, Episode 21: The ski industry survives and thrives
Travel Weekly
Skiing and snowboarding are winter sports beloved by many, but they're also pastimes that rely on tradition. And from a ski operator's perspective, there are so many different pieces that have to seamlessly match up, from dining to grooming the slopes, safety patrol (and explosives), hospitality -- not to mention the whims of Mother Nature -- that it's not easy to make drastic changes. Yet that's just what ski resorts had to do in the face of the Covid pandemic.
Skiing, apres-pandemic
Travel Weekly - April 5, 2021
Reservation requirements, capacity limits, pop-up dining arrangements and suspensions of walk-up ticket sales are among the most visible and ubiquitous changes that ski areas implemented this year. But they are far from the only ones.
Mountain Travel Symposium: Growth Through Innovation
SAM Online - April 22, 2019
What do China, shopping malls, and snowball fights have in common? All three were floated as possible ideas for increasing skiing and snowboarding participation during the Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) at Whistler-Blackcomb in early April.
How to attract more skiers? Operators contend with decline
Travel Weekly - April 4, 2019
Innovations, both of the technical and non-technical varieties, are what the North American ski industry needs to end stagnant participation numbers, said a cross section of industry professionals at the annual Mountain Travel Symposium Forum.
Mountain Travel Symposium 2019: High-quality content and business building opportunities
Travel Weekly Asia - January 16, 2019
Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS), the single largest annual gathering of mountain travel professionals from all over the world in North America, is back for another edition of insightful sessions and invaluable networking from March 31 to April 6 in Whistler, BC, Canada.
Travel gurus get a dose of leadership reality
Lake Tahoe News - April 29, 2018
“High-functioning teams lead to high-performing organizations.” That was one of the messages delivered by Tina Sampson, vice president of sales for Vail Resorts. She was a speaker this month at the Mountain Travel Symposium at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. Her topic – Leadership for Innovation.
Social media redefines how people plan travel
Lake Tahoe News - April 26, 2018
Social media continues to challenge marketers when it comes to promoting a destination because people are using multiple platforms and how they use them differs. In other words, the exact same message used every place probably isn’t going to work.
MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM ADDRESSES TOPICS OLD AND NEW
SAM Online - April 19, 2018
The word innovation connotes creative, forward-moving success. But as a principal theme of the Forum portion of the 2018 Mountain Travel Symposium, April 11-12 in South Lake Tahoe, there was a reminder that innovation is best used remembering the lessons of yesteryear, and that nothing comes easy.
MORE THAN 1,100 ATTEND 43RD MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM
The Snow Industry Letter - April 17, 2018
Exhausted but happy participants departed South Lake Tahoe over the weekend after several intense days of buying, selling, learning, schmoozing and skiing at Mountain Travel Symposium. More than 1,100 participants representing 24 countries took part.
BODE MILLER OFFERS VIEWS ON SKIING, FAMILY AND MORE AT MTS
The Snow Industry Letter - April 17, 2018
A highlight of this year’s Mountain Travel Symposium was an interview with Bode Miller, arguably the most well-known and colorful American male skier in recent history, and maybe ever.
Travel conference redefines South Shore’s image
Lake Tahoe News - April 16, 2018
Glasses of bacon bloody Mary’s and craft beers clanged together in salutations while a disc jockey spun pop hits over a booming sound system. Guests shook their tail feathers on the dance floor and enjoyed a vast buffet of pork belly sliders, veggie platters, and pizza slices. Needless to say, it was a party. But this wasn’t your everyday Heavenly fiesta, this was the 2018 Mountain Travel Symposium, the largest ski business conference in the world and the meeting ground for many of the industry’s top leaders.
AT MTS, Ski resort execs say innovation key to meeting challenges
Travel Weekly (print) - April 16, 2018
Figuring out how to engage the next generations of skiers and snowboarders and addressing climate change's threat to the industry were among the dominant themes of the 43rd annual Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS), held here last week.
Expert: Hotel occupancy at record high
Lake Tahoe News - April 13, 2018
Hotel occupancy in the United States is at the highest level it has ever achieved – 66 percent. Ali Hoyt, senior director of consulting analytics for Denver based STR, was one of the presenters this week at the annual Mountain Travel Symposium. She provided a wealth of information about the hotel industry in the U.S., while briefly touching on metrics for ski towns. The firm studies 647 markets in the U.S., with properties divided into different classes. STR covers more than 70 percent of the hotels in the country, which is about 5 million rooms.
MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM GETS BUSINESS DONE IN SOUTH LAKE TAHOE
The Snow Industry Letter- April 11, 2018
Mountain Travel Symposium kicked off its educational segment on Wednesday morning with a jam-packed schedule of speakers.
Mountain Travel Symposium creates forum for younger professionals
Travel Weekly - April 11, 2018
Organizers of the Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) have launched the Young Leaders Summit, a new initiative aimed at engaging the next generation of mountain travel professionals.
Squaw Valley's Wirth says Alterra will maintain ski resorts' autonomy
Travel Weekly - April 11, 2018
Squaw Valley Ski Holdings president and COO Andy Wirth says new parent Alterra Mountain Co. will manage its 12 North American ski properties similar to how Marriott International's Starwood Hotels Group operates its stable of lodging brands.
bode miller to speak at mountain travel symposium
SAM Online - February 27, 2018
The lineup of quality content at the forthcoming Mountain Travel Symposium keeps getting better, with the addition of legendary ski racer and NBC commentator Bode Miller. Miller will speak April 12 to wrap up the MTS Forum General Sessions.
Industry pros flock to mountain travel symposium
SAM Online - January 3, 2018
More than 1,100 mountain travel industry sales and marketing professionals are expected to attend this year's Mountain Travel Symposium, April 8 - 14 at Heavenly - South Lake Tahoe, Calif.
Mountain Travel Symposium Celebrates Success
Hospitality Net- April 7, 2017
The 42nd annual Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS), took place in Banff and Lake Louise from March 26 - April 1, 2017 with upwards of 1,100 participants in attendance.
mountain travel symposium celebrates success
Northstar Travel Group- April 4, 2017
The business-to-business event connects the most influential domestic and international tour operators worldwide with mountain resort representatives and destination marketing organizations.
Mountain Travel Symposium emphasizes need to be inclusive
Travel Weekly- April 2, 2017
Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) panelists and featured speakers last week emphasized the need to market skiing and snowboarding with more inclusive messaging.
Create a Profitable Future with Mountain Travel Travel Symposium
TravelAge West- February 17, 2017
From March 26 to April 1, 2017, mountain travel professionals around the world will gather in Banff and Lake Louise for Mountain Travel Symposium.
Mountain Travel Symposium 2017
Ski Area Management
The annual Mountain Travel Symposium gathers more than 1,000 mountain travel experts from around the world for a week of networking, deal-making, education, and fun.
Mountain Travel Symposium, the SXSW for the ski industry, returns to Keystone
Summit Daily- March 31, 2016
Touted as the “most important ski industry event in the world,” the Mountain Travel Symposium, will be hosted at the Keystone Conference Center this year.
Skiing still offers the same high feelings
Travel Weekly - April, 21 2016
By my own semiscientific count, John Denver, in "Rocky Mountain High," his seminal hit from 1973, sang the word "high" 17 times.
MTS TACKLES THORNY ISSUES, SUGGESTS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
Ski Area Management- April 21, 2016
Innovation and disruption were the main themes of The Forum, April 6-7 during the Mountain Travel Symposium at Keystone, Colo., April 2-9.
MTS TACKLES THORNY ISSUES, SUGGESTS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS
SAM Online- April 20, 2016
Innovation and disruption were the main themes of The Forum, April 6-7 during the Mountain Travel Symposium at Keystone, Colo., April 2-9.
Cardrona Alpine Resort prepares for changing market
Voxy- April 19, 2016
Cardrona Alpine Resort has been focusing on understanding a changing international market as it gears up for the 2016 winter season.
MTS KEYNOTE SPEAKER JEREMY BLOOM WAS ‘FUELED BY FAILURE’
The Snow Industry Letter - April 19, 2016
Former World Cup champ Jeremy Bloom gave a heartfelt keynote that not only had the audience on the brink of tears periodically but also was a departure from other more tech-oriented keynotes and workshops at Mountain Travel Symposium.
MTS FOCUS OF ‘FOR RENT BY OWNER’ SHIFTS TO LACK OF EMPLOYEE HOUSING
The Snow Industry Letter - April 19, 2016
At the Mountain Travel Symposium a few years ago, one of the main concerns about vacation rentals by owners was how to keep track of private rentals and making sure they were paying their taxes.
Mountain Towns in BrieF
Jackson Hole News & Guide- April 13, 2016
Ski industry and tourism officials met in Keystone last week for the Mountain Travel Symposium.
MTS SPEAKERS CELEBRATE 10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION; INNOVATION
The Snow Industry Letter- April 12, 2016
The Mountain Travel Symposium is made up of many parts: hotel and resort reps, travel industry buyers, marketing organizations and more.
WOMEN NEED TO FIND MENTORS; BE ASSERTIVE TO BREAK ‘ICE CEILING’
The Snow Industry Letter- April 12, 2016
The Breaking the Ice Ceiling workshop at this year’s recently concluded Mountain Travel Symposium covered a range of issues pertaining to women in the workplace.
Airbnb forges trail to the mountains
Travel Weekly- April 8, 2016
Like prospectors in these Rocky Mountains more than a century ago, Airbnb showed up to this mountain town this week looking to stake its claim.
Mountain Travel Symposium: Tourism leaders peg hopes on summer
Glenwood Springs Post Independent- April 7, 2016
When most people picture a mountain vacation, the image of snow covered peaks, a family ski trip or a cozy day spent by the fire come to mind. But during Thursday’s forum at the Mountain Travel Symposium, the focus shifted to the drawing visitors during the summer months.
Mountain resorts emphasize diversification of attractions
Travel Weekly- April 6, 2016
Panelists at the Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) stressed the need to diversify services and attractions as the number of people who visit mountain resorts strictly to ski and snowboard flattens.
MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM UNDER WAY; STELLAR PROGRAM ON DECK
The Snow Industry Letter- April 6, 2016
Mountain Travel Symposium kicked off this week in Keystone, CO, with approximately 1,200 attendees.
Industry leaders have eye on future at Mountain Travel Symposium
The Aspen Times- April 6, 2016
The year was 1957, and skier Pete Seibert had hiked 7 miles to the top of Vail Mountain with a companion when a panoramic view of the apex helped motivate him to open a ski resort there five years later.
Global businesses, startups collide at Mountain Travel Symposium
Summit Daily- April 5, 2016
Hundreds of travel professionals representing ski resorts, suppliers and tech startups filled the ballrooms at the Keystone Conference Center on Tuesday.
delegates head to mts
PlanetSKI- March 30, 2016
The 41st annual Mountain Travel Symposium, MTS, starts in Colorado, USA, on Saturday.
SPEAKERS PLAN TO ‘IGNITE’ AUDIENCE AT MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM
The Snow Industry Letter- March 29, 2016
Among the definitions of “ignite,” are “to arouse the passions of; to excite, to stir up.”
DESTINATIONS@MTS LOOKS AT HOW ‘ADVENTURE TRAVEL’ CAN UP YOUR BOTTOM LINE
The Snow Industry Letter- March 22, 2016
One of the featured topics at the upcoming Destinations@MTS is titled "Adventure Travel - Utilizing the Whole Ecosystem."
WHY SO FEW WOMEN AT THE TOP? MTS SEEKS ANSWERS TO ‘ICE CEILING'
The Snow Industry Letter- March 15, 2016
Diversity is not a trait for which the ski industry is well known.
GROUP BUSINESS DRAWING RECORD CROWD TO MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM
Ski Area Management- March 14, 2016
The 41st annual Mountain Travel Symposium (MTS) April 3–9 in Keystone, Colorado, will welcome it largest audience ever, as registered attendance has topped 1,000.
MTS: WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO DRIVE YOUR DRIVE MARKET?
The Snow Industry Letter- March 1, 2016
It seems intuitive that the majority of visits to ski areas are ones where visitors drive to a resort – perhaps just for the day, perhaps for a longer stay.
WHEN DOLLAR IS UP, FOREIGN VISITORS TEND TO GO ELSEWHERE
The Snow Industry Letter
In related news, the lingering strength of the dollar is pinching the flow of international tourists into Colorado, according to The Denver Post.
MOUNTAIN TRAVEL SYMPOSIUM FOCUSES ON INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
The Snow Industry Letter- February 2, 2016
The upcoming Mountain Travel Symposium – with sales and marketing professionals attending from 35+ countries - is now positioned as the most important global event in the mountain travel industry.