Focus on service helps Steamboat Springs get through tough economic times. Steamboat introduces “Spurs on Service” and the timing couldn’t be better.

You can’t run and you can’t hide, but you can prepare. The year we face on a national level is uncertain, but Steamboat Springs is optimistic. The tourism industry is not immune from economic turbulence or the fact that people are suffering financial woes not faced in decades. But as they say, timing is everything.

Steamboat Springs is known internationally for its genuine Western hospitality and when times get tough our resilience is as strong as an old cowboy’s chaps. Spurs on Service, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s revamped hospitality program proves that the best thing you can do in tough economic times is focus on what you do best. Steamboat’s advantage is its famous friendliness and reminders, education and awareness about this message never hurt. Spurs on Service is an effort to get back to the basics.

Working with local businesses to enable them to empower their staff, Spurs on Service gets employees to think about why they live in Steamboat Springs, how winter and summer visitors contribute to the lifestyle we enjoy and embrace the fact that one person really can make a difference. From face-to-face workshops on Steamboat-style service training to secret shopper evaluations, this program is about going the extra mile.

“In this community, we hang our hats on our special brand of friendliness and the service we provide speaks volumes about our values and professionalism,” notes Sandy Evans-Hall, Executive Vice President of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. “Now is the time to turn up the volume on basic courtesies and hone in on what make us special.”

Guests want to know that their hard earned money is being spent in a friendly place that values and appreciates their business. “We understand that our guests have taken the time out of their busy and hectic life to spend their vacation and their money with us,” added Hall. To that degree these efforts couldn’t come at a better time.

“Genuine Western hospitality isn’t just our brand; it is something that we live up to every day,” says Lynna Broyles, Marketing Director of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. “We continue to treat our visitors as if they were guests in our own home, not strangers passing through town.”

Great customer service heightens brand loyalty, improves the experience and encourages us to stay true to our gracious, welcoming roots. We need to live up to the reputation that this town has established. It’s about pride and ownership.

Call it The Power of One, the Mayberry Effect or even just good old-fashioned manners. By simply saying hello, smiling, holding a door open and even just talking to someone on a chairlift, a town’s efforts go a long way in making a positive difference in someone’s vacation and memory of Steamboat. If success is 90 percent preparation, then with Spurs on Service this community will be ready.

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Celebrating over 100 years of service in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association works to promote summertime activities and programs. To learn more about chamber events and activities please check out www.steamboatsummer.com or call the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association at (970) 879-0880.
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Christy Sports, Steamboat Restaurant Group and Smartwool receive top honors at Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Navigator Awards Luncheon

Saying thank you to more than 900 different businesses is no easy task. The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association thanked all its members on Friday, October 31st at the 101st Annual Meeting and Navigator Awards Luncheon held at the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel. The accomplishments, leadership and forward-thinking of many local businesses and business people were recognized and acknowledged. The event was sponsored by The Steamboat Pilot & Today, Pinnacol Assurance, Wells Fargo, Holiday Inn of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Floral and PostNet.

The 2008 Navigator Award top honors went to Christy Sports (Business of the Year), Steamboat Restaurant Group’s Rex Brice (Business Person of the Year) and Smartwool (Sustainable Business of the Year).

The contenders for the three awards given at the Annual Meeting and Luncheon were as diverse as they were deserving. The nominees for the Business of the Year award differ in what their businesses do, but they see eye to eye when it comes to community involvement and public leadership. The 2008 Navigator Award Nominees for Business of the Year were Holiday Inn of Steamboat Springs, Christy Sports, BAP, Wells Fargo and Fox Construction.

The title of Business Person of the Year recognizes efforts of individuals who are committed to giving back to the community, have a high level of involvement and their leadership capabilities span a broad spectrum. The 2008 Navigator Award Nominees for the Business Person of the Year were Kristi Brown (The Cantina of Steamboat), Rex Brice (The Steamboat Restaurant Group), Roger Good (Retired), Laurie Good (Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation), Ernest Richardson (Steamboat Springs Orchestra and the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory).

For the second year, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association in partnership with Lyn Halliday and Environmental Solutions Unltd. gathered nominees for the Sustainable Business of the Year. The 2008 Sustainable Business of the Year Nominees were Big House Burgers, Smartwool, City of Steamboat Springs and PostNet.

Along with recognition of our leadership, the passing of the gavel from Past Board President (Scott Marr) to New Board President (Chris Diamond) and a winter marketing presentation by guest speaker Rob Perlman, VP of Sales and Marketing for the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation, guests at this year’s Navigator Awards were the first to see the debut of the Chamber’s new hospitality program. Spurs on Service is a program for businesses with the intention of perpetuating our western, friendly culture. It is a multi-pronged program with incentives for employees and employers. Components of the program include “Steamboat Culture” training, website resources, information packets that will be helpful for lodging properties, retail shops, restaurants and local activity centers as well as being enrolled in the Business Service Certification Program.

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Celebrating over 100 years of service in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association works to promote summertime activities and programs. To learn more about chamber events and activities please check out www.steamboatsummer.com or call the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association at (970) 879-0880.
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First Friday ArtWalk on December 7th

Fourteen local art venues are offering special hours on Friday, December 7th for a new monthly event called the First Friday ArtWalk . The public is invited to stop in for refreshments, entertainment and special exhibitions between 5 pm and 8 pm at these locations: Blue Sky Pottery, East West Frame Shop, Gallery 11, Images of Nature, K. Saari Gallery, Sleeping Giant Gallery, Spill the Beans, Steamboat Art Depot, Steamboat Arts & Crafts Gym, Steamboat Art Museum, Steaming Bean Coffeeshop, The Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat, The Portfolio Collection, and Wildhorse Gallery. A map showing all the locations is available at any of these shops as well as other sites around town.

“We expect that the list of local art venues participating in First Friday ArtWalks will grow,” states Linda Laughlin, Visual Arts Director for the Steamboat Springs Arts Council. “This is the first one of a regular event we hope to continue throughout the year.”

Among the special events happening this Friday are the showing of new works by Hellen Amero and Larry Pierce at Spill the Beans; new works by Barb Sanders, Dancy St. John, and Denise Bohard Brown at the Artists’ Gallery of Steamboat; the artwork of Max daMore at Steaming Bean; the opening of new works by Rodney Wallace, Ron Johnson, and Emily Hall at K. Saari Gallery; a special collection of ceramic holiday ornaments and serving pieces at Blue Sky Pottery; and new landscape and wildlife images by Ken Lee at Gallery 11.

Other artwork on view includes Navajo Weavings and new weavings by Wendy Kowynia at the Art Depot; quilts by Judy Kendall and Sharon Yanaconne at Steamboat Arts & Crafts Gym, photography by Jim Steinberg at The Portfolio Collection; works by Thomas D. Mangelsen at Images of Nature, and works by Don Tudor and Cully Kistler at Sleeping Giant Gallery as well as works by 50 regional artists at Wildhorse Gallery. Also, the Steamboat Art Museum is featuring works by E.W. ‘Bill’ Gollings and East West Frame Shop has artwork by local artist Michelle Ideus.

Some venues will also be offering in-store specials during the ArtWalk hours only.

For more information about the First Friday ArtWalk, contact Linda Laughlin at the Art Depot, 879-9008.

Marathon & Beyond Features the Steamboat Marathon

Get your hands on to the March/April issue of Marathon & Beyond to see our very own Steamboat Marathon as the featured race.

Feature races are chosen by the editorial staff and every edition features a new race including a race overview, community information and runner reviews. Unlike other race profiles organizers cannot buy their way into the publication so it is a real honor to have the Steamboat Marathon as the featured race.

The March/April issue of Marathon & Beyond goes on newsstands in February. Pick up a copy and then go register for the 2008 Steamboat Marathon here in Steamboat Springs, CO. Registration for the 2008 race opens on January 1, 2008 and usually fills by the end of April (500 cap).

Visit http://www.steamboatmarathon.com/ for race information or to register.

Black Tie Skis Earns Gold Certification by Going Green

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. (November 29, 2007) – Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery’s Steamboat Springs Colo. branch has earned Gold Planet certification from the Steamboat Sustainable Business Program.

Black Tie Skis worked with the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s environmental consulting service, Environmental Solutions Unlimited, to learn about common sense business practices that help attain sustainability. The program is strictly voluntary; offers community-wide recognition as well as access to resources that help implement, measure, and continually improve environmental sustainable practices.

"The owners of Black Tie Ski Rentals have placed a strong emphasis on incorporating sustainability practices into their organization," said Lyn Halliday, president of Environmental Solutions Unlimited. "They have made a commitment to continually look for new ways to incorporate environmental excellence into daily operations."

As a Gold Planet certified business, Black Tie Skis has integrated sustainability into their mission statement; designated two in-house sustainability coordinators; pledged to educate and train employees about sustainability; and completed a comprehensive energy assessment summary, successfully meeting ten of the program’s elective practices. Additionally, employees are encouraged to car pool to work and volunteer for non-profits. Incentives include daily ski passes at Silverton Mountain and up to 24 hours of paid time off respectively.

Black Tie Skis Continues to Re-Define the Ski Rental Industry

Award-Winning Ski Rental Delivery Company Enhances Client Services for 07/08 Season

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Co. (November 13, 2007) - Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery, who forever changed the ski and snowboard rental process five years ago, encourages winter enthusiasts to re-discover their ski vacations this coming season. With 10 locations serving 21 winter destinations markets, Black Tie Ski Rentals is the industry leader with the largest delivery rental network in the US and Canada. Black Tie Skis provides personalized service, exceptional equipment, and a convenience level that traditional rental facilities can’t match.

"At Black Tie Ski Rentals we decided to knock down the walls of the conventional ski shop and create North America's premier ski rental delivery service", said Ian Prichard, founder of Black Tie Skis/owner of the Steamboat Springs, CO branch. "We are inspired by having our service revolve around our guest's needs and consistently providing them with exceptional ski rental experiences."

For 07/08 Black Tie has committed additional resources to ensure memorable winter vacations from start to finish. The website has been re-designed and features "Club Black Tie", a fast, secure, time-saving, booking system created to compliment the reservation process. Members can manage their own accounts, create skier profiles, view past and future trips, receive equipment suggestions from Black Tie owners based on their skier profiles, access trip planning tools, provide customer feedback, and by enrolling, receive the lowest available rates.

Read the full Press Release:
http://www.blacktieskis.com/media/

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if need additional information, images, or would like to schedule an interview.

Cathy Wiedemer, Black Tie Ski Rental Delivery Public Relations, 970.291.9013, cathy@blacktieskis.com

STEAMBOAT RESCHEDULES SCHOLARSHIP & OPENING DAY TO NOVEMBER 30th

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-November 15, 2007 - Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation announced today that it has rescheduled its 2007/2008 Scholarship/Opening Day to Friday, November 30, 2007 due to the recent period of warm weather.

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