Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability

Evelyn and I recently went to a program put on by the Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability. Matt Scherr runs that organization and what a saint he his ... talk about good karma. This particular program had three different developers speaking, but each with an eye towards sutainable communities, both environmentally as well as socially. Jonathan Robert, the guy from McStain homes, in Denver was great. I didn't realize how many cool things that company does in their home building efforts. He referred to some of it as "good weird" which was fitting. Stuff like giving away a year's worth of wind energy credits and a Vespa when you buy one of their homes, rather than the traditional discount on closing fees, or whatever.
There was also a guy who called himself Farmer John (don't remember his real last name) but he's hoping to develop a subdivision near Buena Vist with it's on self-sustaining farm. Pretty bold. All in all the program was great and it made me proud to be alligned with them. Now that we're a finalist for the Green Business of the Year in the Vail Valley, it's even more gratifying to work together. We host their speakers on a comp basis whenever necessary and for that they call us the "Official Hotel of EVAS". It's all fun.
Rob

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas

This year I procrastinated a little too long on the Christmas decorations, I think. Usually, we have a very intricate Christmas village set up in our lobby but lots of the pieces got broken last year and I just plain waited too long to put it up this year and now I feel that it wouldn't be "worth it" to put it up just for two weeks. I was starting to get a little stressed about it until an idea came to me in a dream. I dreamed that we had a tree in the lobby covered in nothing but candy canes, and then I made it happen! I put up this little sign to let people our candy is for sharing: So far, people seem disappointed with the absence of lights (but there were none in my dream!) so I may have to add some. What do you think?

12/23/7 Update: The tree has been a big success; I had to go to the store today to buy a second round of candy canes because they all got eaten!

The Christmas Party

Last night was the Antlers Christmas party at Vista Restaurant in Arrowhead. They just opened in the Arrowhead location and their new space is very impressive. They have dark leather chairs that are the most comfortable restaurant chairs in which I have ever sat.
The turnout was great with about sixty people attending this year, including all of our families.
Our very own Santa (aka Hap) made his annual visit and handed out gifts for everyone. The children were posing on Santa's lap while their parents snapped pictures and it must have looked like a lot of fun because the next time I looked up, the adults were posing on Santa's lap for their Christmas shots too!
As usual, everyone had a great time and good conversation, and lots of fun opening their presents. I'm already looking forward to the next gathering!



There was a type-o on the menu which had salmon spelled s-a-m-o-n. Here is Rob coming up with the "very funny" joke of dubbing it the "Christmas Salmon-because it's got no L":

'SnowWitch' joins you today to divulge some hidden pleasures in early December skiing at Vail!!

Ski early in the day - you'll get some powder runs and the slopes won't be crowded (I know, it's torture to get up early when out here on vacation....unless you're from the East Coast and then it seems like it is mid-day at 9 am!!)
Ski front-side at Vail when there is new powder - everyone else will be in Gamecreek Bowl.....and you'll have Lodgepole and Christmas to yourself!
Take advantage of early-bird or early season restaurant discounts - often 30% off entres is offered
Stop for a break at Wildwood - their apple pie is the best (with whipped cream of course!)

More later - good skiing!!

Timber Hearth Grille

Tuesday night was the annual concierge function at the Timber Hearth Grille at Cordillera. Crissy, Darci and I went and a good time was had by all. When we arrived we decided to go outside first since we were all still bundled up. On the terrace outside the dining room, there were benches surrounding a wood burning outdoor fire pit to warm us while we waited for the sleigh to come back around to give us a ride. We took a horse drawn tour of the golf course which they use as their Nordic Center in the winter, pulled by Charlie and Jacob of Bearcat Stables. Afterward, we posed for a picture with them and then went inside for dinner. There were three stations set up throughout the dining room. One with penne, prosciutto and black truffle carbonara and pulled rabbit meat. The second was a lamb carving station which was delicious, and the third was dessert with pecan tarts, carrot cake petit fours and coffee. As we sat and ate, waiters continually came by with trays of passed hors d'oeuvres and by the end of the evening the three of us were very full. A big Thank You to Timber Hearth Grille and Bearcat Stables!

The PR Bigtime

Well, we've hit the bigtime ... from a Public Relations standpoint, that is! Last Sunday we were featured in the New York Times Travel Section (you can see the article in our on-line press room). Needless to say, it was a PR homerun ... or so says Monica McCafferty who handles that role for the Vail Valley Partnership. The only twist was that they goofed and put in the price as per person, per night ... when it was really just per person (for all five nights). Oh well ... we've still had some calls and are able to clarify everything on the phone. More importantly, the exposure from just being in the NYT is HUGE.

November was a heckuva month from a PR perspective ... the NYT feature, a couple quotes in Travel and Leisure magazine, some more in the Vail Daily and an interview on CBS Channel 4 in Denver. Man oh man, our queens of Public Relations (and most favorite consultants) Darla and Eliza have really been kicking butt. The Times article was the biggest coup for the WordenGroup since they got us on the front page of USA Today's business section a couple years ago. I love it when they tell me that Regis & Kelly is next ... but then I'm easily amused.

Office Massage

In addition to being one of our most favorite owners, Janina Greene has been a physical therapist for many years. Chris managed to coerce her (which in Janina's case means simply asking) into giving some ten minute neck massages to our hard working (no, that doesn't mean "hardly" working) staff. Greg (from maintenance) was the first happy recipient, and no sooner did he start to loosen up, but our director of conference services, Kati (also an experienced massage therapist) decided Janina deserved a little neck work as well. Our controller, Randi (who has no official theraputic expertise whatsoever) just couldn't help but join the fun. It may look like the bunny hop, but trust me ... it was much, much better.