Adventure for the Whole Family at Keystone Resort Kids Ski Free Every Day. All Season. No Blackouts
More than 25,000 Free Kids Lift Tickets Given Away During the 2012-13 Ski and Ride Season
Media Contacts
May Lilley, +1-303-504-5824, mlilley@vailresorts.com
Rosalie Waxman, +1-720-524-5042, rwaxman@vailresorts.com
For Immediate Release
Adventure for the Whole Family at Keystone Resort
Kids Ski Free Every Day. All Season. No Blackouts
More than 25,000 Free Kids Lift Tickets Given Away During the 2012-13 Ski and Ride Season
16 August, 2013— Keystone Resort has long been a place where kids rule; from specialty family-friendly après ski offerings to mountaintop snow forts, the resort is a winter wonderland that allows kids and parents alike to truly enjoy their well-earned holiday together.
Taking children’s programming to the next level, the Resort announced the simplest Kids Ski Free program on the planet to huge success, giving away more than 25,000 free children’s lift tickets during the 2012-2013 ski season. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the value-oriented offer, Keystone Resort will continue the family-focused Kids Ski Free programming for the entire 2013-2014 season.
As simple as childhood itself, Keystone’s Kids Ski Free program removes the red tape and fine print, allowing all children 12 years of age and under to ski and snowboard free every day, all season. The program has no blackout dates and is available on all weekends and holidays, a rarity in the ski industry. To qualify children must stay two or more nights in one of Keystone’s numerous accommodation options, which span from luxury hotel rooms to cozy ski-in/ski-out condominiums. Families big and small are able to take advantage of the offer, as there are no restrictions on the number of children per adult and no requirement of an adult lift ticket purchase.
“Keystone has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the best family ski experience,” said John Buhler, Vice President and general manager of Keystone Resort. “With the re-introduction of the simplest Kids Ski Free offer on the planet, we’re letting families travel as their schedule allows, granting them convenient and affordable access to our world-class resort and taking Keystone’s commitment to families to the next level.”
One of the most visited family-friendly ski resorts in the country, free skiing is just the start of what Keystone’s mountain offers skiers and riders. Located just an hour from Denver, Keystone is home to over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain accessed via 20 chairlifts. On top of enjoying the most skiable acreage in Summit County, The Resort offers families looking for a bit more adventure the option to embark on a day of cat skiing or riding with Keystone Adventure Tours (KAT). For an unforgettable powder experience that caters not only to experts, but intermediate skiers and riders too, families can sign up to ski/ride three incredible bowls accessed by one of Keystone’s comfortable cat machines. Joined by Keystone’s expert guides, not only will the day be filled with 8-13 runs of untouched powder and seemingly endless terrain, but the group is also served a catered lunch in a cozy backcountry yurt. Perfect for those who wish to continue to hone their powder skills, push their skiing or riding to the next level or just enjoy a day in the gorgeous controlled backcountry, Keystone offers up an unintimidating experience great for families new to this realm of skiing and riding.
For Keystone’s younger guest, Camp Keystone offersa revolutionary take on the traditional Ski School program that includes a guarantee of the same instructor for any child booking three or more days of lessons. Camp Keystone, housed at the Mountain House base area, offers a designated lift and teaching area, special theme days and instructional techniques that incorporate games to keep children engaged on-snow longer. Learning can also be a family affair with Keystone’s Mom, Dad and Me Lesson, a private lesson for the family that includes instruction for Mom and Dad to aid in continued progression of their children’s skills.
In addition to providing many unique on-mountain experiences, Keystone Resort is also committed to the health and wellbeing of its guests. Last season, Keystone Resort became the first ski resort in the country to join the National Restaurant Association’s “Kids LiveWell” healthy meals initiative developed in collaboration with Healthy Dining.
Joining more than 30,000 restaurant locations across the United States, Keystone’s three on-mountain quick-serve dining outlets offer a daily Kids LiveWell menu option, which meets the program’s strict nutrition criteria recommended by leading health organizations’ scientific guidelines and verified by the Healthy Dining’s team registered dietitians. Each meal includes a main course, side and drink of choice, with options including grilled chicken breast, chicken taco, applesauce, carrot sticks and apple or orange juice great for refueling the kids before hitting the slopes again.
Keystone Resort is also home to an array of experiential and fine dining options great for adults and families alike. Family favorite, Der Fondue Chessel, locatedatop Keystone’s North Peak is accessed via two gondola rides, and provides old-fashioned Swiss and Bavarian charm, a four-course fondue dinner and Bavarian music complete with a nightly rendition of the chicken dance. Sleigh ride dinners are another family favorite; pulled by 2,000-pound draft horses to an authentic rustic cabin homestead where the knowledgeable wranglers entertain with stories while guests sit back and enjoy cowboy tunes and a hearty meal full of comfort-food favorites.
For those desiring finer fare while on vacation, Keystone’s AAA Four-Diamond rated restaurants including The Ranch, the Ski Tip and the Alpenglow Stube cook up some of the most tantalizing dishes in Colorado. All three restaurants provide quaint mountain atmospheres full of historical character and menus enriched with locally-sourced products that create artistic culinary experiences that leave the palate both surprised and fulfilled.
Enhancing the family ski experience at Keystone is not only seen through the Kids Ski Free programming, on-mountain experiences, ski school and the multitude of dining options, but remains at the core of the Resort’s many family-focused amenities and range of off-mountain activities. From complimentary red wagons in the villages to haul gear and a Saturday Kidtopia parade through River Run Village, to the largest zamboni maintained ice skating rink in North America and the highest tubing hill in the world, Keystone Resort defines what family adventure means where each new experience holds a mountain of possibilities.
Available Lodging Packages and Deals
· Save 33% off lodging at Keystone Resort – all season long - when you book by September 15, 2013 through one of our preferred Australian travel partners, found at www.snowusa.com.
· Kids Ski Free when you book two or more nights in one of Keystone’s many owned and operated lodging units.
· Seven-night breakfast package, starting from US$120 per night, including two free daily cold breakfasts for each room, at either The Edgewater Café in the Keystone Lodge & Spa or Black Bear Grill in the Inn at Keystone, or a US$100 Starbucks gift card. In addition to all-inclusive breakfast options, the package includes Play for Free add-ons including free night skiing on day of arrival (blackout dates may apply), free ice skating admission and 20% off ski and snowboard rentals. To book your family adventure at Keystone Resort call a reservations agent at +1-970-496-4500 or visit http://www.keystoneresort.com/plan-a-vacation/international-guests.aspx for more information.
· Buy your Epic Pass now and Ski The World, for only US$689. Visit www.epicpass.com for more information, also available for purchase via our preferred travel partners.
###
Media Note
More info and photos of Keystone Resort are also available at https://news.keystone.vailresorts.com.
For high-res photos and broadcast-quality video footage, please visit our Dropbox folder at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wcvr41spvmcas0g/PFtjG2Sf6b. Click the Keystone Folder for an array of photo and video options.
May Lilley, +1-303-504-5824, mlilley@vailresorts.com
Rosalie Waxman, +1-720-524-5042, rwaxman@vailresorts.com
For Immediate Release
Adventure for the Whole Family at Keystone Resort
Kids Ski Free Every Day. All Season. No Blackouts
More than 25,000 Free Kids Lift Tickets Given Away During the 2012-13 Ski and Ride Season
16 August, 2013— Keystone Resort has long been a place where kids rule; from specialty family-friendly après ski offerings to mountaintop snow forts, the resort is a winter wonderland that allows kids and parents alike to truly enjoy their well-earned holiday together.
Taking children’s programming to the next level, the Resort announced the simplest Kids Ski Free program on the planet to huge success, giving away more than 25,000 free children’s lift tickets during the 2012-2013 ski season. Due to the overwhelming popularity of the value-oriented offer, Keystone Resort will continue the family-focused Kids Ski Free programming for the entire 2013-2014 season.
As simple as childhood itself, Keystone’s Kids Ski Free program removes the red tape and fine print, allowing all children 12 years of age and under to ski and snowboard free every day, all season. The program has no blackout dates and is available on all weekends and holidays, a rarity in the ski industry. To qualify children must stay two or more nights in one of Keystone’s numerous accommodation options, which span from luxury hotel rooms to cozy ski-in/ski-out condominiums. Families big and small are able to take advantage of the offer, as there are no restrictions on the number of children per adult and no requirement of an adult lift ticket purchase.
“Keystone has pulled out all the stops when it comes to the best family ski experience,” said John Buhler, Vice President and general manager of Keystone Resort. “With the re-introduction of the simplest Kids Ski Free offer on the planet, we’re letting families travel as their schedule allows, granting them convenient and affordable access to our world-class resort and taking Keystone’s commitment to families to the next level.”
One of the most visited family-friendly ski resorts in the country, free skiing is just the start of what Keystone’s mountain offers skiers and riders. Located just an hour from Denver, Keystone is home to over 3,000 acres of skiable terrain accessed via 20 chairlifts. On top of enjoying the most skiable acreage in Summit County, The Resort offers families looking for a bit more adventure the option to embark on a day of cat skiing or riding with Keystone Adventure Tours (KAT). For an unforgettable powder experience that caters not only to experts, but intermediate skiers and riders too, families can sign up to ski/ride three incredible bowls accessed by one of Keystone’s comfortable cat machines. Joined by Keystone’s expert guides, not only will the day be filled with 8-13 runs of untouched powder and seemingly endless terrain, but the group is also served a catered lunch in a cozy backcountry yurt. Perfect for those who wish to continue to hone their powder skills, push their skiing or riding to the next level or just enjoy a day in the gorgeous controlled backcountry, Keystone offers up an unintimidating experience great for families new to this realm of skiing and riding.
For Keystone’s younger guest, Camp Keystone offersa revolutionary take on the traditional Ski School program that includes a guarantee of the same instructor for any child booking three or more days of lessons. Camp Keystone, housed at the Mountain House base area, offers a designated lift and teaching area, special theme days and instructional techniques that incorporate games to keep children engaged on-snow longer. Learning can also be a family affair with Keystone’s Mom, Dad and Me Lesson, a private lesson for the family that includes instruction for Mom and Dad to aid in continued progression of their children’s skills.
In addition to providing many unique on-mountain experiences, Keystone Resort is also committed to the health and wellbeing of its guests. Last season, Keystone Resort became the first ski resort in the country to join the National Restaurant Association’s “Kids LiveWell” healthy meals initiative developed in collaboration with Healthy Dining.
Joining more than 30,000 restaurant locations across the United States, Keystone’s three on-mountain quick-serve dining outlets offer a daily Kids LiveWell menu option, which meets the program’s strict nutrition criteria recommended by leading health organizations’ scientific guidelines and verified by the Healthy Dining’s team registered dietitians. Each meal includes a main course, side and drink of choice, with options including grilled chicken breast, chicken taco, applesauce, carrot sticks and apple or orange juice great for refueling the kids before hitting the slopes again.
Keystone Resort is also home to an array of experiential and fine dining options great for adults and families alike. Family favorite, Der Fondue Chessel, locatedatop Keystone’s North Peak is accessed via two gondola rides, and provides old-fashioned Swiss and Bavarian charm, a four-course fondue dinner and Bavarian music complete with a nightly rendition of the chicken dance. Sleigh ride dinners are another family favorite; pulled by 2,000-pound draft horses to an authentic rustic cabin homestead where the knowledgeable wranglers entertain with stories while guests sit back and enjoy cowboy tunes and a hearty meal full of comfort-food favorites.
For those desiring finer fare while on vacation, Keystone’s AAA Four-Diamond rated restaurants including The Ranch, the Ski Tip and the Alpenglow Stube cook up some of the most tantalizing dishes in Colorado. All three restaurants provide quaint mountain atmospheres full of historical character and menus enriched with locally-sourced products that create artistic culinary experiences that leave the palate both surprised and fulfilled.
Enhancing the family ski experience at Keystone is not only seen through the Kids Ski Free programming, on-mountain experiences, ski school and the multitude of dining options, but remains at the core of the Resort’s many family-focused amenities and range of off-mountain activities. From complimentary red wagons in the villages to haul gear and a Saturday Kidtopia parade through River Run Village, to the largest zamboni maintained ice skating rink in North America and the highest tubing hill in the world, Keystone Resort defines what family adventure means where each new experience holds a mountain of possibilities.
Available Lodging Packages and Deals
· Save 33% off lodging at Keystone Resort – all season long - when you book by September 15, 2013 through one of our preferred Australian travel partners, found at www.snowusa.com.
· Kids Ski Free when you book two or more nights in one of Keystone’s many owned and operated lodging units.
· Seven-night breakfast package, starting from US$120 per night, including two free daily cold breakfasts for each room, at either The Edgewater Café in the Keystone Lodge & Spa or Black Bear Grill in the Inn at Keystone, or a US$100 Starbucks gift card. In addition to all-inclusive breakfast options, the package includes Play for Free add-ons including free night skiing on day of arrival (blackout dates may apply), free ice skating admission and 20% off ski and snowboard rentals. To book your family adventure at Keystone Resort call a reservations agent at +1-970-496-4500 or visit http://www.keystoneresort.com/plan-a-vacation/international-guests.aspx for more information.
· Buy your Epic Pass now and Ski The World, for only US$689. Visit www.epicpass.com for more information, also available for purchase via our preferred travel partners.
###
Media Note
More info and photos of Keystone Resort are also available at https://news.keystone.vailresorts.com.
For high-res photos and broadcast-quality video footage, please visit our Dropbox folder at https://www.dropbox.com/sh/wcvr41spvmcas0g/PFtjG2Sf6b. Click the Keystone Folder for an array of photo and video options.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.