Resorts find new way to pamper skiers

The Handle Bar at the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole, where a gourmet food cart steps from the ski area’s lifts and gondolas

Ski resorts are upping the ante, finding new ways this season to pamper guests who barely want to leave the slopes.
Ski-in, ski-out used to just refer to prime lodgings that didn’t require a shuttle — or even a walk — to get to the trails. Today that coveted designation has been expanded to bars and even spa treatments. It’s the ultimate in luxury — or laziness.
“Resorts want to differentiate themselves from one another,” says Jennifer Rudolph, spokeswoman for Colorado Ski Country USA. “It’s a stand-out perk that guests both want to try — and appreciate — at the same time.”
Helping this movement is the changing geography of resorts. Base areas have been reshaped in the past decade, with trails and lifts realigned to better suit real estate developers and expand the number of ski-in, ski-out properties. Those new properties are leveraging their location as a perk to their rich clientele who have already seen and done everything.
“Magical moments with friends and families are the goal and destinations are doing it up big,” says Vicki Varela, managing director of the Utah Office of Tourism. “There are only so many hard assets resorts can upgrade within a property, but experiences create lifetime memories.” AP