National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) has announced its lineup of keynote speakers at their National Convention and Tradeshow in Palm Springs, Calif., April 30-May 3 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort and Spa.

Windham Country Club in New York’s Catskill Mountains has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Windham Mountain Partners, the ownership group behind Windham Mountain, for purchase of the golf course.

Was it the snow? An improving economy? Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP) reports noteworthy increases and occupancy and reservations among Western U.S. resorts in January to the tune of nine percent year-over-year.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark dubbed the second Monday in February as Family Day holiday in the Province and ski resorts jumped on board. 

“50 Years of Mountain Fun and Memories” is the theme of Skiing Heritage Week at Vail, Colo. April 8-14, 2013.

Maria Jose Norero is the new marketing director for Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard Resort responsible for sales, marketing partnerships, advertising, social media and public relations.

Anthony Bartholomew and John Whitby have been named general managers of the Lodges of Deer Valley and the Black Diamond Lodge.

CNL Lifestyle Properties, a real estate investment trust (REIT) based in Orlando, Fla. Is reporting a 37 percent increase in paid visits over the MLK weekend and a 41 percent increase year-over-year at the sane time. 

Brook Bingham has been appointed Director of Sponsorship Sales for the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. He comes to USSA from the Real Salt Lake major league soccer team.

Davy Ratchford has been named Director of Sales and Marketing for Vail Mountain. Ratchford will be responsible for development and management of brand marketing and sales for the 50-year-old Colorado resort.

He was, most recently, director of marketing at Northstar, joining the company in 2011, one of three Vail Resorts properties in the Lake Tahoe, Calif. region. 

Ratchford previously worked in Major League soccer with Real Salt Lake, Rio Tinto Stadium and ESPN 700 radio in Salt Lake City, Utah, where was marketing director since 2007. 

Ratchford is a native of Dublin, Ireland and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing from the University of Utah. He plans to relocate to the Vail Valley with his family.

Photo: Davy Ratchford (LinkedIn) 

Credit the coast-to-coast snows in December that led to a partial rebound in occupancy and a boost for the remainder of the season, according to the monthly Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP) report.

Powdr Enterprises is a new business effort by Powdr Corp. designed to focus on events, sponsorships and media opportunities. The idea is to leverage company brands including its resorts, Woodward Camps, and Outside Television.

Brian Head Resort near Cedar City, Utah has been sold to Brian Head Acquisition Partner, LLC according to reports in the The Spectrum and Salt Lake Tribune newspapers.

The Rutland Herald in Vermont is reporting that Thomas Durkin, an environmental judge, has issued an emergency order against the new owner of Haystack Ski Area to halt construction immediately on what is planned to be a “new luxury ski resort.”

Everbright Pacific, an affiliate of the Pacific Group, has been named to manage Wisp Resort in McHenry, Md., which recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection (see SnoCounty story). Wisp General Manager Tim Prather and his team will remain in their current positions.

On-the-books occupancy at 16 mountain resort destinations across California, Colorado, Oregon and Utah was down a sharp 12.3 percent as of Nov. 30, 2012 compared to the same time last year according to Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP).

Bert Fischer, of Bay Village, Ohio, led early efforts to develop possibilities for disabled persons to ski. Now, the well known Midwest teacher and writer will receive the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame Pioneer of Skiing award.

No one served longer as editor of SKI Magazine in its 75-year history than Richard (Dick) Needham. He died Dec. 12 in Sarasota, Fla. from complications of open heart surgery. He was 73.

Bertie Holland, Snowsports School director at New Hampshire’s Pats Peak has been named the 2012 recipient of the Einar Aas Award for Excellence in Snowsports School Management given by the Professional Ski Instructors of America (PSIA) and the American Association of Snowboard Instructors (AASI) Eastern Division.

KSL affiliate KSL Capital Partners has acquired 24 percent of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc. by purchasing 9,092,500 common shares of the corporation for $12.75 each.