BELLEAYRE CHASING RECORD NUMBER OF SKIERS

Kingston, N.Y. (Feb. 22, 2011) – The number of skiers at Belleayre Mountain this season is at a record pace as resort officials are hoping a strong spring skiing season will put them over its 2007-2008 record.
Through this past Presidents’ Day weekend, 125,142 skiers have graced Belleayre Mountain this season. Belleayre is chasing its 2007-2008 total season record of 181,509 skiers.
“It’s so exciting that Belleayre is so close to breaking this record,” said Rick Remsnyder, director of Ulster County Tourism. “Belleayre has such a great economic impact on Ulster County. You can see the ripple effect of the Mountain in the number of people in the streets and shops of Ulster.”
This could very well be a record year, Belleayre Superintendent Tony Lanza said. “We’re just a little behind the pace of that record year but I think we’ll catch up.” He also expects this week to be another strong week for the resort. It’s typically the strongest week of the year.
Lanza is projecting between 177,000 and 187,000 skiers this year. “In 2007-2008, there was a dip in the spring skiing season because a warm March did not cooperate with us. This year, if we have a decent spring skiing-wise, I think we can surpass the record.”
He said the resort’s revenues are strong and the economic impact of Belleayre on the surrounding communities is enormous. “Most importantly, we’re going to have higher revenues than we did in that record year, so this has been an excellent season so far.” Revenues are well over $4 million this year and Lanza expects them to double.
Jonathan King from Belleayre’s marketing department said for every dollar spent at the resort, $7 is spent in the community at hotels, restaurants, stores and Belleayre salaries.
Lanza credits the success this year on three things: The resort’s proximity to New York City and the desire to enjoy a more natural ski resort; special lift ticket rates on Wednesdays ($20) and Fridays ($25); and the amazing amount of snow this year.
“Belleayre is just 2 hours and 58 minutes from Midtown Manhattan,” Lanza said. “People come to see the constitutionally protected forest preserve. When you’re looking at the mountain, you’re looking at wilderness and people love that. You’re not looking at thousands of condos. This is natural, scenic beauty. For this type of experience you’d have to go to Wyoming or someplace rural out west. People enjoy our mammoth wood-burning fireplaces and our rustic log cabin lodge.”
The Wednesday and Friday lift ticket prices also are attracting people to the resort. “It’s like having a weekend day filled with visitors four days a week,” Lanza said.
And, he said, the 126 inches of snow is enticing people to come see the winter wonderland. “We’re becoming a mecca for skiers with all the tree skiing and all our bumps. So, it’s fun chasing after a record like this. We’re all working very hard to make it happen.”