Residents of Colorado can get special rates when staying at the Sky Hotel in Aspen.  I heard an ad on the radio and because I was unable to find anything on their website as to what the rate was about I contacted the hotel.  And sure enough if you have a Colorado driver’s license you can get a “Colorado Resident” rate. 

In the off-season it is a bargain at $125.00 a night and includes; room, valet parking, and continental breakfast.  According to John Curnow, the General Manager the discount is valid all year but the rate fluctuates.  You can hob-nob with the Aspen elite knowing that you got special treatment because you chose to live in Colorado - yeah!

Note that the lounge will be closed from April 17th till April 17 till May 12…Just give reservations a call (970-925-6760) if you are interested and mention you are a Colorado Resident.

Check out the rooms and suites online at The Sky Hotel (lower or turn off your volume as they have music on the site.)

I am thinking that our next anniversary, rather than spend $100 on dinner in Denver we will wing our way over to Aspen. Oh, and they have some pet freindly guest rooms so you can bring your ‘best friend’.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006
X GAMES: RECORD BOOKINGS
The 10th version of the Winter X Games begin in Aspen this weekend, and virtually every bed of the 14,800 available beds in Aspen/Snowmass is booked for Friday night. According to Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, the resort’s central reservation agency, “This Friday night we are facing the biggest single sell-out in my 11 years here.”
-Rocky Mountain News, 01.25.06
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Wintersköl, Aspen’s annual winter celebration, is going on this weekend, January 12-15.

This celebration of cold and snow features more than 40 events that take place in downtown Aspen and at all four ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Buttermilk and Snowmass Mountain. Events include the Canine Fashion Show, Snowmass Splash, the Fashion Show, the Buttermilk Uphill Race, Wintersculpt, and a torchlight descent and fireworks over Aspen Mountain.

This year marks the 55th Wintersköl, which started in 1951 when local Aspenites celebrated its Nordic lifestyle with a weekend full of festivities which were comprised mostly of floorshows at local taverns. Today, Wintersköl is an elaborate, well-organized festival with corporate sponsors and international talent.

Click here for a detailed list of events!

Monday, January 09, 2006
GLENWOOD SALES SOAR
Sales tax revenues in Glenwood Springs in November totaled $998,263, up a whopping 33% over the $747,872 in November 2004. The city’s lodging tax, which generates funds for tourism promotion, had $30,298 in collections, up from $25,284 in November 2004. Overall, sales tax collections for the first 11 months of 2005 were almost 9% higher than the corresponding period in 2004.
-GS Post-Independent, 01.09.06

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Ski resorts provide their guests with plenty of sound options to get their groove on after a day on the slopes By Paul Willis, From the Rocky Mountain News
Aspen © Snowmass (more…)

There is no finer destination than Aspen/Snowmass for the holidays. With more than 4,000 acres of the finest skiing and riding on the planet and more than 13 feet of snow this season, it can’t be beat. Right now, there are many last minute ski specials in Aspen and Snowmass, Colorado.

Aspen, CO (PRWEB) December 24, 2005 — Recently released airline seats have opened the opportunity to book a last minute holiday vacation to Aspen/Snowmass and take advantage of great deals at a selection of properties. There are a few room nights still available throughout the resort.

Aspen/Snowmass offers vacation specials for every type of winter enthusiast and with a variety of options available, packages can be customized to the individual needs of the guests. Visitors can choose from full service, five star resort hotels to ski-in/ski-out condominiums to classic ski lodges.

“Aspen/Snowmass is in prime condition this holiday season with excellent lodging options, incredible snow and fun events,” said Eric Fullerton, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Stay Aspen Snowmass. “Everyone should treat themselves to the gift of the holidays in Aspen/Snowmass.”

For more information on all winter packages please visit www.stayaspensnowmass.com or call 877/682-7736. For information on all the four mountains, purchasing lift tickets, ski or snowboard rentals, and ski or snowboard lessons please visit www.aspensnowmass.com or call 877/282-7736. Pricing may vary depending on your preference of lodging. Some restrictions may apply depending on availability and double occupancy. When booking a vacation please reference the particular package of choice.

Aspen Skiing Company operates the four mountains in the Aspen/Snowmass area - Snowmass, Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands and Buttermilk - as well as the award-winning Ski & Snowboard Schools of Aspen. The area offers unparalleled nightlife and off-slope activities as well. Aspen/Snowmass is accessible by two of the most convenient airports in the mountains – Aspen Sardy Field (3 miles from Aspen) and Eagle County Airport (70 miles from Aspen). For more information on Aspen Skiing Company, please call 800/525-6200 or 970/925-1220, or visit the company’s website at www.aspensnowmass.com.

Try your hand at a snow sculpture.  Snowmass Village 2006 Wintersculpt snow carving competition is January 12 –14.  A key element in Aspen’s annual winter carnival the Wintersculpt draws people from all around the state to join together in snowy creative spirit on Hyman Avenue and Cooper Street in Aspen.

Eight teams will be selected to participate in the competition and team will have 48 hours to create a sculpture from an 8’x8’ slab of ice.  The wining team will received up to $1500 in prize money and sculptures will be scored on creativity, originality and technical excellence.

Applications and information are available at www.andersonranch.org, or contact Meghan Coyle, development assistant, at 923-3181, ext. 212, or by e-mail at mcoyle@andersonranch.org. Entries must be received by Wednesday, Jan. 4.

Monday, December 05, 2005
OCT. SALES UP IN ASPEN
Retail sales in October in Aspen were up 8.4% over October 2004, led by the tourist accommodations sector, which had a 13.4% increase over a year earlier. For the first 10 months of the year, retail sales in Aspen were 10.3% higher than the same period in 2004, with a total of $361.4 million in sales.
-Aspen Times, 12.03.05

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According to a recent post in this Blog quoting the Aspen Times, Aspen is rapidly loosing room nights.

"Over the past decade, the number of lodging properties declined from 73 to 48, according to a recently completed inventory by the city."  According to the Aspen Times, Aspen has priced itself out of the market, visitors take off for nearby Glenwood Springs to stay the night.  A recent post in the Blizzard Marketing newsletters said there was a ‘tourism boom,’ maybe Aspen just needs to better market their rooms showing that you can get a room for $70 a night in November as shown on the Mountain House Lodge website.

Aspen chef, Ryan Hardy likes to make all his food from scratch, even the french fries. Why? because as he recently said, “There’s no preservative in the world that can substitute for good flavor.” Hardy has gone to such extremes as buying a grass-fed Angus cow from a Carbondale cattleman, created a relationship with a rabbit farmer in Delta, and has been on a tasting tour of Colorado wine growers. When we are being encouraged to eat locally the Little Nell offers an option to savour locally grown food.