John Loomis on Snowbasin a World Class Venue for Conferences and Weddings

(Newswire.net — June 17, 2015) Salem, Utah –Utah is known throughout the world for it’s gorgeous mountain terrain, but especially for it’s skiing, snowboarding, and hiking. Although Utah’s mountain resorts have developed over the years, Utah’s best kept secret for outdoor enthusiasts has been around for almost 75 years. Snowbasin Resort is one of the oldest continually operating ski resorts in the United States. With an investment from the Holding family, a lot of work went into getting Snowbasin ready for the 2002 Winter Olympics, and it continues to provide memorable experiences for all who come there.

John Loomis, General Manager of Snowbasin Resort, said in an interview that what differentiates  Snowbasin from other resorts is that people can experience unique terrain suited to all skill levels and they are the only ski resort with two enclosed gondolas. The resort is surrounded by three different mountains. There is a large area of terrain that is for intermediate enthusiasts and has something for everybody to enjoy. “You’ve got the John Paul area that was developed for the Olympics that offers some of the best advanced powder skiing, advanced terrain, the opportunity to ski and ride in an Olympic Downhill course from top to bottom. And then you go up to the Strawberry area, and it’s like going to Europe. It’s so wide open, and you can go everywhere out there,” said Loomis.

Loomis also spoke about their great incentive programs. One of their best offers is their Learn & Earn program which is for anyone who has never
experienced skiing and snowboarding before. Paying up front for 5 lessons will include the cost of rentals and lift passes. Once the course has been completed, the participant receives a season pass for the rest of the year. They also provide terrain-based learn to ski programs which utilizes the use of shaped terrain to improve your first skiing experience. Because there is so much variety in the terrain, they are able to provide different learning programs based on skill level. A new skier would feel more comfortable on a course that isn’t so steep while a more advanced skier would want to train on a course that is challenging and difficult.

The best part about Snowbasin is that you can enjoy it’s beauty year-round. Their incredible wedding venue offers a spectacular view for people who want a mountain wedding. Loomis said, “It was not uncommon at a wedding to have the bride and groom ski down, and have the reception in Earl’s Lodge. We have a very busy May wedding schedule and June as you might expect.” They have the ability to have the wedding ceremony at the top of the gondola or down in the village, inside or outside. Snowbasin also provides dinner, reception, dancing, and whatever else a couple would want to celebrate their special day.

During the summer Snowbasin Resort also offers a Sunday Concert Series that is free during the summer months. With seventeen weekends this summer, they have 46 bands lined up. These are touring bands from all over the country. With Salt Lake City only being 40 minutes away, it’s a fun way to spend time up in the mountains.

If you’re a foodie and enjoy adventurous dining, Snowbasin also provides a monthly Dining Discovery. These themed dining experiences were created through the suggestions of the employees. Culinary students come from all over the world to work at the resort for a year. Loomis said, “we did an Indian themed dinner and we had belly dancers, sword swallower, and a fire swallower, things like that. And they’re all done at the top of the gondola.” He continued, “It’s set down in a spectacular setting and really something different than just going out to your local, favorite restaurant for dinner.” Past themes have included Farm to Table, Indian cuisine, Mediterranean, and Caribbean and this year they are planning on a Thai themed evening.

With so many different events happening at Snowbasin, Loomis is ever mindful that their goal is to help their guests have “the best day ever”. This has become their tagline and their employees’ objective as they provide quality customer service. Loomis said, when it comes to customer service training, that “the idea of creating an organization where the ideas are generated throughout the company, they don’t come from me. They come from the people who are out there doing the work. And that’s been very successful for us.”

Even with the fluctuation in the number of employees throughout the year, Loomis said that developing employees is his top priority when it comes to running the resort. He stated that ”you’ve got to get the right people in the right place. You’ve got to give them a clear vision of who we are and what we want to be as a company. Make sure that everyone understands their role and what we’re trying to do… Those people who are putting on the banquets, the weddings.., those guys that are out grooming at night, providing a snow surface to ski on, so that everyone feels that they are part of what we’re doing. If you can start to do that, I think you really start to run a good operation.”

John Loomis has been involved in the ski business his entire career. He started his career as a bartender where he earned tips and was paid $125 a month plus a season pass. As the resort grew, he had the opportunity to earn while he learned. Because he has gained this experience through several resorts, he has seen how important it is for everyone in the resort to understand how things are interrelated. Loomis said, “Your guest experience could be ruined by just that one sour employee… The real challenge is to get all of your employees to understand that, buy into it, and deliver on it with relentless consistency. And that’s how I got where I am today.”

Snowbasin Resort has a lot to offer and they are constantly striving to look for ways to improve and provide that “best day ever” experience. Loomis loves sharing his passion for the mountains with the people who visit Snowbasin. He wants to create experiences they will remember for a lifetime. He wants to create fun for both their guests and employees so they tell their friends about their great experience and want to come experience us for themselves.