Arapahoe Basin ski area, CO is the latest ski resort to require that all their employees are fully vaccinated for covid-19 ahead of the 21/22 winter season. Resort CEO Alan Henceroth made the announcement in a blog post on Friday.
Managing Arapahoe Basin through the COVID era has been an extraordinary challenge for all of us that work at the resort. From the beginning there was so much uncertainty. Some of our guests felt we were too restrictive in our operations. Others felt we did not do enough. Throughout the past 18 months we have had to follow very stringent operating guidelines from county and state agencies. We were constantly dealing with moving targets. Despite it all, we still provided a fun and energizing place for hundreds of thousands of people to play in the mountains.
Arapahoe Basin will require that all of its employees have the COVID-19 vaccination. Right now about 90% of our staff are vaccinated. All current, unvaccinated employees will have to receive their final shot by November 2. New employees will have one week from their start date to begin the vaccination process and six weeks to receive their final shot.
Our intention is to protect the safety and well-being of our employees and guests and to keep our business open, viable and sustainable. By requiring vaccinations, we will reduce the chance of employees transmitting and contracting the disease as well as reduce the amount of business interruption caused by employee absences related to illness and quarantines.
This is not a decision we take lightly. We feel strongly that requiring employee vaccinations is our best step forward.
– Alan Henceroth
Last week Mount Rose Ski Tahoe, NV, and Aspen Skiing Co. both announced that they would be requiring their employees to be fully vaccinated. Management at Steamboat has revealed they are considering the move.
President Biden announced last week that employers with more than 100 employees must mandate vaccines or weekly covid tests.
Remember all the politicians and news outlets that condemned the vaccines when it was Trump’s Operation Warp Speed?