Industry News
To face up to the economic difficulties expected during the season ahead, Aspen Skiing Co. (Skico) has made the decision to lay off employees for the first time in almost two decades, reports The Aspen Times.
In an internal letter to employees, of which The Aspen times obtained a copy, Aspen Skiing Co. President and CEO Mike Kaplan revealed that almost 50 positions have been abolished.
“Many of the nearly 50 positions affected are already vacant or causing early retirements, but there are nine people whose jobs have been eliminated.”
– Mike Kaplan in an email to employees
The company did not elaborate on which positions had been eliminated, stating only that they are ‘across the company’. The email went on to say that they don’t expect any further layoffs. But who knows what could happen in the coming months due to COVID-19.
Kaplan did say that their summer business was “better than feared”, although way off previous summers, and the company is preparing themselves for what is expected to be a tough winter ahead. Advanced bookings are already down, and flights into Aspen airport will be significantly reduced. Delta Airlines announced a couple of weeks ago they will not be servicing Aspen airport this winter. Vail Resorts announced last week that they will be introducing a reservations system, but Skico and Alterra have yet to announce their operating procedures. The Governor of Colorado has also yet to announce at what capacity the state’s ski resorts will be allowed to run at.
