Industry News
Mount Hood Meadows, OR is taking a hard line with guests who refuse to wear face coverings – they will have their pass suspended.
A post on their website states that they have already removed some people from the mountain and suspended their passes for not complying with the measures and being hostile towards their staff.
Full post below:
It’s hard to believe that a month into our season, and almost a year into this pandemic, we still need to remind some guests to wear a face mask covering their nose and their mouth. What’s even more disappointing is the belligerent, argumentative and downright disrespectful behavior that a few of our guests express towards our team when asked to wear their face masks. We are thankful for the vast majority of our guests who willingly and enthusiastically comply with this critical public health measure. We appreciate that you take this pandemic as seriously as we do.
But for those that continue to threaten our season with their ignorance or defiance, they will no longer be welcome at Meadows. General Manager Greg Pack confirms that, “We have removed some people from the mountain and suspended their passes for not complying with our masking guidelines and for their hostile behavior towards our team.” Pack says our lift attendants have taken the brunt of this disobedience and protocols are in place to address this behavior, saying, “Moving forward if you need to be reminded to wear a mask you will receive a warning. We will ask for your pass to take down your information. If you are polite then we will put a note in your pass profile and you can move on with your day. If you are disrespectful or treat our team members poorly, your pass will be suspended for a minimum of two weeks.”
Before your pass will be reactivated, offenders will need to meet with our Department of Public Safety manager and other members of our management team. If you agree to comply, your pass will then be reactivated. If there are any further issues, the pass will be pulled for the entire season, and you will jeopardize any season pass purchase in the future.
Our Lifts Manager Cody speaks on behalf of our entire team when he says, “We are taking this pandemic very seriously and we need you, our guest, to take it seriously as well. Your behavior is putting our entire operation at risk. This place is beautiful, the snow has been great. If you want to be here with us, you have to act like it. We will not accept anything less.”
Cody notes that arguing about things such as wearing a neoprene mask with breathing holes is an example of this behavior. “We have provided an abundant amount of information and guidance regarding masks on our website and throughout the resort. We have been clear in our messaging that a face mask that snugly covers the mouth and nose is required.”
Mask Guidance
The requirement to wear face masks and the penalties those who don’t comply will face are not limited to the chairlifts. Mask compliance is required throughout the resort – on shuttles, in parking lots, in lodges, in lift lines, on chairlifts and all other outdoor locations where you can’t maintain six feet of distance from those not in your party. Our team is working extremely hard to continue to provide outdoor recreation which is so critically important at this time. But as Cody says, “We can not do it alone. We need everyone to jump on board with our safety procedures – and if you don’t then you will not be welcome up here with us.”
Meadows Chairman and CEO Matthew Drake appreciates the vast majority of guests who are complying, and the planning that has made this season possible, saying, “From the outset of the extensive preparation of our COVID operating plan, we focused on maintaining the health and well being of our team and then our guests, so we could continue to provide our guests the physical and emotional outlet the healing nature that ‘Your Mountain Home’ can bring. I am so proud of our extremely dedicated and resilient team members here at Mt. Hood Meadows who are committed to providing our guests enrichment during this pandemic.”
Drake says Mt. Hood Meadows is a community that looks out for and respects one another, “Whether in our parking lots, shuttles, lift lines or buildings, there’s just no room for those who choose not to comply AND THEREBY threaten the health of our team, our guests and our season.”
