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Vail Resorts CEO underlines need to 'stay vigilant' heading into winter season

Katz writes open letter to communities, employees, and guests
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Vail Resorts is planning ahead for the upcoming ski and snowboard season. Photo submitted

Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz has released an open letter “to communities, guests and employees” shedding light on what this winter will look like as the pandemic continues.

In the July 29 letter, Katz had two major areas of focus, warning against complacency and underscoring that safety will be paramount in all of Vail’s operations in the 2020/ 21 ski and snowboard season.

“At Vail Resorts, we are strong advocates for face coverings and believe that in public gathering spaces—indoors and outdoors—everyone needs to wear a face covering at all times,” Katz wrote, noting exceptions for eating and drinking. “We also believe that physical distancing between unrelated parties is a must—which means events or other public gatherings that don’t allow for two metres of distancing, should be restricted or limited. This goes for gatherings in town and on the mountain. We need to accept that this will likely be the reality for the full season.”

Katz noted that the company will make clear its expectations for visitors, though acknowledged it will be impossible to completely control and enforce their behaviour. 

"We remain optimistic that we’ll have a great ski season," he wrote. "And we are actively preparing our resorts to ensure our employees and guests have a safe and enjoyable experience this winter amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. But we also know that without strong, healthy communities, none of that matters." 

See the full letter here