Andy Wirth of Steamboat Springs, Colorado has been appointed to the position of executive vice president of Sales Marketing and Chief Marketing Officer for Intrawest.
A release from the Vancouver-based company said Wirth will be responsible for all aspects of Intrawest's global sales and marketing and will play an important role in developing and communicating the company's vision and strategy, driving market share and establishing the individual brand identities of the company's network of experiential destination resorts.
Wirth will report directly to Alex Wasilov, president and chief operating officer of Intrawest.
Wirth joined Intrawest as a result of the acquisition of Steamboat Ski Resort Corporation that was completed in March 2007. He brings more than 20 years of sales and marketing experience to Intrawest and he will be based in Steamboat Springs, where he serves as Vice President of Sales Marketing for Steamboat Ski Resort Corporation.
In addition to his new company-wide responsibilities, Wirth will continue to oversee the sales and marketing operations at Steamboat, including all resort and Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel marketing, domestic and international sales, branding, advertising, direct marketing, public relations, web marketing, capital planning, Steamboat Central Reservations, special events and strategic business partnerships.
"Andy is a proven industry veteran with a track record of setting business strategy and building the brand value and customer programs that have defined Steamboat's iconic brand. We are extremely pleased to add an executive of Andy's calibre to the Senior Leadership Team at Intrawest," Wasilov said in the release.
"We look forward to Andy's dynamic leadership as he helps Intrawest deliver on our vision to be the world leader in development and management of experiential destination resorts. Andy will have the responsibility to lead the process of translating this vision into a business reality."
Wirth has been active in all facets of local and regional governmental affairs in Colorado. He spearheaded the effort to create the Steamboat Local Marketing District, which instituted an accommodation tax to fund airline guarantees. His involvement in the Yampa Valley Airport Commission helped to secure funding for nearly $20 million in major improvements to the Yampa Valley Regional Airport, and over the past five years, his work amounted to a 34 per cent growth in air seats for the Steamboat flight program, now offering non-stop flights from a record 10 major U.S. cities. Wirth is eager to get involved in the local communities throughout Intrawest's network of resorts.
"Intrawest is the undisputed leader in destination resort marketplace and I am thrilled to work with one of the most talented resort teams in the industry in continuing to showcase the extraordinary resorts within the Intrawest portfolio," Wirth said. "I plan to take advantage of the incredible opportunities available to these world-class resorts by implementing dynamic strategies focusing on each resort's strengths."
Wirth earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Colorado State University and attended Edinburgh University in Scotland. He currently serves as President of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club Board of Directors.
