Cortina Inn disaster

[ski_resort_observer]

Spent the weekend down in Rutland/Kmart and found out some more Powdr disasters in the making. BTW, I always stay at the Happy Bear on the access rd, not fancy, lots of history and nice people. The Backroads Tavern in BW still has the best BBQ in the area.

Powdr purchased the Cortinna Inn a few months ago and and many employees have either quit or been laid off, many more want to leave. The longtime housekeeper I talked to told me that they have half the usual staff and was told that they need to clean twice the number of rooms they used to. When they told management that they could not do that and do a good job they were told to just do it. She is trying to hang on thru the end of foliage.

I spoke to a local popular painter who was selling her work at the Arts in the Park crafts fair in Rutland and she told me she and 5 other artists who have been selling their work at the Cortinna for years have not been paid for paintings that the Cortinna sold months ago. They all sell their work on consignment and they believe they will never be paid and are removing their work. This painter said she is owed over $1000.

I am now getting a handle on Powdr's real plan, when it's confirmed you won't believe it.

 

[deadheadskier]

I've worked in hotels a LONG time, in fact my first position in one was as a housekeeper at the Keystone Inn in Colorado during the summer of 93'. Over my time, when new management takes over a lodging property, one of the first things they do is try and reduce the clean times on rooms, usually to a harsh degree. It's an unfortunate situation and you feel terrible for the housekeepers as they truly get beat down with expectation. Many quit and the ones that don't get burnt out in bitter. Usually what this does is weed out the bad workers and give the management an idea of what kind of effort the local labor market will typically put forth. Several months from now they'll adjust the work load accordingly and come winter they'll practically beg people to work for them.

This happens at any lodging property with any new management. Powdr shouldn't be raked over the coals for this. Talk to anyone who's worked for Marriott, Hilton, Winegardner and Hammons, Columbia Susses, Ocean Properties - any large hotel operator out there. It's pretty much par for the course, though certainly not ethically right if you ask me.

As for the artists, that right there is pretty darn shady.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I've worked in hotels a LONG time, in fact my first position in one was as a housekeeper at the Keystone Inn in Colorado during the summer of 93'. Over my time, when new management takes over a lodging property, one of the first things they do is try and reduce the clean times on rooms, usually to a harsh degree. It's an unfortunate situation and you feel terrible for the housekeepers as they truly get beat down with expectation. Many quit and the ones that don't get burnt out in bitter. Usually what this does is weed out the bad workers and give the management an idea of what kind of effort the local labor market will typically put forth. Several months from now they'll adjust the work load accordingly and come winter they'll practically beg people to work for them.

This happens at any lodging property with any new management. Powdr shouldn't be raked over the coals for this. Talk to anyone who's worked for Marriott, Hilton, Winegardner and Hammons, Columbia Susses, Ocean Properties - any large hotel operator out there. It's pretty much par for the course, though certainly not ethically right if you ask me.

As for the artists, that right there is pretty darn shady.

There has been several lodging properties/resorts in NE with new owners, I think you would find that little of this, especially this extreme, has occured. While it certainly does happen, it is not "par for the course" in my 30 years of resort lodging experience. In addition I don't consider Powdr in the same league as Marriot or Hilton, the others you mentioned and is not a large hotel operator. IMHO. How many on this board would return to a hotel that had poorly cleaned rooms?

As you mentioned, from the staff's perspective it is not right but from a guests perspective it's crazy.

The artists are filing in Small Claims Court which unfortunately will do them little good.

 

[deadheadskier]

guess you got me beat on years experience. I'm just sharing what I've witnessed at the half dozen or so properties I've worked for that have changed ownership during my tenure. Like I said, it isn't right, but plenty of lodging operators do it. It actually isn't only in housekeeping, it's in the kitchen, maintenance, everywhere. In most every take over I've personally been affected by, the new operator pushes all departments to the brink by demanding maximum efficiency. It's quite painful to be a part of and one thing I certainly don't miss about operations. I'm not saying Powdr shouldn't be criticized, they should, as should all others that subscribe to this new rulers by fear and demand management tactics. It's unfortunate, but what Powdr is doing, is not all that uncommon.

 

[cmfrvt]

You are grossly misinformed. Powdr did not purchase the Cortina Inn.

 

[Tin Woodsman]

You are grossly misinformed. Powdr did not purchase the Cortina Inn.

If this is the same guy with that handle on K-Zone, I think we have an insider here.

Well, who exactly did purchase it?

 

[ski_resort_observer]

You are grossly misinformed. Powdr did not purchase the Cortina Inn.

This is what I was told.......I am willing to admit that I was misinformed.

Aren't you one of the guys in the kmart marketing department responsible for that bogus website bashing Okemo about a year ago?

 

[bobbutts]

This is what I was told.......I am willing to admit that I was misinformed.

Aren't you one of the guys in the kmart marketing department responsible for that bogus website bashing Okemo about a year ago?

cmfrvt = Dave Rathburn, Director of Marketing

 

[tcharron]

cmfrvt = Dave Rathburn, Director of Marketing

Well, at least they're reading! :-D

Of course, this could lead to a press release on the killington web site.

"POWDR announces lifetime ban on all AlpineZone members.."

 

[Tin Woodsman]

This is what I was told.......I am willing to admit that I was misinformed.

I have absolutely zero inside knowledge on this but, given the very specific nature of his response ("Powdr did not purchase") I'd be willing to bet that the buyer is SP Land or E2M or some other entity associated with the ownership of Killington or its planned village. If so, then Rathburn's response is the weakest sort of misdirectional BS.

Lot of "ifs" there, so I guess we should let the facts come out on this before piling on any further.

 

[bobbutts]

I have absolutely zero inside knowledge on this but, given the very specific nature of his response ("Powdr did not not purchase") I'd be willing to bet that the buyer is SP Land or E2M or some other entity associated with the ownership of Killington or its planned village. If so, then Rathburn's response is the weakest sort of misdirectional BS.

Lot of "ifs" there, so I guess we should let the facts come out on this before piling on any further.

I'd be willing to bet Powder/SP has nothing to do with it. If it were Powdr and SP he would not have said "Grossly Misinformed". cmfrvt (or spinmaster) is not scummy like that imo

 

[ski_resort_observer]

I have absolutely zero inside knowledge on this but, given the very specific nature of his response ("Powdr did not not purchase") I'd be willing to bet that the buyer is SP Land or E2M or some other entity associated with the ownership of Killington or its planned village. If so, then Rathburn's response is the weakest sort of misdirectional BS.

Lot of "ifs" there, so I guess we should let the facts come out on this before piling on any further.

I'm for that......but in doing some quick research, leaving today for Rangeley, Maine to check out Saddleback rumors, I found this...doesn't have to do with Cortina ownership but does shed more light about the problems at the Cortina Inn
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Re...ws-Cortina_Inn_Resort-Killington_Vermont.html

 

[ctenidae]

Current owners of the Cortina Inn:
http://cgi2.sec.state.vt.us/cgi-shl/nhayer.exe

Krishan Sachdev is also listed as an owner/operator of the EconoLodge in Montpelier and the Hilltop Inn in Barre, and formerly of the Liberty Inn in Burlington. Subhash Gandhi is in on the Hilltop, too.

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Current owners of the Cortina Inn:
http://cgi2.sec.state.vt.us/cgi-shl/nhayer.exe

Krishan Sachdev is also listed as an owner/operator of the EconoLodge in Montpelier and the Hilltop Inn in Barre, and formerly of the Liberty Inn in Burlington. Subhash Gandhi is in on the Hilltop, too.

Thanks ct...the link didn't work but knowing what has been going on regarding the motel/hotel ownership changes in Rutland the last few years, the owners you mention makes total sense regarding Cortina's problem.

It does goes counter with what I had been told but I am starting to think they were caught up in the emotion, as well as myself, of the situation as the artist I spoke to was in near tears in telling me the problems they were having.

Greg...being the OP can I request that the thread title be changed to Cortina Inn disaster?

 

[SkiDork]

I wonder how much the Cortina would sell for?

 

[bvibert]

Greg...being the OP can I request that the thread title be changed to Cortina Inn disaster?

Fixed it for ya..

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Fixed it for ya..

Thanks BV.....

 

[wa-loaf]

I'm for that......but in doing some quick research, leaving today for Rangeley, Maine to check out Saddleback rumors,

What's up at Saddleback? :-o

 

[tjf67]

What's up at Saddleback? :-o

NOTHING ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

 

[C2H5OH]

Cortina Inn disaster

We spent 2 nights this weekend at Cortina Inn. It was worth $59 including buffet breakfast, although we were hoping to use the pool:

It is as GREEN as you see it on the photo, I could not see the bottom.
Needless to say, we did not swim in that. Some people did - they must have never seen a clean swimming pool.