Big Burke announcement

[xlr8r]

Mr Q plans to make his mark on Burke:

1) unless he changes plans, most every area in the East will be open before Burke, including Nashoba Valley and the NJ areas. Talk in the admin building is that the 14th is a pretty hard date.

2) Staff being required to refer to the area as "Q-Burke". prompts such as "Thank you for skiing Q-Burke" have been given to incoming and returning emps

3) expenses are being monitored closely

deja vue all over again for those of us who have seen so many owners with grand plans ................ as always at Burke, cherish every good day.

Wait really, the official name now is Q-Burke. I thought it was just a logo change. I can see conversations going on like...

talking with a friend or family

"Where did you go skiing today?"
"I went to Q-Burke"
"What it is Q-Burke? I have never heard of it"
"Its Burke, only there is now a Q in the name"
"That sounds stupid"

or talking with an employee

"Welcome to Q-Burke"
"What is with the Q? I thought the place was just called Burke"
"The owners name starts with the letter Q, he wanted to leave his mark on the mountain, so he altered the name"
"That sounds arrogant and stupid"

 

[thetrailboss]

Wait really, the official name now is Q-Burke. I thought it was just a logo change. I can see conversations going on like...

talking with a friend or family

"Where did you go skiing today?"
"I went to Q-Burke"
"What it is Q-Burke? I have never heard of it"
"Its Burke, only there is now a Q in the name"
"That sounds stupid"

or talking with an employee

"Welcome to Q-Burke"
"What is with the Q? I thought the place was just called Burke"
"The owners name starts with the letter Q, he wanted to leave his mark on the mountain, so he altered the name"
"That sounds arrogant and stupid"

I think you're preaching to the choir.

 

[oldtimer]

too true

out of the mouths of 2 who attended staff meetings. perhaps the fad will fade quickly.

Wait really, the official name now is Q-Burke. I thought it was just a logo change. I can see conversations going on like...

talking with a friend or family

"Where did you go skiing today?"
"I went to Q-Burke"
"What it is Q-Burke? I have never heard of it"
"Its Burke, only there is now a Q in the name"
"That sounds stupid"

or talking with an employee

"Welcome to Q-Burke"
"What is with the Q? I thought the place was just called Burke"
"The owners name starts with the letter Q, he wanted to leave his mark on the mountain, so he altered the name"
"That sounds arrogant and stupid"

 

[thetrailboss]

Mr Q plans to make his mark on Burke:

1) unless he changes plans, most every area in the East will be open before Burke, including Nashoba Valley and the NJ areas. Talk in the admin building is that the 14th is a pretty hard date.

2) Staff being required to refer to the area as "Q-Burke". prompts such as "Thank you for skiing Q-Burke" have been given to incoming and returning emps

3) expenses are being monitored closely

deja vue all over again for those of us who have seen so many owners with grand plans ................ as always at Burke, cherish every good day.

Not good. Not good at all.

 

[kingdom-tele]

Not good. Not good at all.

unless your only looking at from a bottom line POV.

 

[from_the_NEK]

3) expenses are being monitored closely

Not sure what the problem is with this one. Just because Burke is now owned and operated by a family with pretty deep pockets doesn't mean they want to just go hog wild with spending. Keeping somewhat tight purse strings isn't really a bad idea IMHO. Look what happened when Ginn came in. They did the complete opposite and started spending all over the place. Remember the sets of greeters on each level of the stairs at the base lodge (one set at the bottom, one set at the ticket window level, and another at the top)? That company didn't last long.
I think Ari has been charged with making the mountain profitable and keeping close tabs on spending while they get off the ground is necessary to successfully do that.
The “Q” thing is silly, but at the same time memorable. People will member hearing the “Q” where plain old “Burke” gets forgotten quickly. The word “burke” just isn’t catchy. Other resort names like Sugarbush, MRG, Smuggler’s Notch, and Mt Snow are either catchy or make you think about Vermont and mountains. The names Stowe and Stratton have that inner circle cache and deep popular history among the high rollers that force people to have to know them so that they can share Vermont stories at parties (trust me, I’ve been to a party like that uke: ). Jay Peak used to be rather forgettable too, but the marketing department (with Steve in charge) has somehow turned it into something memorable . As much as I dislike the “Q”, it may be a savvy marketing move by Burke (ahem…excuse me…Q-Burke).

 

[thetrailboss]

Specifically, I think that the Q thing is a mistake. I also think that the late opening is not good either, especially since they (were) touting all the improvements to snowmaking last year (Marge, etc).

 

[kingdom-tele]

it is almost like they are running it like a place that only gets 70K skier visits a year

 

[from_the_NEK]

I also think that the late opening is not good either, especially since they (were) touting all the improvements to snowmaking last year (Marge, etc).

Why is it a mistake. Burke has historically waited until Mid-December to open. Why waste that money on the 75% chance it will all just run off into the Passumpsic River? On the other hand, it may entice more Burke pass buyers to buy the Burke/Jay combo pass in the future if they want the longer season. Once they commit to it, all of that new snowmaking power can get things covered more quickly rather than it taking until mid-January to make snow on all of the trails. FWIW, they are blowing snow on Warren's trying to get it open for BMA.

it is almost like they are running it like a place that only gets 70K skier visits a year

I know, I don’t get it either.

 

[rueler]

My wife and I have had Burke passes for the last few seasons. We were a bit disappointed that they weren't opening earlier than the 14th this year.

I've been visiting here to ski since I was a kid. I know that the mountain typically doesn't open until mid December, but we were suckered in by the rhetoric of the new ownership. Big upgrades to snowmaking, targeting higher skier visits and their big time push to try to open for THANKSGIVING last year, only to nearly miss it and be open for the first weekend of December.

We figured that if they're trying to establish a new "brand" of Q Burke with 150,000 skier visits that they better have the bull wheels spinning MORE days. More days = more visits. Just my vent.

I agree with NEK, it's alright to monitor expenses closely. I just wish that instead of dumping "?" money into rebranding Burke with the new logo, etc. and gutting Tamarack for enhancements, that they'd focus on the hill and the skiing product. That's why my wife and I schlep up there from the Hartford area every weekend…for the skiing and the peace and quiet on the slopes.

 

[zeke]

I just wish that instead of dumping "?" money into rebranding Burke with the new logo, etc. and gutting Tamarack for enhancements, that they'd focus on the hill and the skiing product. That's why my wife and I schlep up there from the Hartford area every weekend…for the skiing and the peace and quiet on the slopes.

finely someone said it. with wildflower and willy's both shutting down and the tamarack seemingly becoming a sports bar, sadly juniper's is the only real restaurant left in a small town that used to have several nice options. everything i read makes it sadder.

seems the on-mountain money could've been spent much more wisely and much more for the guests needs vs something that no one seemed to be asking for.

 

[Domeskier]

Q*bert mountain? Are they planning to replace the lifts with magic flying disks?

 

[kingdom-tele]

seems like they are cutting their losses until the infrastructure goes in. they notion it will be a 150K skier visit mountain is as grande a view that Newport will have 25K every weekend strolling the streets throwing money around.

if you want peace and quiet on the slopes every weekend you guys should think about looking somewhere else IMO, the clock is ticking down.

@zeke- what money?
While I agree the tamarack renovations were needless, I suppose they see more people showing up to watch sports than drop 100+ on a dinner for 2. They don't have all the EB5 money yet to my knowledge, and its for new infrastructure I thought.

its whats best right?

 

[rueler]

seems like they are cutting their losses until the infrastructure goes in. they notion it will be a 150K skier visit mountain is as grande a view that Newport will have 25K every weekend strolling the streets throwing money around.

if you want peace and quiet on the slopes every weekend you guys should think about looking somewhere else IMO, the clock is ticking down.

The clock is ticking. We realize that. But, the other spots we would consider will ALWAYS be busier than Burke.

I get cutting their losses, but if they cut expenses to the point where their product is diminished, they're going to LOSE people in the process. I know that it's a fine line as far as a budget goes…but, if it's less than the year before, people scratch their heads…it's just natural.

 

[Boardguy]

How much would it cost to post some new stuff on the the website? Man there is nothing going on with it. No pics, no new entries, no nothing. It is getting to be ski season right? It has been 35 degrees for days though according to the weather. Nothing listed in the events section from Dec. 14 until Jan. 31 - mountain closed in Jan. maybe. I assume the snowmobile races are not happening this year, when they ran that it was always a good excuse for us to go up. Oh well time will tell I guess.

 

[Smellytele]

This company does not believe in on hill improvements. It is all about getting people to be trapped in skiing there. How do they do that? Create rooms. The people on this website for the most part do not care about the surrounding infrastructure - we care about the skiing. Some of us would rather sleep in their cars than pay 200 a night to stay in a hotel room that you only sleep in anyway. Give us a good beer (or 4) and a cheap room with a private bath and we are good. Some of us would rather drive 2 hours each way then stay in a hotel room but for the average skier would not.

 

[thetrailboss]

How much would it cost to post some new stuff on the the website? Man there is nothing going on with it. No pics, no new entries, no nothing. It is getting to be ski season right? It has been 35 degrees for days though according to the weather. Nothing listed in the events section from Dec. 14 until Jan. 31 - mountain closed in Jan. maybe. I assume the snowmobile races are not happening this year, when they ran that it was always a good excuse for us to go up. Oh well time will tell I guess.

That's what happens when you lay off your mountain manager and your marketing department (one or two people).

And agree that the on-mountain product is what we're interested in.

 

[steamboat1]

Sounds like Elk & Burke have the same marketing team.

 

[Zand]

Sounds like I picked a good year to get out of Lyndonville and ski primarily at Killington. I'll be up once to use my day on the Fox44 pass, but otherwise all my trips to the NEK will be to Jay. After their performance last year, I won't even miss Burke too much.

 

[kingdom-tele]

That's what happens when you lay off your mountain manager and your marketing department (one or two people).

And agree that the on-mountain product is what we're interested in.

I thought these were the types of things they needed to do to remain afloat, with an industry leading dept at Jay it was a no brainer, right? they don't need a website now, they have facebook. I am a little shocked everyone seems so down, should only get better when they realize they are running the HSQ for the same 10 local people mon-thurs this winter. looking forward to more poma time when they start cutting back the lift run times to save money.

the on mountain product is dependent on the off mountain success isn't it? I was under the impression it was the best model for sustainability in the industry here in the NEK. Now it's not?

Rueler, they don't care if they lose you, they are looking to fill the doors with people who don't care about skiing anyway, skiing just happens to be there, look at J, if it was about skiing I would think some of their investment would go back into the mountain, they spent money to keep the Bonnie! Thats a place that brings in 400K+ in skier visits.

I would say Q is realistic, 70K skiers/year, be happy you get to warm your toes near the flat screens watching the Pats. Burke was about no frills, now it is actually no frills until they expand and everyone is jumping ship. Perfectly natural?