Stowe Mountain Lodge Rental Rates.. Insane?

[campgottagopee]

I was invited on a tour of this new lodge, and the prices do not come as too much of a surprise to me. They anticipate this hotel receiving a five star and five diamond rating, and with all due respect to the Stoweflake and the other aforementioned hotels, this is simply a step higher. Their prices are on par with the other elite resorts, and I am excited that Stowe has been able to assemble this kind of hospitality experience. I realize that this is certainly not for everyone, but from what I have seen, I do recommend this if you have the means. I will try to offer a more detailed perspective to you all after I have stayed there.

For 2 grand a night it dang well better be "Spitzer ess"

 

[deadheadskier]

For 2 grand a night it dang well better be "Spitzer ess"

:lol:


agreed, a turn down service will not suffice at that price. I'd fully expect a 'turn on' service

 

[campgottagopee]

:lol:


agreed, a turn down service will not suffice at that price. I'd fully expect a 'turn on' service

Hear ya----always liked those "clap on" clap, clap---"clap off" clap, clap

 

[campgottagopee]

I was invited on a tour of this new lodge, and the prices do not come as too much of a surprise to me. They anticipate this hotel receiving a five star and five diamond rating, and with all due respect to the Stoweflake and the other aforementioned hotels, this is simply a step higher. Their prices are on par with the other elite resorts, and I am excited that Stowe has been able to assemble this kind of hospitality experience. I realize that this is certainly not for everyone, but from what I have seen, I do recommend this if you have the means. I will try to offer a more detailed perspective to you all after I have stayed there.

Seriously dude, how the bageezus do you think they'll get Robert Redford away from Aspen??? IMO it's just not gonna happen.

 

[snoseek]

I was invited on a tour of this new lodge, and the prices do not come as too much of a surprise to me. They anticipate this hotel receiving a five star and five diamond rating, and with all due respect to the Stoweflake and the other aforementioned hotels, this is simply a step higher. Their prices are on par with the other elite resorts, and I am excited that Stowe has been able to assemble this kind of hospitality experience. I realize that this is certainly not for everyone, but from what I have seen, I do recommend this if you have the means. I will try to offer a more detailed perspective to you all after I have stayed there.

Even with an endless bank account I still think its silly to spend this kind of money on a room anywhere, let alone Stowe. I have worked at some pretty elite hotels in the past that grossly overcharge and don't come close to that price. You could get into most elite hotels in Asspen for less than that.

 

[Breeze]

Good day for chucks and giggles, for sure, but I wish I had read this BEFORE work today. 2k per night would HAVE to be 5 star lodging............ WOULDN"T IT? I needed this information, today, to make a referral.

An earnest "administrative assistant" called me today at Wildcat with "a couple of questions" to set up her Boss for a Ski Trip.

SHE: When is Wildcat closing?

ME: We haven't set a closing date yet, we still have too much snow to think about closing.

SHE: I can't give my Boss that kind of non-information. Is that the best you can do? Is there anyone else I can speak with who actually KNOWS anything?

ME: ( mentally LOLOLOL) I'm sorry if that is vague, it really all depends on the weather, but May 4th is our goal, perhaps longer. In Pinkham Notch, everything is weather dependent

SHE: Oh. ( pause) What will be the deciding factor?

ME: Actually, the weather will be the deciding factor in how long we stay operational. ( trying not to outright chuckle)

SHE: ( sighs) Thank you, at least thats SOMETHING I can relay ... you aren't being very forthcoming which makes this SO much more difficult for me. I'm not accustomed to having to beg for facts in such a simple matter. While I'm looking at your website and seeing your Lodging Partner contact numbers, tell me which one of them would be the closest 5 star accommodation my Boss requires?


ME: ( swallows hard) In that case I'd be happy to refer you to Breton Woods or The Balsams, and I have all the contact numbers you need.

snip the rest of that phone conversation for obvious hilarity.


There is a high end market and yet not everyone can play in that rarefied atmosphere.

Breeze

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

For 2 grand a night it dang well better be "Spitzer ess"

But 2 grand is not for a hotel room that's for a suite with several rooms...At the Borgota in AC there are suites that have a rack rate that high and I'm sure the Lodge at Stowe will be nicer..

But for 2 grand it better include a happy ending..and I'm not talking about the Sundae from Friendleys..lol

 

[dropKickMurphy]

2 Grand?!?!?

You can rent this:
http://www.vrbo.com/100742
for less than 2 grand.

Given the current strength of their dollar, maybe Stowe is looking to attract a lot of Canadians.

At least all of this pretentious, chi-chi development is happening across the street at Spruce. I hope they keep the Mansfield side pretty much as is.

 

[billski]

Breeze,
It sounds like the Administrative Assistant" doesn't get outside much. She probably lives in a downtown high rise. She probably relies on Accuweather for her forecasts too :dunce:

I can see her calling a beach resort now

Can you tell me when you'll have beach volleyball?
a: everyday at 1pm except when it rains.
When will it rain?
a: that's weather dependent
I can't make plans with non-information like that! :dunce:

Good day for chucks and giggles, for sure, but I wish I had read this BEFORE work today. 2k per night would HAVE to be 5 star lodging............ WOULDN"T IT? I needed this information, today, to make a referral.

An earnest "administrative assistant" called me today at Wildcat with "a couple of questions" to set up her Boss for a Ski Trip.

SHE: When is Wildcat closing?

ME: We haven't set a closing date yet, we still have too much snow to think about closing.

SHE: I can't give my Boss that kind of non-information. Is that the best you can do? Is there anyone else I can speak with who actually KNOWS anything?

ME: ( mentally LOLOLOL) I'm sorry if that is vague, it really all depends on the weather, but May 4th is our goal, perhaps longer. In Pinkham Notch, everything is weather dependent

SHE: Oh. ( pause) What will be the deciding factor?

ME: Actually, the weather will be the deciding factor in how long we stay operational. ( trying not to outright chuckle)

SHE: ( sighs) Thank you, at least thats SOMETHING I can relay ... you aren't being very forthcoming which makes this SO much more difficult for me. I'm not accustomed to having to beg for facts in such a simple matter. While I'm looking at your website and seeing your Lodging Partner contact numbers, tell me which one of them would be the closest 5 star accommodation my Boss requires?


ME: ( swallows hard) In that case I'd be happy to refer you to Breton Woods or The Balsams, and I have all the contact numbers you need.

snip the rest of that phone conversation for obvious hilarity.


There is a high end market and yet not everyone can play in that rarefied atmosphere.

Breeze

 

[billski]

Even with an endless bank account I still think its silly to spend this kind of money on a room anywhere, let alone Stowe. I have worked at some pretty elite hotels in the past that grossly overcharge and don't come close to that price. You could get into most elite hotels in Asspen for less than that.

I wouldn't expect high profile people to want these - they are probably looking for privacy.

MMC is doing the the grand experiment ("calculated risk" as they say) in free market economics. If they don't come, the price will go down.

Don't just focus on individual ownership. Many times these things are put on expense accounts, or bought by corporations, just like the sky boxes at major league baseball parks.

They also could be bought by investment speculators who never plan to live in it and just rent it out. It wouldn't surprise me to see a private outfit put together a package for them - jet to airport, limo to the "cottage", private chef, shopping. Oh, did we mention skiing???

Then again, anyone who can afford to purchase these units can probably afford to keep them vacant for all but the once a year they use it. For some, it's simply too much a hassle to rent it out.

 

[billski]

2 Grand?!?!?

You can rent this:
http://www.vrbo.com/100742
for less than 2 grand.

Given the current strength of their dollar, maybe Stowe is looking to attract a lot of Canadians.

At least all of this pretentious, chi-chi development is happening across the street at Spruce. I hope they keep the Mansfield side pretty much as is.

I stand by my statement that Mansfield Lodge will be the "skiers ghetto" :razz:

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I stand by my statement that Mansfield Lodge will be the "skiers ghetto" :razz:

That lodge is ghetto..I prefer the Octogon or Midway lodge since you have to walk up 50+ steps to get back to the snow after a break in the Mansfield lodge..

 

[skizoo]

2 Grand?!?!?

You can rent this:
http://www.vrbo.com/100742
for less than 2 grand..

Exactly, that was kind of my original point, what you can get for 2K a night at most resorts seems to so far exceed the 1500 SQ ft 2 BR condo at the SML.. If I was going to spend 2K a night on a place would it be at the SML?

Here's another.. Deer Valley, ski in ski out.. 6000 Sq Ft
2K a night for the same time frames I entered for the SML..
http://www.vrbo.com/104905

The corporate ownership angle is valid, but that would also apply to every other major resort but the prices at these other places and what you get for your money seems to put Stowe in some kind of bizarro world price wise..

I'm also not so sure how well these units at SML have sold, up until about 6 months ago, I would get a call about every 2-3 months from the SML folks trying to convince me why I needed one of these.
That went on for almost the past 2 years..

 

[billski]

Exactly, that was kind of my original point, what you can get for 2K a night at most resorts seems to so far exceed the 1500 SQ ft 2 BR condo at the SML.. If I was going to spend 2K a night on a place would it be at the SML?

Here's another.. Deer Valley, ski in ski out.. 6000 Sq Ft
2K a night for the same time frames I entered for the SML..
http://www.vrbo.com/104905

The corporate ownership angle is valid, but that would also apply to every other major resort but the prices at these other places and what you get for your money seems to put Stowe in some kind of bizarro world price wise..

I'm also not so sure how well these units at SML have sold, up until about 6 months ago, I would get a call about every 2-3 months from the SML folks trying to convince me why I needed one of these.
That went on for almost the past 2 years..

Maybe, just maybe they are going after the Wall St. money that ordinarily goes out west. We could debate the " why", especially since the weather and snow are so much better out west, but perhaps they can get back in time for wall st. open easier..... It will be interesting to see WHO really buys....

 

[ski_resort_observer]

a couple of things to remember here....

Stowe has been trying to come up with a developement for 15 years that would pass muster with Act 250 and the predictable local opposition. This concept was born during a time when having a base village was the next great thing every resort needs and the conventional wisdom at that time was that the high income market was insulated from the ups and downs of the economy.

I am sure if the had their druthers they would have loved to do a developement over on the Mansfield side but as we know....not possible.

Fast forward years later when the hotel(just phase one of a massive buildout) is about to open. This mantra that the wealthy are immune to financial pressure is starting to show some strong cracks and will probably gets worse before it gets better.

I saw an interview the other day on CNBC with one of the mega wealthy sheiks in Saudia Arabia who said his family has lost over 10 billion since July just on their Citicorp stock holdings. Sure they made a bunch up until this past summer and even it's technically on paper, this kind of financial environment which currently exists does effect their spending/investments.

Just in Vermont we have Claybrook at the Bush, Ginn ar Burke will be looking for buyers for their developement and you have Stowe. I think the Haystack Club was an early chip that fell due to poor capitalization on their part and the poor finacial environment on the buyers side.

I think the OP's point is well taken in that all these developements are out of step with the current reality but I think that they have no choice but to wait it out and hope things improve sooner rather than later. Who knows, maybe this fall things will have improved enough to warrant $2000/night and there will be buyers out there for both short time rentals and sales of ownership.

 

[deirwin]

Rack rate versus reality?

My guess is that SML has no intention of charging rates that high. It looks like a really great place, but $2,000 is pretty high end. Instead they probably list some unrealistic "rack rate" that they can discount 100% of the time. It may also be a marketing ploy to get people interested in the property. I could soo $500-$750 for a place like that, and I think that is what it will end up being. It will be interesting how the place changes the mountian.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

My guess is that SML has no intention of charging rates that high. It looks like a really great place, but $2,000 is pretty high end. Instead they probably list some unrealistic "rack rate" that they can discount 100% of the time. It may also be a marketing ploy to get people interested in the property. I could soo $500-$750 for a place like that, and I think that is what it will end up being. It will be interesting how the place changes the mountian.

I don't see one on-mountain hotel changing the mountain..their only other slopeside lodging is The Inn @ the Mountain which is circa 1970s..and at the base of the Toll House slopes which aren't always open, the lift opens later than the others...is slow as Ballz..and has one small restaurant that is mediocre..

 

[Philpug]

Another reason I think Stowe is overrated.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Another reason I think Stowe is overrated.

Isn't that where you and your Epic buddies get together???

 

[hardline]

Another reason I think Stowe is overrated.

good i don't need no mo stinkin people in my woods. i personally think its a good thing for the local economy. i will bring the once or twice a year crowd that comes to ski a little and shop a bunch. they will never go where i go on the mountain. the town makes more in property tax. resturants make money on food.