Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 M A R C H 6 , 2 0 1 7 F O C U S W E S T E R N M A I N E consumption by 50% and allowing a carbon off set of 402,804 pounds. While it's not expected that Maine will lose its winters anytime soon, climate change is happening, Sweetser says, and technology is key. "We'll be able to provide our prod- uct for decades to come through all of this adaptation," Sweetser says. "But we're also working on diversifying our business, trying to become more year-round." Ski areas agree: Diversifi cation is key "We've been working to make our- selves more of a year-round business for many years," says Austin. at includes a premiere golf club and numerous events throughout the sum- mer. e Sugarloaf Marathon last May drew 1,600 runners. Last summer, the resort launched a variety of new events, including a summer concert series, trail race and mountain bike festival. "Mountain biking up here as become a big activity," says Austin. "We're seeing lots of growth in the mountain biking scene. And the core wedding and conference business do well for us. But they're still a small portion of the business compared to the ski side of things." Sugarloaf hosts major competi- tions such as this year's U.S. Alpine Championship. It also hosts a reggae-ski festival, drawing 7,000 to 9,000 people annually and generating revenue from retail, lodging, food and beverage. "Lift ticket sales are our biggest money-makers, but lodging and food and beverage are big, too," says Austin. " ere's a pretty wide variety of things that make up the entire portfolio." Sunday River similarly has a year- round schedule. Recently, says Lambert, the resort added night skiing, coupled with live entertainment, fi reworks, tub- ing — the works, to create a vibrant atmosphere. Skier numbers remain fairly steady, but Sunday River is seeing a bit of an upward trend in summer busi- ness, largely attributable to increased group business in the past few years, such as the 10-week Gordon Research Conference, fi lling its hotels. e wed- ding business has grown by 25% per year over the last few years. A partner- ship with L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery School brings customers for summer activities. Mountain biking, hiking, disk golf — the course expanded last sum- mer, zip line tours and scenic gondola rides provide additional business. "We've off ered summer activities for over a decade but certainly have added to it," says Lambert. " e 'Chondola' lift has really helped turn around activities in terms of who we're able to transport up to the top of the mountain, how we're able to utilize the mountain peak lodge both for winter visits and wed- dings and conferences and guest activi- ties and events in the summer and fall. So that's helped us grow the summer portion of the business." "If we could build our summer busi- ness so it could match winter, that would be perfect, because employment would be much more stable," Sweetser says. "One of the challenges that Maine moun- tains face is our incredible coastline. In Vermont, the mountains are the number one tourism driver winter and summer." In Maine, the coast is the summer draw. "So that's an obstacle unique to Maine." L S, Mainebiz staff writer, writes the Real Estate Insider. She can be reached at @ . FOLLOW US @MBEVENTS #MBBLOY17 SP ONSORED BY After rigorous vetting, Mainebiz has chosen our top three executives as the 2017 Business Leaders of the Year. Read their profiles in our special Business Leaders of the Year issue on March 20. If you're a Mainebiz subscriber, you'll automatically receive this special issue. If not, make sure to order your copy. Announcing the 2017 Winners on March 20th! Call 207.761.8379 x332 or email kansley@mainebiz.biz T O O R D E R Find out who we've named as our 2017 Business Leaders of the Year in the March 20 issue. Saddleback update A n initiative to purchase Saddleback Mountain and make it a skier and community owned mountain is well underway, said Saddleback Mountain Foundation Chairman Peter Stein. The goal is to turn the ski area "into a co-operative where individuals, families and local businesses can buy shares and agree to minimum yearly purchases. In turn, those shareholders become partial owners, get voting rights on mountain operations and development, and get benefi ts at the ski mountain like discounts on mountain services or yearly dividends that can be used for any mountain purchases," according to a foundation newsletter. Stein declined to cite numbers, but a membership letter last November said the foundation had obtained commitments approaching $5 million. Of that, the letter says, $4 million needed to be raised to secure the foundation's exclusive right to buy the resort and to fully capitalize the operating company. Plans are to open the mountain for the 2017-18 season. "We'll be out with revised fundraising numbers and goals soon," Stein said. "We feel very positive about where we are."

• Cover