Ski resorts are hoping riders will come out this season despite the pandemic rules. (Image: Kathryn Reed)
Most every ski resort in the greater Lake Tahoe region has made changes to accommodate safety measures related to COVID-19.
According to Visit California, snow sports are among the top five safest activities in California. This has to do with social distancing and being outdoors.
Ski California, aka California Ski Industry Associations, is stressing that riders need to know before they go this season because the rules have changed. Some resorts are mandating reservations, others say day passes must be purchased before arriving at the ski area, while some won’t offer food. It’s best to check online with the resort you are interested in before heading out to know if tickets will be available that day and how to purchase them. Lessons are also changing, so be sure to find out the specifics before expecting to drop junior off in ski school all day.
For those with a season pass, the rules are different, too. Each resort has implemented different regulations. Plan to wear a mask, even in lift lines. Expect to ride only with the people you want to be on a chairlift.
A sample of passenger counts at the Reno airport. (Graphic: Reno Tahoe International Airport)
Those cold, blustery days when the lodge is wall-to-wall people—not going to happen this season. That means your vehicle may become a warming hut of sorts.
Ski resort officials speculate some protocols could be fluid, as state regulations impact their business. Still, they are excited about the upcoming season, with some resorts having opening dates on the calendar for November even though that white stuff coming down from the sky has been non-existent this fall.
California and Nevada tourism officials are taking a cautious approach when it comes to luring people from beyond their borders to their respective states.
“We are looking at the consumer mindset. What do they think? When do they think it will be safe to travel and how will they travel?” said Lynn Carpenter, vice president of global marketing for Visit California, the state’s tourism agency. She along with her counterpart from Travel Nevada and ski resort reps were part of webinar about the 2020-21 ski season hosted last month by the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association.
One of two major programs the Silver State is promoting this winter is in-state travel. Discover Nevada was launched in September.
The North Shore tourism agency is pushing safety, education and responsible travel.
“We are encouraging midweek travel, and encouraging working and going to school from the mountains,” Amber Burke, NLTRA marketing director, said. While NLTRA has been marketing to the Southern California area for years, there will be a more concerted effort this winter season. While it’s farther to drive from compared to the San Francisco Bay Area, these people tend to stay longer.
According to a Reno-Tahoe International Airport official, leisure travel started to return in June. This is because the destination has what the leisure traveler wants—wide-open spaces. It was so bad when the pandemic first hit that one day in April only 200 passengers passed through the airport. Normally thousands of people fly each day.
“If we don’t see the demand, (airlines) will leave,” Trish Tucker with the airport said. This November marks 30 years that Southwest Airlines has been flying into Reno. Until the pandemic hit, the least number of daily flights the airline had was 12. In early September that number was nine. Southwest is expected to have daily service to Dallas Love Field from February to April.
Delta is adding an Atlanta route starting in mid-December, lasting through March. The airline will be flying twice daily to Los Angeles International Airport. The last time this occurred was in 2008. JSX, a 30-seat jet service, started servicing Reno in late September. A one-way trip to Burbank costs $89.
