I drove to work for the first time yesterday and realized as I pulled into the lot super early that I had no idea the hospitality of the parking lot. There were only a few cars in the lot, so I parked next to them - in the front row. It made me a little uncomfortable. As a career hospitality professional, I have always viewed the parking lot as the entrance, the first impression for the guest. The welcome. Which is why as employees we always parked somewhere other than where the guests parked, or at least not at the front because you wanted to save that for the guests. Is there a team policy on parking?
Parking is first come first served for anyone coming to the resort because of our Sno-Park designation we are not able to differentiate parking spots for anyone.
– Cody Howe
As we settle into the season, with the holidays behind us, I have hopes that we will continue as a team to rise up to the extraordinary challenges that the pandemic presents and offer a truly extraordinary experience to every person on the mountain. It is my personal hope that every person that steps foot on the slopes leaves more connected to nature, themselves and the humanity around them. I also believe this doesn’t happen my accident. Here are some ways I suggest we elevate the experience:
Music: Along with nature, music is powerful medicine and always impacts the experience. Music in the breezeway. Music on the patio. Music in the lift lines. Curated. Intentional for proper vibe setting. I know that this is more than just putting in speakers and would be willing to help make it happen. The same system could be used as a communication tool as well. Imagine this: you are in the breezeway and the music fades out and a nice voice says welcome to meadows.....masks...social distancing....etc.... This way the Guest Host in the breezeway doesn’t have to repeat it over and over, they can connect with the guest.
Making the Line Fun: I want people to leave and say they had just as much fun in the lift line then they did on the slopes. It is part of the experience and doesn’t need to be a drag. I’m going to continue doing what I can but would really love to have some support and resources to make it happen. Speakers with microphones would be very helpful. They help us communicate without having to scream through a mask, into the wind, etc. We could also make the line fun by having live music. One performer. A guitar. A violin. A drum. Nothing grand, just providing a simple stage. This would be a win - win. We elevate the experience while also helping out the very talented musicians of the region by giving them a live place to play. I even have visions of putting a musician in a really random place on the mountain.... imagine coming down a run and tucked in the trees is a local musician playing the banjo..... Finally on that note, I am going to host a Dead day at HRM every Tuesday to have some fun with all the mountain Deadheads. I will play a show and stoke the crowd. I’d like to host a guessing game regarding the show played and could use something to give the winner. I’ll create or do something personally if nothing is available.
Bus Reservations: Create a base passenger list for each bus. I said this on the last survey and I’ll keep saying it. I am grateful for the bus, but everyday I ride it reminded of my perceived value to the company. There is nothing good about riding the bus, other than not having to drive your own vehicle (of which I often wonder what the parking lot would be if every one of those who ride the bus drove their own cars....sustainability? Having a place for guests to park?...) I deal with it as the cost of having this job, but the reservation system makes me livid every single week. I have lots of ideas on how to logistically handle the bus reservations if someone would just ask. But at least make the reservation window 14 days in advance instead of 7. PLEASE. PLEASE. PLEASE.
Thank you for listening. Thank you for caring about every one of us. Thank you for making this historic season possible. And thank you for being open to new possibility, growth and excellence.
Its hard to understand how meadows invites guests from all over the country to come and ride at our resort, but wont allow employees to use the exchange program. Meadows has filled the parking lots numerous times on days we historically did not. How does management justify letting whoever, from wherever come to our resort? If travelling is an issue to limit the spread of covid, then limit who can come ride at meadows and actually reduce the crowds. The one-sided restriction of something that is highly beneficial for employee wellness has been noted by employees resort-wide. The folks making these decisions, can and should do better. Employees first does not mean employees are the 1st to make the sacrifice.
This answer may be hard to hear but the problem is not with the guests. The problems are being caused by employees being irresponsible outside of work and causing themselves and others to be quarantined. Meadows has been overwhelmed with the amount of contract tracing and quarantines this season and that is not due to guests showing up at the resort. It has to do with decisions made that can affect the entire team and a lack of accountability on peoples part. Meadows has opted to not provide an outlet for people to make potentially bad decisions for free. I for one understand it completely, especially considering all the effort that went into making this season happen.
–Cody Howe
Please lift the suspension of the mountain exchange program! If only to resorts that are local (Timberline, Ski Bowl) and/or within this state. The idea that Meadows employees do not already associate with those from other resorts on Mt Hood is laughable. Keeping employees busy outdoors on the mountain is a better option than shutting them out from local resorts; leaving bored employees to resort to partying on the mountain instead.
I would like to say thank you to Fallon for speaking up during the manager meeting no one had the guts to say what she did and i still dont... The answer given to everyone was weak and I am dissappointed in the exec team. It would be nice to see more of the administrative management on the front lines.....if the masks are good enough to protect the front line staff they should be good enough to protect some more managers or directors on the front line instead of hiding in there office or at home.....team first right
Agreed I appreciate Fallon speaking up, hearing everyone's honest feedback is important for making the best decisions. Myself and other exec team members try to be out with the team in some capacity on a daily basis. The operation is very large though and it is hard to be everywhere so if there is somewhere you would like to see an exec team member help out please let us know.
- Jeremy Riss
Our guests are not maintaining the mandated 6 feet from each other at certain choke points while accessing the lifts.
As they approach the RFID gates they jam up and enter the gates with strangers. At Buttercup the also happens at the secondary gates. I dealt with guests not loading the Buttercup deck when the secondary gates opened, because they did not want to ride with the stranger who was attempting to join them. Also, a couple of time guests stepped off the deck because a stranger attempted to load with them.
A few suggestions, if I may.
Strong online message to guests that their pass WILL, not may, be pulled if they are found to be in violation of the mandated 6 feet distance from strangers, or not properly wearing a mask.
Maze control attendant needs to slow down the flow approaching the RFID gates. This will allow guests to cleanly pass through the RFID gates, without bottlenecking. Plus nobody likes their boards or skis ridden over from behind.
Maze control attendant needs to verbally remind guests of the mandated 6 feet from strangers, and pull passes of violators.
Maze control needs to stop strangers from entering the gate together, unless it's two singles who agree.
Access control needs to keep guests spread out, when not dealing with pass issues, and pull passes of violators.
I would like to praise Marshal Ellison. He has single handedly held lift ops together during this difficult time with employees dropping like flies to quarantine. One day I saw him arrive at 6:30am and stay til 9pm to cover for nights during a stint where he worked for 2 weeks straight . He has taken on all this extra responsibility with grace and a smile on his face. He has been handling this immense stress without taking it out on others. I have never seen a better leader. He walks the walk, talks the talk, and SHOVELS! He can cover lift ops dispatch, supervisors, and set up any lift like he had just worked it the day before. He is the glue that keeps us together!
I agree with this comment 110%. Marshal has grown into a wonderful leader and we are truly fortunate to have him in LOPS. I have worked for several large companies in my career and have never experienced such a fine example of leadership as I have with Mars. I would also like to use this an opportunity to acknowledge all of our leadership team who has stepped up over the last month in the face of adversity. We have had a number of supervisors out due to quarantine and everyone has stepped up to share the burden. I feel that we are truly lucky to have such a strong group of people to help guide the team through such a chaos filled season.
- Cody Howe
I would really appreciate it if Guest Hosts could be out and about in the FRONT of the lodge to greet guests as they try to walk up and get into the lodge before 7:30. We are out every morning shoveling snow and looking for hazards and often have guests come up to us and ask questions that I just simply don't have the answers to. These guests end up seeming rather irritated that I, a maintenance person who's doing very obvious maintenance things, doesn't know where race or event groups are meeting. I have been met with hostility many times. If we could guest hosts out earlier, we could also prevent more damage (a cost in labor and parts for no reason) to the breeze way and sahalie wood doors as people have been continuing to rip them open over and over and over again. Maybe a bull horn for days where long lines form and people in the back are wondering what's going on.
I spoke with the Sunday Host team and we will try to have 2 hosts start earlier (around 7am) 1 in the breezeway area and one over by Sahale on Peak days.
We had adjusted the host schedule to begin at 715 this season, but we need to start with a morning meeting to get all the information they need for the day so they can answer all those questions. They are usually out at their assignments by 730am.
- Lisa Cordie
We've been asked to take on more responsibility this season and instead of being compensated for it, one of our most commonly used employee benefits has been cut preemptively. Even though there are plenty of other ways to manage the risk from covid. I honestly find this insulting and feel like it proves that meadows does not care about their employees as much as they say they do. However the Lift Ops management has been spectacular as always
Twice now, I have been given assignments that took me beyond my scheduled shift. Both were private lessons where the guests arrived late. I enjoyed the lessons immensely. On the first occasion I was not told it would run late. I discovered that from the guest on a chair ride. I missed an important family event. On the second I was scheduled to work the night shift also.
Solution to the angst and worry I had. Communication when the shift overlap is apparent or develops. Some latitude to say no. On the first, if I had known, I would have asked (and needed) to be excused because of the family event. On the second, make sure missed lineups are addressed up front. I do not want to be known as a person who does not show up.
I have had some notes on Day Force that I did not timely check in. I have always been at line up or private lessons at least 15 min early. I am not sure why these notes show up. I have asked is there some place else for me to check in online. I am told no. I have made sure the person in charge (with the e -book) knows I am there.