Ski Area / Mountain Resort Planning & Design

Defining Summer Success


The November 2023 issue of Ski Area Management (SAM) magazine features an article written by April Darrow and Claire Humber, SE Group’s Director of Resort Planning.

“It’s been an interesting journey to track how the industry has evolved (in defining operational success), and how the conversations have evolved,” says Humber. “No one has the same ski area, the same brand, or the same natural environment, so no one is going to have the same offerings. Not everyone is going to measure success in the same way.”

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SE Group Receives Premier Award for Client Satisfaction 2023


SE Group is thrilled to receive the 2023 Premier Award for Client Satisfaction! This award from PSMJ Resources, Inc. honors firms in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry that deliver an outstanding client experience.

We are fortunate to work with our clients to create great outdoor spaces and enrich people’s lives through the power of outdoor recreation. As trusted partners, advisors, and champions for our clients, we bring the value of experience to help implement a strategic vision and deliver exceptional projects that positively impact their communities.

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Extell and Alterra Announce Major Terrain Expansion of Deer Valley Resort


SE Group is excited to share a major terrain expansion of the iconic Deer Valley Resort nestled in the Wasatch Mountains in Park City, Utah. The project is led by a landmark partnership between Extell Development Company and Alterra Mountain Company.

SE Group designed and planned the expanded terrain and seamless connectivity between the two resort areas. Chris Cushing led the master planning, which included flagging and field fitting each ski run. This design work honors his father, one of the principal designers of historical Deer Valley, and the namesake of Cushing’s Cabin at the resort.

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Two SE Group Articles featured in May edition of SAM Magazine


The May issue of Ski Area Management magazine is out and we are pleased to report that it features not one but two articles from SE Group authors.

Director of Resort Planning Claire Humber‘s piece is titled “Investing in Retention of Interest.” Leaning on her deep expertise in strategic planning, Claire encourages ski area owners and operators to look beyond the traditional ROI (return on investment) to consider another ROI when planning capital expenditures: retention of interest.

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Rosebrook Lodge Wins International Hospitality Award


SE Group is proud to be a part of a team that recently won Premier Hospitality Magazine‘s 2022 Hospitality Design Award for ‘Best Event Space’ for the Rosebrook Lodge at Omni Hotels & Resorts’ Bretton Woods ski area at Mt. Washington. The 16,500 square foot lodge, which officially opened at the end of 2020, is perched near the top of the mountain, offering spectacular views across the Presidential Range. Skiers and hikers can easily access the year-round lodge via the Skyway Gondola,

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SE Group Celebrates the Opening of Palisade Tahoe’s Base to Base Gondola


On Saturday, December 17 2022, Palisades Tahoe officially opened the Base to Base Gondola, which connects Palisades Olympic Valley with Alpine Meadows. The new combined area makes Palisades Tahoe the largest resort in California, and the third largest in North America.  You can read about the gondola’s opening in the Tahoe Daily Tribune’s article.

SE Group is proud to have led the mountain planning and NEPA environmental analysis for this groundbreaking project,

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SE Group’s Claire Humber Elected to ASLA Council of Fellows


SE Group’s Claire Humber will be elevated to the American Society of Landscape Architect’s (ASLA) Council of Fellows during a ceremony this November, along with 27 other members. Election to the Council of Fellows is among the highest honors the ASLA bestows on their members for their career contributions and achievements within the industry.

Click here to read the full article.

Capital Suggestions


Ski Area Management January 2022

Capital investments are a critical aspect of master planning for any resort – and the amount of data that can inform these decisions has dramatically risen in the last 10 years. So where does one begin?

SE Group has been guiding ski areas and resorts through capital planning since its inception in 1958. And in this article for Ski Area Management, CEO Kent Sharp joins a panel of experts to talk about growth and maintenance capital in this ever-changing environment.

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Unpack Your Assumptions


Ski Area Management November 2021

COVID has forced a broad rethinking of resort operations, the guest experience, and the use of space. In this article for Ski Area Management, Carolyn McShea and Claire Humber examine the operational assumptions that COVID disproved – and how resorts can continue to turn last year’s challenges into this year’s opportunities.

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Lift-Served Mountain Biking


NSAA Journal  Summer 2021

SE Group’s  Patrick Olstad and Drew Pollck-Bruce co-authored an article about the potential for lift-served mountain biking growth opportunities at ski areas and mountain resorts. Their findings are based on the insights and trends identified in a national survey of current riders and guests.

Click here to read the full article.