Planning Issues
The successful design and operation of a mountain resort requires a solid footing on three separate pillars. The three critical resort elements, as illustrated in Plate I.1, are: physical, market and economic characteristics and factors.
CRITICAL RESORT ELEMENTS
PLATE I.1
The physical site characteristics include:
- environmental resources and sensitivities including water, air, soil, vegetation, wildlife and energy conservation
- terrain
- climate
- natural hazards
- visual resources
- recreational resources
The master planning process incorporates research by scientists, ecologists and recreational planners to document the physical characteristics of each individual site with air photos, topographical maps, three-dimensional computer models, on-site field work and surveying and analytical planning technologies.
The next critical element necessary for a feasible mountain resort deals with the market characteristics including:
- access to the site
- the size and proximity of local, regional and destination markets
- population demographics, such as: age, income and education
- population dynamics, such as: growth, aging and social trends, such as fitness
Finally, there are economic factors and characteristics to be considered such as:
- resort capacity
- length of operating season (winter and summer)
- infrastructure cost and availability
- capital costs of facilities
- operating efficiency
- revenue sources and pricing
- human resources
Every resort possesses a different blend of these characteristics. It is very important to understand and document the balance between the physical, market and economic characteristics of each individual project.
A master development plan is more than a physical layout of lifts, trails, restaurants, parking and accommodation zones. A master plan is a flexible responsive business plan which sets out physical and financial strategies which can respond to a variety of market scenarios including: growth, zero growth, or even declining growth. This report outlines a planning program supported by these three critical elements for the Las Vegas Ski and Snowboard Resort.