BallantinesPR

New Mexico’s Ski Areas
Enjoy Best Season in Nearly a Decade

Santa Fe, N.M., April 29, 2010 - Ski New Mexico members not only experienced a 23 percent increase in skier days during the 2009-2010 season versus the 2008-2009 season: It was the most skier visits since the 2000-2001 season.

Skier visits for the recently-completed season (April 18, 2010) were 964,793.  “We were hoping to hit one million,” said George Brooks, executive director of Ski New Mexico. “That would have been a great milestone, given today’s economy.  In fact, the economy actually helped our numbers, as we have always been a great drive market and lots of folks were driving this year.”

The average number of days open at Ski New Mexico resort members (Taos Ski Valley, Red River Ski Area, Angel Fire Resort, Sandia Peak, Ski Santa Fe, Ski Pajarito, Sipapu Ski & Summer Resort, and Ski Apache, plus the cross country skiing areas of Enchanted Forest, Chama and Valle Caldera Cross Country Ski Area) was 125.

“Skiing in New Mexico isn’t just about light, fluffy snow and brilliant sunshine,” said Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department. “It is also about job creation and economic impact.”

According to Ski New Mexico, the financial impact of this year’s ski season on the state’s economy was $541 million, up $61 million over 2008-2009, including $40.6 million in gross receipt’s taxes (up $9.4 million over 2008-2009. Gross receipts taxes paid on lift tickets alone totaled $4 million. Skier spending was $135.4 million (65 percent by out-of-state residents), including $10.2 million on gross receipt taxes.

In all, Ski New Mexico members employed 2,500 New Mexicans.

“The snow storms which continually blanketed the high country (averaging 221 inches) meant skiers and snowboarders didn’t have to spend an extra five or six tiring hours in the car heading further north just to stand in long lift lines,” Secretary Cerletti added. “They could already be on the slopes at one of New Mexico’s incredible ski areas.”

For more information, contact George Brooks, 
gbrooks@unm.edu  or 505-250-6610; 
or visit http://www.skinewmexico.com/

Mike Stauffer, Communications Director, 
New Mexico Tourism Department 
505-827-7379, 
mike.stauffer@state.nm.us

For press information, please contact:
Rachel Silva 
Ballantines PR 
Rachel@ballantinespr.com 
Tel: 505-216-0889 
Cell: 505-795-5353 
www.ballantinespr.com

ON ALPINE TERRAIN AND CHERRY BLOSSOMS
YTL HOTELS Goes To Japan

SINGAPORE, March 10, 2010 – Continuing its mission to expand its collection of high profile, luxury properties, YTL Hotels announced today its acquisition of several operating assets plus 462-hectares in Niseko Village including the lease of an additional 155-hectare ski mountain in Hokkaido, Japan. 

A prime winter and summer destination resort, the purchase includes the 506-room Hilton Niseko Village, the 200-room Green Leaf Hotel, two 18-hole championship golf courses – one of which was designed by Arnold Palmer, a 23-court tennis complex, the Niseko Village Ski Resort and ski school, and an equestrian center. Set at the foot of Mt. Niseko Annupur, the resort is the perfect base for skiers and snowboarders to access the mountain’s powdery slopes, regarded as some of the finest alpine terrain in the world.

In all seasons, rigorous activity is often followed in the evening by a soak in one of the resort’s several natural onsen hot springs and a traditional Japanese massage. According to James W. McBride, President of YTL Hotels and Properties, the company’s master plan for the resort is to create a sophisticated village atmosphere teemed with private houses, ski in ski out estates, onsen spas and a retail and restaurant center inspired by chic destinations like Vail in Colorado, Whistler in British Columbia, and St Moritz – the sister city of Niseko. ‘Along with the development of the MUSE Hotel De Luxe in the French resort town of Saint-Tropez, both these resorts will be highly complementary assets to YTL’s growing, international portfolio’ says McBride. 

To enhance the extraordinary summer season in Niseko, the company is already formulating plans for it to have an appeal beyond just the powder and greens crowd. ‘We want to launch an International Food Festival that will attract chefs and gourmands from around the world, with the Pacific Ocean only 30 minutes away, offering some of the world’s best seafood and given Hokkaido’s reputation for being the bread basket of Japan’ says Sarah Cairns, YTL’s Executive Vice President for Marketing and Communications. 

‘We are excited and very enthusiastic with our expansion plans. As a company with a very strong financial position, YTL Hotels took advantage of the economic downturn investing in the company’s future growth’ says McBride. ‘The locations of these new hotels and resorts were thoughtfully chosen, so we could integrate the local environment and culture seamlessly into our existing collection of properties, bringing out the best of each destination.’ 

In addition to the Hilton Niseko and the MUSE Hotel De Luxe in Saint-Tropez, YTL has expanded significantly in the last year – truly bringing to life its vision of creating treasured places and treasured moments with the addition of the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China; The Chedi in Phuket, Thailand; and both Pulau Gaya and Pulau Tiga in Borneo. The former is a deluxe rainforest family resort near Mount Kinabalu, while Pulau Tiga is about 48 miles down south. Opening in 2011, both are great destinations for adventure, nature and water enthusiasts.

About YTL Hotels
YTL Hotels is the hospitality arm of YTL Corporation Berhad. The Company owns and manages a prestigious award winning collection of individually unique resorts, hotels and spas including the world’s no. 1 resort, Pangkor Laut. With their global expansion in 2010 in Saint-Tropez, Shanghai and Borneo, YTL brings a natural essence of culture, character and tradition to each destination embracing different luxurious experiences.

For reservations and enquiries, please contact YTL Travel Centre at +603 2783 1000 or email: travelcentre@ytlhotels.com.my or visit www.ytlhotels.com. For images of YTL Hotels and Resorts, please visit :http://onlineimages.ytlhotels.com.

For more information, please contact:
Sarah Cairns
Executive Vice President, Marketing Communications 
YTL Hotels
Tel :  (65) 6578 9020
Mobile: (65) 8298 3395
scairns@ytl.com.sg

Lisa Low
Group Director, Public Relations
YTL Hotels
Tel:  (65)  6578 9036
Mobile: (65)  9644 0088
lisa@ytl.com.sg