{"id":647314,"date":"2024-12-20T21:00:36","date_gmt":"2024-12-20T18:00:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/powder-player-how-reed-hastings-is-disrupting-the-ski-industry\/"},"modified":"2024-12-20T21:00:36","modified_gmt":"2024-12-20T18:00:36","slug":"powder-player-how-reed-hastings-is-disrupting-the-ski-industry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/powder-player-how-reed-hastings-is-disrupting-the-ski-industry\/","title":{"rendered":"#Powder Player: How Reed Hastings Is Disrupting the Ski Industry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tReed Hastings thrives on reinvention. After shaking up how we consume home entertainment \u2014 turning a home DVD-by-mail service into the world\u2019s largest streamer, valued at more than $370 billion \u2014 he\u2019s now tinkering with the ski industry.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn December, the Netflix executive chairman and avid snowboarder is debuting a hybrid public\/private enterprise on Utah\u2019s prized Powder Mountain, which has been operating as an independent ski resort since the 1970s. \u201cWe\u2019re asking different questions here, which is leading to some really interesting answers regarding what a mountain resort can aspire to be in 2024 and beyond,\u201d says Hastings, who acquired a majority stake in Powder Mountain last year and serves as its CEO. To date, he has invested more than $100 million in the project, according to his team.<\/p>\n

\n\tLocated just outside of Eden, Utah, about an hour\u2019s drive from Salt Lake City, \u201cPowMow\u201d is said to be America\u2019s largest ski resort as measured by skiable acres (more than 8,000), beloved for its perfect powder, unfussy Alpine ambiance and strict limits on passes resulting in significantly thinner crowds than other top mountain resorts. And as corporate consolidators gobble up popular ski destinations across the globe, Powder Mountain offers a more serene, rustic experience, with fresh tracks reminiscent of the skiing of yore.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\u201cThis isn\u2019t about exclusivity for its own sake,\u201d says Reed Hastings. \u201cIt\u2019s about \u2026 ensuring [Powder Mountain] remains vibrant, welcoming and also uncrowded.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCam McLeod<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\t\u201cThe uncrowded slopes, the pristine wilderness and the community-driven focus make it feel like skiing and riding was meant to feel \u2014 joyful, natural and shared,\u201d says Hastings, ever the pitchman.<\/p>\n

\n\tIn some ways, the business model is the opposite of his previous venture. If Netflix\u2019s success depended on delivering the service to as many people as possible, PowMow\u2019s promise depends, in part, on keeping the masses at bay.<\/p>\n

\n\tLuxury hotels on Powder Mountain are scarce, and there aren\u2019t any immedia<\/a>te plans to build any, thus preserving the untouched feel. Most accommodations are available through a well-established rental network.<\/p>\n

\n\tHastings and his team plan to introduce privileged access to Powder Mountain via memberships available only to owners of real estate in Powder Haven, the new name for the hyper-exclusive residential section of the mountain, where lots start at $2 million. Preexisting owners reportedly will have to pay an additional initiation fee, as well as yearly dues, which are still being determined. Sources suggest they could range from $30,000 to $100,000.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe closest corollary for such a membership model is perhaps Montana\u2019s ultra-posh Yellowstone Club. But whereas that residential club is entirely private, Powder Mountain also includes a robust public section with new infrastructure underway.<\/p>\n

\n\tThe public side boasts thousands of acres of unspoiled terrain, new and upgraded chair lifts and other ongoing improvements such as elevated on-mountain dining. \u201cOn the culinary side, expect hyperlocal menus in our restaurants, with ingredients that reflect the mountain lifestyle,\u201d says Hastings. \u201cWe\u2019re also weaving in more live music and community events to make Powder a year-round destination for adventure and creativity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThere\u2019s also a new outdoor art park, an initiative of the Powder Art Foundation, a 501(c)(3), with installations commencing this season. \u201cOur North Star is thinking of ways to spark wonder. The art initiative is our way of adding a layer of magic, by blending the natural beauty of Powder Mountain with human creativity,\u201d says Hastings. \u201cIt\u2019s about fusing art with the structural DNA of the resort experience so that it\u2019s felt throughout. Imagine skiing past world-class sculptures or taking a summer hike through installations that challenge and inspire. It\u2019s not just about aesthetics; it\u2019s about creating dialogue \u2014 between nature, art and the people who come here. This is a space where art feels alive, and I think it\u2019s going to be a transformative experience for\u00a0visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tThe plan at Powder Mountain is for the Powder Haven real estate sales to help pay for improvements for the public pass holders. Hastings and his team believe some of them may eventually become Haven members based on their experience at Powder Mountain.<\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPaul Bundy<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\n\t\u201cPrivate skiing is a unique offering, one that only a handful of people in the world have had the privilege to experience. While app<\/a>roximately 30 percent of golf courses are private, very few ski resorts are, and we expect this trend to grow substantially in the coming years,\u201d he says. \u201cOffering access to private lifts is the first manifestation of our commitment to preserving Powder\u2019s uncrowded essence.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn addition to the members-only access to slopes (including three private lifts), Powder Haven will include a 40,000-square-foot lodge featuring a spa, bars, restaurants and\u00a0entertainment.<\/p>\n

\n\tThere are now fewer than 50 residences in Powder Haven, including the one Hastings built a few years ago, when Powder Mountain was owned by Summit Series<\/a>, which organizes networking conferences for the business elite. Fewer than 40 lots are being reserved in what Powder Haven is calling Phase One of its membership rollout plan. Phase Two will be offered in 2025, with a cap of 600 families.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cThis isn\u2019t about exclusivity for its own sake,\u201d says Hastings. \u201cIt\u2019s about creating a sanctuary for people who love this mountain as much as we do and ensuring it remains vibrant, welcoming and also uncrowded.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tDespite the new investments and programming on the public side, some regulars are disenchanted by the developments at PowMow, primarily because of the privatization of two of the formerly public lifts and the increase in pass prices. (An adult season pass with no blackout dates has gone from $1,259\u00a0to\u00a0$1,649.)<\/p>\n

\n\tAlejandro Sandoval has been snowboarding at Powder Mountain for the past several years and is debating whether to switch over to nearby Snow Basin, even though he considers the crowd there \u201cmore uppity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cWhat\u2019s happening at Powder Mountain is awful,\u201d he says. \u201cI see they\u2019ve upgraded some of the lifts, which was needed, but it feels like they\u2019re pricing the locals out, especially with the season pass at almost $1,700 a year, and they also need to add more bathrooms.\u201d Whether he keeps going to Powder Mountain, he says, \u201cdepends on what they do to keep the locals happy. Right now, it\u2019s not worth it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tColette McQuown has lived in the area for almost 25 years and is similarly dismayed by the developments. \u201cI would work on the weekends, so my boys grew up on that mountain skiing. I met and married my husband in the Powder Keg [the beloved main lodge pub], so it will forever hold a magical place in my heart that no changes can take away. It hurts my heart to see the changes, but change is hard no matter what.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBrandon Hegoas has been joyfully riding Powder Mountain for the last five years and shares a similar sentiment. \u201cI didn\u2019t support privatization and took my dollar elsewhere,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m pretty biased in that direction. \u00a0I\u2019m sure the improvements will be great in their own right but I\u2019ll be spending the majority of my time on a different mountain,\u201d he says. \u201cI hope they\u2019re successful but I\u2019m not sure that can be determined until after this season. I\u2019m sure they will be, there\u2019s no shortage of funding on their part. \u00a0It was my first time seeing money come in and take over a local mountain. I\u2019m retired from the military and moved a lot during my time in service. I got to enjoy the \u201cmy home mountain\u201d experience for five years.\u00a0It was awesome and it will be missed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tBut the resentment is far from universal. Powder Mountain aficionado Joe Ogdie, general<\/a> manager of The Lodge at Blue Sky in Wanship, Utah, welcomes the new developments. \u201cI think it\u2019s a good thing. It preserves the place and will add infrastructure to make\u00a0it better.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tHastings says keeping locals and Powder Haven members happy is a balancing act. \u201cIn some respects [it\u2019s a challenge], but at the end of the day, our audience is after the same thing: an incredible ski and mountain experience. That unifying factor is core to every decision we make,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\n\t\u201cGrowth shouldn\u2019t mean crowding,\u201d he adds. \u201cBy capping daily ticket sales and emphasizing private lift access for homeowners and members, we\u2019re creating a financially sustainable model. It\u2019s quality over quantity.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n\tIn some ways, Hastings is in unblazed terrain, but it would be unwise to bet against the success of a man who knows a thing or two about subscription-based businesses.<\/p>\n

\n\tThis story appeared in the Dec. 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Reed Hastings thrives on reinvention. After shaking up how we consume home entertainment \u2014 turning a home DVD-by-mail service into the world\u2019s largest streamer, valued at more than $370 billion \u2014 he\u2019s now tinkering with the ski industry. In December, the Netflix executive chairman and avid snowboarder is debuting a hybrid public\/private enterprise on Utah\u2019s…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":647315,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/191230_Horizon_pb-0290-H-2024.jpg?w=1296&h=730&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[1377,67473,71471],"class_list":["post-647314","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-social-mediaa","tag-netflix","tag-reed-hastings","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647314","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=647314"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/647314\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/647315"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=647314"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=647314"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=647314"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}