MONTPELIER, Vt. (June 5, 2025) – Ski Vermont’s 56th Annual Meeting at Sugarbush Resort celebrated a 1.1% increase in skier visits, totaling 4.16 million for the 2024–25 season—surpassing regional averages and reinforcing Vermont’s status as the top ski state in the East. Average snowfall reached 218 inches, with ski areas operating an average of 117 days.
Cross-country skiing also surged, up 37% from last season with 322,353 visits, thanks to a consistently cold winter. Meeting highlights included panels on workforce development, outdoor recreation strategy, and mental health in the ski industry.
The event recognized long-serving industry professionals with Career Achievement Awards and honored Kelly Pawlak with an Industry Achievement Award. Despite late-season weather setbacks and declining Canadian visitation, the industry remains strong, resilient, and committed to community investment and inclusive outdoor access.
Burke Mountain Resort has appointed veteran ski executive Tom Day as Interim General Manager, marking his fourth return from retirement to lead a ski area through a major transition. The announcement comes as the resort emerges from nine years of receivership under new ownership. Day joins a strengthened leadership team including newly hired CFO Keith Fortier and longtime GM Kevin Mack, now Vice President of Transition Services. The team is backed by a lineup of industry consultants aimed at solidifying Burke’s long-term vision and operational success.
Stratton Mountain Resort has earned the 2025 Best Overall Safety Program Award from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA), marking its ninth national safety recognition. This year’s award highlights Stratton’s commitment to a culture of safety, with programs that span guest education, employee training, youth outreach, and mental health awareness. Key efforts included interactive safety tools for kids, creative public safety events, enhanced incident prevention protocols, and robust mental health initiatives, such as suicide prevention training and accessible counseling. Resort leadership emphasized that expanding the definition of safety to include mental well-being was a direct response to employee feedback, reinforcing Stratton’s holistic approach to resort safety.
After nearly a decade in receivership, Burke Mountain is turning the page with new ownership, major investments in snowmaking and infrastructure, and a bold vision to become a premier year-round destination in Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom.
