The Sundance Film Festival  may be over, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops in Park City.  This week kicks off the 2012 VISA Freestyle International World Cup Event hosted by Deer Valley Resort, as well as the 10 Year Anniversary of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics.  There’s a ton of fun going on in and around town.  Bottom line, it’s a great time to book your trip to Park City, Utah!   Visit our Specials Page and read below about upcoming events, celebrations and fun!

Competitors from around the world will challenge each other and themselves on Deer Valley’s 2002 Olympic runs.  The festivities started last night, Feb. 1, with Robert Randolph and the Family Band on Main Street in Park City, followed by an amazing fireworks display!  Best of all, the snow was falling.  Have you seen fireworks in the snow?! Below is the full schedule for the remainder of the week/weekend.  *All events are FREE and open to the public and take place in the evening under the lights.

Thursday, February 2
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Ladies’ Mogul Qualifications
Champion
5:50 p.m. – 7:15 p.m.
Men’s Mogul Qualifications
Champion
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
VIP Tent Open
Competition Venue
8 p.m. – 8:55 p.m.
Men’s and Ladies’ Mogul Finals (16/16)
Champion
8:55 p.m. – 9:10 p.m.
Awards
Finish Area
9:10 p.m.
Fireworks

Friday, February 3
1:05 p.m. – 1:50 p.m.
Ladies’ Aerial Qualifications
White Owl
4 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Men’s Aerial Qualifications
White Owl
6:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
VIP Tent Open
Competition Venue
7:30 p.m. – 7:40 p.m.
Showcase
White Owl
7:45 p.m. – 9:25 p.m.
Men’s and Ladies’ Aerial Finals (12/12)
White Owl
9:30 p.m. – 9:40 p.m.
Awards
Finish Area
9:40 p.m.
Fireworks

Saturday, February 4
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Ladies’ Dual Mogul Qualifications Champion
4:50 p.m. – 6:15 p.m.
Men’s Dual Mogul Qualifications
Champion
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
VIP Tent Open
Competition Venue
7 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Men’s and Ladies’ Dual Mogul Finals (32/16)
Champion
9 p.m. – 9:15 p.m.
Awards
Finish Area
9:15 p.m.
Fireworks

But that’s not all… this week also kicks off the Salt Lake 2002 10 Year Olympics Anniversary! Here is what’s happening:

The Relighting the Flame ceremony starts the evening of Feb. 8 at Cauldron Park, Rice-Eccles Stadium.  This ceremonial relighting of the 2002 cauldron will remain lit for public viewing through Feb. 11.

Come join the Community Celebration at the Utah Olympic Park, Feb. 9 from 5-6 pm.  *Admission is FREE and open to the public!  And you have the opportunity to meet Olympic and Paralympic athletes who have special ties to the Park City and Summit County community.  Come join the grand opening of the Silver Bean Café at the Utah Olympic Park as well.

10-Year Anniversary Olympic Sport Festival. On Saturday, Feb. 18, from 10 am-5 pm, an outdoor sport festival will be held in the streets of The Gateway shopping center in downtown Salt Lake City. During the street festival, participants will have an opportunity to meet winter Olympic athletes, participate in interactive winter sport demonstrations and view commemorative exhibits about the 2002 Winter Games.

The festival will also serve as an official stop for the United States Olympic Committee’s (USOC) “Road to London” Tour – a family-friendly, interactive experience that offers fans a chance to learn about the Olympic Movement, participate in simulated events and meet athletes. The 2012 Road to London Tour, sponsored by Hilton HHonors, Samsung and TD Ameritrade, will make a total of four stops before culminating in Chicago in July.  Click here to view full information.

A Tribute to Salt Lake 2002 with Stars on Ice. Come pay tribute to the success of the 2002 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games on Feb. 18, from 7-9 pm at the Energy Solutions Arena.  This special event features skating performances and memorable highlights from Salt Lake 2002.  Tickets starting at $20. Click here for more information and to book your tickets now.

But it doesn’t stop there… join the community of Kearns “Welcome the World” Parade on Feb. 17, from 6-9 pm at the Utah Olympic Oval.  Re-live the Winter Olympics with a live Parade of Nations, a Children of Light figure skating performance, sport exhibitions, a torch re-lighting with past and present Speedskating athletes, autographs and photos with athletes, and 2002 Olympic memorabilia. *Admission is FREE and open to the public.  Click here for more information.

With all the FUN and all the SNOW heading our way, it’s a great time to be in Park City!  Book your family/friends vacation today with Park City Lodging, Inc!

Thanks to Rossignol, Park City Lodging is happy to announce our Winter Ski and Snowboard Giveaway!!!

What: Enter to WIN a FREE pair of 2012 Rossignol Skis or Snowboard!

Skis: 2012 Women’s Temptation 82 Skis

• Size: 160
  

  Rossignol Ski and Snowboard Giveaway

• Type: All Mountain Rocker
• Bindings included

Snowboard: 2012 Men’s Angus Amptek Snowboard

• Size: 157
• Type: All Mountain Freestyle
• Bindings NOT included

How to Enter: Simply “Like Us” on Facebook, fill out the quick survey and you’ll automatically be entered to win! And if you’re already a Park City Lodging Facebook fan (we thank you, by the way), no worries because you can still fill out the form and enter to win! Click here to enter.

Other Facts: Park City Lodging will select 2 random winners February 18th, 2011.  One female will win the Temptation 82 Skis and one male will win the Angus Amptek Snowboard. For more information please be sure to read our Terms and Conditions.

To get the low-down on the Women’s Temptation 82, please click here.  For the Men’s Angus Amptek, click here.

The snow is coming, ladies and gentleman, boys and girls! So be sure to enter today for your chance to win this awesome setup!!

Well, another year has come and gone, and with that is another group of international tour operators that come to visit Park City.  Why are they here?  It is our goal to inform the operators about Park City; to go on site tours of the numerous lodging options that are available to potential tourists; to ski the resorts and get to know the mountains; and to explore Old Town and the surrounding areas. Ultimately, we want the operators to love Park City just as much as we do so they recommend Park City as a vacation destination to their international clientele.

Park City Lodging, Inc. had the wonderful opportunity to play ‘host’ to the International FAM during their stay in Park City, which took place Dec. 6 through Dec. 11.  Representatives from various companies in Germany, Australia, Russia, Mexico, Canada and Brazil attended this years’ International FAM.  Needless to say, we had a wonderful time getting to know the operators during their week in Park City and we were able to attend some of the events at Jupiter Bowl, Deer Valley, Main Street, Empire Lodge at Deer Valley and the Utah Olympic Park.  Below is a photo of everyone during the Fireside Dinner at Empire Canyon Lodge.  Which, if you haven’t had the chance to experience, I highly recommend! Click here read about it and to view the menu.

On behalf of Park City Lodging, we would like to send a special thanks to the Park City Chamber Bureau, who put on a wonderful event this year; as well as the international tour operators who became our friends; and the numerous representatives from Deer Valley, Canyons, Park City Mountain Resort and the other lodging reps in and around Park City who did a wonderful job hosting the event as well.

Thanks so much!  And we can’t wait till next year!

Sincerely,

Park City Lodging, Inc.

Park City Lodging, Inc. Supports Community-wide Day of Giving

PARK CITY – Park City Lodging, Inc. showed its support today by donating to seven local non-profit organizations for the first annual Live PC Give PC Day fundraiser – an unprecedented 24 hours of giving presented by The Park City Foundation, Utah’s first community foundation that serves donors and non-profit organizations throughout Summit County.

“Giving back to our community is one of the most important things we can do as a local business in Park City,” said Rhonda Sideris, president of Park City Lodging, Inc.  “It’s our local non-profits that bring so much life, opportunity and activity to our town and it’s our responsibility as residents to show our support.”

Of the 80 organizations participating in the Live PC Give PC fundraiser, Park City Lodging, Inc. supported an array of causes and chose to donate to the following:  Summit Land Conservancy; Supporting our Veterans/Healing Our Heroes, a project of the National Ability Center; Peace House; Women’s Ski Jumping; Utah Avalanche Center; Summit Community Gardens; and Park City Conservation Association, dba Recycle Utah.

“One thing that makes Park City so special is the number of non-profits in our community who truly strive – and do – make a difference,” said Jaci Buckingham, Sales and Marketing Manager at Park City Lodging, Inc.  “Without our non-profits we wouldn’t have the many things that make Park City, Park City, such as our numerous and ever-growing biking and hiking trails, free concerts in the summer, our farmers markets and support for community arts programs.”

Live PC Give PC Day will function as a 24-hour fundraising competition between the non-profits. Every donation made gives an organization the chance to win matching grants and prizes.  The Park City Foundation is also awarding grants to the three organizations with the most unique donors, as well as randomly choosing donors to add $500 to their donation.  For a complete list of participating organizations and to donate, please visit http://livepcgivepc.razoo.com.

“It’s events like these that continue to bring together Summit County and strengthen the Park City community,” Sideris said.  “Watching the community come together to support our non-profits and work toward a common goal makes me proud as a Summit County resident and a Park City business owner.”

Park City Brings Home the Gold!

PARK CITY – The International Mountain Biking Association (IMBA) announced Monday, Nov. 7, that it has designated Park City, Utah as the first Gold Ride Center®.  In doing so, Park City will become the model for IMBA Ride Center Programs.

According to IMBA’s website, The Ride Center® designation represents IMBA’s Model Trail recognition for large-scale mountain bike facilities that offer something for every rider.  The IMBA staff selects candidates for Ride Centers recognition on an invitation-only basis.  As of October, 2011, seven Ride Centers have undergone IMBA’s evaluation process and Park City was selected as the first and only Gold-Level riding center.

“We’re awarding our highest designation to this amazing mountain bike destination.  No location better exemplifies the Ride Center ideal of offering great options for any level of rider and any style of riding,” said IMBA Regional Director Ryan Schutz.

According to Rich Cook, IMBA’s Director of Development, Park City became a Gold-level Ride Center because of its commitment to master planning.  “The sheer number of miles of trails is fantastic – there are more than 400! – but what’s really important is that they function as a cohesive network, with signage and trail connections that create an enormously rich mountain bike experience,” Cook said.

Mountain Trails Foundation, Park City’s local trails advocate non-profit organization, worked with IMBA to make sure Park City met all the requirements of the Ride Center Program.

“This has been in the works for a couple years, and like most things in Park City, it was a group effort,” explained Charlie Sturgis, Executive Director of Mountain Trails Foundation.  “After two years of leg work, we were able to fill in the criteria sheets requested from IMBA.  We’ve been told we received 96 out of a possible 100 points, and while there are other Ride Centers, we’re the first venue to be rated high enough to be Gold Level.  This level of achievement couldn’t happen without tremendous contributions from Park City, Snyderville Basin Recreation District, and lots of others.”

One of the benefits of being designated as a Ride Center by IMBA is that mountain bikers looking for the best locations in the world for biking adventures will be able to see Park City’s Gold Level status right on IMBA’s website.  They will also be able to book biking vacations in Park City on the site, making IMBA’s Gold Ride Center designation meaningful for local businesses.

Rhonda Sideris, president of Park City Lodging, Inc., noted the potential for increased summer visitors and increased business for lodging companies in the area.  “I see no reason why we shouldn’t pursue lift and lodging packages in the summer just like we already have in the winter,” explained Sideris.  “It turns out that overall mountain bikers have a much higher demographic profile than our typical summer visitor, and in fact rival the demographic of most of our winter visitors.  The IMBA designation gives us bragging rights similar to our ski resorts’ winter rankings.  We’re the only Gold level Ride Center in the world so far, and it seems we should get a jump on the competition as a mountain biking travel destination.”

In making the announcement on the IMBA website, Mark Eller, director of communications for IMBA commented, “At the heart of it all, the Mountain Trails Foundation pulls mountain bikers into a true mountain bike community and keeps them energized with new trail projects, and by enlisting the support of the resorts and other local businesses. It all works together at Park City, and that’s what’s pushed them to being the gold standard.”

For more information you can visit http://www.imba.com/ or http://mountaintrails.org/

About Park City Lodging, Inc.

Park City Lodging, Inc. manages a wide array of nightly rental condominiums and private homes throughout the area. Our guests can expect the same great value, selection and exceptional customer service they have depended on since 1984. We offer lodging options for all budgets and preferences with competitive rates and a friendly staff that will assist you with all your vacation details. Choose from locations at Deer Valley Resort, Park City Mountain Resort, Canyons and Main Street near Town Lift.

About Mountain Trails Foundation

Mountain Trails Foundation is a non-profit organization that is Park City’s trails advocate.  We are dedicated to promoting and maintaining local trails for non-motorized, recreational use. In addition, we hold a series of yearly events including trail running, mountain biking and x-country skiing as well as volunteer trail care days. The long-term goal of the Mountain Trails Foundation is to provide the greater Park City community and its visitors with diverse recreational opportunities utilizing our seamless, year round trail system.

About International Mountain Biking Association

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit educational association whose mission is to create, enhance and preserve great trail experiences for mountain bikers worldwide. Since 1988, I MBA has been bringing out the best in mountain biking by encouraging low-impact riding, volunteer trailwork participation, cooperation among different trail user groups, grassroots advocacy and innovative trail management solutions.