Hotel Accomodations Question

[mountainviewlodge]

Hello, My name is Kelly Himmelman and I am the reservations manager at the Mountain View Lodge in the Chelan Valley. Don't worry, I am not trying to solicit to you all. I am just looking for some advice. We are looking to become more accommodating to snowmobile riders and groups. I was hoping you all could help let me know what you both like and don't like about hotels that you stay at when you go out riding. I figured I would ask you all, because... you all know best!


p.s. I just moved out here and am looking to get into snowmobiling, any recommendations on what type of sled would be best for a beginner?

 

[Adrenaline Revolution]

Well for starters, a large well lit and SECURE parking lot with room to maneuver trucks with trailers would be appreciated.

Well maintained trails that lead from the lodge to get to the hills would be huge.
Trailering from the Lodge to the hills takes away riding time and can be a hassle in an unfamiliar area. (Parking and re-parking)

A good restaurant (at the Lodge or within walking distance) with a sledder friendly atmosphere is important.

knowledge of a good shop nearby with top notch sled mechanics would be helpful should the unfortunate breakdown occur by one of your guests!

Inexpensive rooms, hot tub, continental breakfast (if no restaurant available).

A smiling, happy to serve the guests attitude is key. Too many places act like we're bothering them instead of being a welcome guest.

A web cam in your parking lot so us, over here on the left side can see the snow conditions and the amenities of the Lodge before we make the long drive around would get you a lot of business.

A small fleet of good rental sleds to make package deals for folks who are interested in sledding but not quite ready to pull the trigger on them would help.
(Check to see if there is already a rental fleet nearby and work a deal with them.)

A website that shows you cater to the sledding community could gain you a lot of business

Stock the lobby with trail maps of the area and a white board with the latest grooming reports.

Invite my Wife and I over for a weekend "On the house" and I'll give you the rest of my consultation services for free!

Good luck and best wishes for a successful endeavor.

 

[4Z]

^^what he said^^

 

[ArcticBoy]

Don't forget a well stocked bar.

 

[nikeholley]

yup... what he said..!!..

Adrenaline Revolution has it right on..!!..

I really like the webcam idea... I always check Whistlin' jacks...

room to park rigs with trailers is a must, and security for our trailers/sleds is VERY important...

Nike

 

[Lake Cle Elum]

Adrenaline offers great advice.

I've stayed at the Mountain View before when sledding out of Manson. I was very happy with it and could walk to the restaurants/bars in Manson.

I hate to say it, but Wapto Point is your big competition. Mid-week in the winter, I've rented a time share for a week for $350 and put 4 guys in a unit with 4 beds.

Best to run ads in the WSSA and and spread the word. Good luck.

 

[diamonddave]

I've always had great service but A R pretty much hit it all.

Provisions so guys can plug in their block heaters on their trucks would be a bonus.

 

[diamonddave]

p.s. I just moved out here and am looking to get into snowmobiling, any recommendations on what type of sled would be best for a beginner?

Any 600 class sled with a track length around 144-155...Polaris RMK600, Arctic Cat M-6, or the new SkiDoo 600 ETEC would all be great beginner sleds for this area.

 

[fassteddie]

A.R. do you want someone to ride your sled for you also ? lol. that would be the perfect lodge.

 

[mountainviewlodge]

Hey guys,

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for your input; it is greatly appreciated! Adrenaline Rush, your list was exactly what we were looking for. I feel that we meet a good deal of the list but we have decided to make some additions in the next month or so:

* We are currently pricing out and ordering a webcam to have looking out over the property that would stream to our website. I hope to see it up in less than a month along with the current weather conditions next to the cam on our website.

* Our parking lot is decent, but we are in talks with the owner of a huge 5 acre grass field next to us. We are looking to work a deal with her where we plow part of the field during the winter and have it reserved for snowmobile trailers. Turning around and parking is not an issue. To add some security, we are looking at a second outdoor camera that would aim off of the side of the building and at the field. This would not be streamed online but rather be on a 24 closed circuit type of system. A floodlight would also be on the side of the building too keep the parking area well lit.

* I am also in the process of getting some trail maps from the State Parks department to keep in our lobby. We kind of want to have a outdoors adventure section in our lobby so that people can check out what there is to do outdoors and have some good directions.


I'm hoping this is what you all were talking about. Please let me know if the field with CCTV and floodlight is what you deem a secure area to park or anything else we might be able to do to make it better.


Thanks, Kelly

 

[Good to Go]

Did anyone else say that AR got it right...? Doh...!

Yea, I think he nailed it pretty good.

Added thought, in room safes, big enough to hold...gasp..get ready...laptops. I'd bet there are more than a few peeps who travel with the things...

 

[TNTCOPP]

It's ok to put your website linky on your post - everyone else does !

http://mountainviewlakechelan.com/

Hey guys,

First and foremost, I would like to thank all of you for your input; it is greatly appreciated! Adrenaline Rush, your list was exactly what we were looking for. I feel that we meet a good deal of the list but we have decided to make some additions in the next month or so:

* We are currently pricing out and ordering a webcam to have looking out over the property that would stream to our website. I hope to see it up in less than a month along with the current weather conditions next to the cam on our website.

* Our parking lot is decent, but we are in talks with the owner of a huge 5 acre grass field next to us. We are looking to work a deal with her where we plow part of the field during the winter and have it reserved for snowmobile trailers. Turning around and parking is not an issue. To add some security, we are looking at a second outdoor camera that would aim off of the side of the building and at the field. This would not be streamed online but rather be on a 24 closed circuit type of system. A floodlight would also be on the side of the building too keep the parking area well lit.

* I am also in the process of getting some trail maps from the State Parks department to keep in our lobby. We kind of want to have a outdoors adventure section in our lobby so that people can check out what there is to do outdoors and have some good directions.


I'm hoping this is what you all were talking about. Please let me know if the field with CCTV and floodlight is what you deem a secure area to park or anything else we might be able to do to make it better.


Thanks, Kelly

 

[trailtoy1993]

The ideal security is a locked and fenced area to park in, but I don't know if that is totally necessary in Manson. Up in Revelstoke you don't park overnight where there isn't fenced parking, but sled theft is bad up there. Could you feed the CCTV to a tv channel in the rooms so guys could keep an eye on their own junk out there?


Everything else is right on like AR said. Current snow conditions on your website would be great!

 

[Soccerd6]

Inside the room, plenty of space to hang AND DRY wet gear.... and a spot by the door for wet boots....

 

[ReTodd]

Exactly what AR said.....


plus I think for Chelan, part of the problem is a lack of good riding areas. I haven't spent a ton of time there in the winter but we have ridden there a few times. The trails have some beautiful vistas but its a tough decision to drive all the way there when there is such good riding around Cle Elum and Yakima. It might be a great idea for the town to get involved with trying to create a few new riding areas.

Just a thought

 

[Yamamauler]

Already listed above, that would be the perfect world....


Y

 

[maxdlx]

A small heated shop to work on sleds and where sledders can just hang out and have a drink and talk is always nice. make it a rule sled only in need of repairs, and only in till repairs are done. Maxdlx

 

[mountainviewlodge]

An Update

Hey everyone,

After talking to some resources and looking for some professional opinions, we got our first webcam today and I am going to be testing it out in the next week or so. I want to make sure that it has good enough quality but is still reasonably priced. I have also talked to the Public Relations person for the parks and forest service, we will be getting some maps in here come early October! I have also found out (after talking to the local snowmobile club president) that there is a local mechanic in Chelan that specializes in jet skis in the summer and snowmobiles in the winter. The president said that he should be able to knowledgeably fix anything you need. I also just got done meeting today with the local jet ski rental company that also rents snowmobiles in the winter. We are in the process of getting some packages together and on our website. He informed me though that he does not rent out sleds without him as a guide though as this has left him with a few totaled sleds in the past. Thats it for now. I'll let you all know when we get the webcam up.

Kelly