Planning a winter ski vacation or summer group adventure to Keystone can sometimes mean planning for a large group of people. Whether you plan to be traveling with friends, neighbors or extended family, it can make for the vacation of a lifetime, but it also requires some extra planning and work. There are many great things about traveling with a large group, and one of the most important is that it can help you to save money! Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you begin planning your vacation to Keystone Resort.
1. Pick Group Leaders Choosing a main point of contact person for your group is important! This allows you to stay organized, keeping all of your research and information in one place, avoids duplicate inquiries and just saves time overall. Next, create a list of components that need to be handled- for example, lift ticket prices, lodging research, activities, transportation and airline pricing, and then appoint one person to be responsible for each of those categories.
2. Set Your Budgets, Flexibility, Must-Haves, and Would Be Nice List Are your dates flexible by a day or two or are they set in stone? Does your group HAVE to have a private hot tub in the property? What is the maximum amount people are willing to spend? Do you want to all be together in a private home or is it ok to split up into multiple condos in the same building? Come up with a list of questions and answers and set some guidelines regarding everyone's budgets and flexibility. This will help the group leader immensely when they are presented with alternative options while researching. Being flexible can often save money, but it can be hard if the group hasn't set any standards up front.
3. Ask for a Group Discount Once you have all of the details worked out, go ahead and hone in what you what and try to get the best deal. While it is not always possible and may depend on how big your group is, it is certainly worth it for you to ask for a group discount. At SummitCove Lodging in Keystone, we offer various specials and discounts, especially for large groups. We even have some programs that offer the group organizer cash back based on the number of reservations! Be sure to tell your Vacation Planner exactly what you are looking for, and make sure that you understand all of the options available to accommodate your group. Discounts can also be applied in other areas of your travel other than lodging. Contact the resort's ticket office for information about group lift tickets. A group of people can give the resort an opportunity to sell meals, drinks, lessons, and gear, so it is almost always to their advantage (and yours) to accommodate group pricing.
4. Get Booked! Think about giving the group contact person the OK to book ahead of time if they find a great deal or the perfect property. The process can be slow if you are going back and forth between multiple people and while you are wasting time conferring, someone else might book your perfect property! If you are nervous about giving anyone the final say without agreeing to it first, it may be helpful to set a final 'research' deadline for everyone and then hold a meeting to discuss the various options and make the final decisions together. Don't wait too long though, great properties book fast! Once all of the planning is done, relax and look forward to the amazing trip and memories that await. Imagine a day of fresh champagne powder followed by a relaxing soak in the hot tub under the mountain stars with your closest friends or family! If you have any questions or would like help planning your next group vacation in Keystone, contact a SummitCove Group Vacation Coordinator today!