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HUNTSVILLE — Club Med won't build a five-star resort hotel at Snowbasin, after all.
Davy Ratchford, general manager at Snowbasin Resort, confirmed that plans were placed on hold after the two companies agreed "not to pursue this project" following "extensive discussions" between the two sides. The announcement was first delivered in a letter to resort pass holders Tuesday.
"We have enjoyed working with Club Med and its leadership," he added. "Club Med is a great organization that offers a wonderful experience for its guests. We wish them the best with their future plans."
Snowbasin originally announced a deal with Club Med for a 300-room "all-inclusive" hotel in September 2021, which was supposed to be a part of a larger expansion project planned for the resort. Henri Giscard D'Estaing, president and CEO at Club Med, later touted it as the brand's first-ever "exclusive collection" resort in the U.S.
At the time, the hotel was slated to open by 2025, bringing with it about 400 new jobs.
It's unclear what caused the change in direction; however, Bruce Fery, chairman and CEO at Grand America Hotels and Resorts, Inc., which oversees Snowbasin, said in a statement to KSL.com that the resort is currently reviewing its future development plans. The state and region are growing, as is the outdoor recreation industry, and that is causing the company to figure out how those changes relate to the planned growth for the area.
"As we navigate this period of growth, we felt it right to reassess the path ahead, enabling us to focus on our central goal of providing a world-class ski experience to our resort guests," he said.
Club Med officials referenced this in a statement to The Points Guy on Tuesday. They told the travel outlet that Snowbasin had decided to reconsider development, leading to delays in the hotel project happening.
"As a result of these delays, Club Med is shifting its focus to other projects in its pipeline," the company said, adding that it will open its first U.S. mountain resort elsewhere in the near future.
The news comes a week after Snowbasin Resort announced it would extend its operations through April 23 this season, making the 2022-2023 season its longest in 80 years.
Meanwhile, some resort changes are also on the way, to account for growth. Ratchford said the resort will add a new six-person high-speed lift later this year in an effort to improve the visitor experience next season and beyond.
"We are in the final stretch of another memorable winter season at Snowbasin, one of our best yet," he said. "That will continue and we are thrilled for what the future holds for the resort."
