Holiday Valley’s top rankings include 1st in the East for lifts and 1st for service, 3rd for lodging, 5th for access and après ski, 7th for family programs, 8th for dining and off hill activities, 10th for weather, 11th for grooming and digital presence, 12th for terrain parks, on-mountain food and character, 13th for overall satisfaction and 14th for snow.
Holiday Valley’s President, Dennis Eshbaugh said, “We are so proud of our 6th place ranking because it comes right from the skiers. The ranking is exciting coming off of a challenging natural snow year where people tend to be more critical. We’re especially proud of the #1 rank in service. Service is one of those intangible things; it is very delicate because there are so many points of contact with customers and every contact must be positive. Service is stressed in our yearly orientation meeting and throughout the year, but it is a step beyond everyone’s physical job so to be named number one is a great compliment to all our staff.”
Holiday Valley has been a leader in lift quality for many years and they work consistently at upgrading lifts. Holiday Valley’s lifts continue to rank at or near the top of the list thanks to an efficient lift layout, excellent maintenance and continual reinvestment. Holiday Valley has built or replaced 7 quad chairlifts over the past 11 years alone.
Après ski and off hill activities ratings can be attributed to the nearby village of Ellicottville, the perfect ski town with a great mix of dining, shopping, services (3 spas!), welcoming people and a down-to-earth atmosphere. Nearby activities include the Holiday Valley Tubing Company and the Seneca Allegany Casino. Dining at the resort, featuring the John Harvard’s Brew Haus, and in the Village offers a wide mix of comfortable restaurants, good values, and great variety of venues from bistro to brew pubs.
Holiday Valley excels at making families feel welcome. Creekside Mountain Adventures and the Holiday Valley Day Care offer fun and nurturing for children age 6 months to 12 years. The family-friendly Tannenbaum area offers the Mountain Coaster, a thrilling ride that twists and turns through the woods and the secluded Fort, hidden in the woods. Kids and their families can learn about the history of Native Americans in the region by locating each of the 8 Seneca Clan Rocks, placed throughout the resort. Very affordable season-long skiing for families is offered through the Multiweek Programs, which also include lessons. Up to 2 kids ski and stay free with their parents when they book a midweek package at a Holiday Valley lodging property.
Eshbaugh continued, “This year marks the seventh time out of ten years that Holiday Valley has ranked in the top 10 resorts in Eastern North America. Past years’ rankings are 4th in 2009 3rd in 2004, 5th in 2005, 9th in 2006, 5th in 2007 and 9th in 2008. We appreciate the support of our skiers and pledge to continue to earn your praise through hard work.”
The SKI Magazine survey was conducted during the spring of 2012. Subscribers were asked to rate ski areas they had visited during the past two seasons in 18 categories. This was the 24th year the survey was conducted.
