Privately-owned enterprise that employs 3400 people.

Operates four ski areas (Aspen Mountain, Buttermilk, Snowmass, and Aspen Highlands) with year-round visitors to 15 restaurants and two hotels with close to 200 rooms.

Attracts 1.3 million visitors each winter to almost 5000 acres of skiable terrain.

Its operations affect wildlife, traffic patterns, air quality, streamflows, landfills, and virtually every part of the local environment, from elk herds to the sky.

Has adopted path-breaking environmental and social policies that reduce pollution, empower employees, and set a continuous improvement standard for an entire industry.

Its Environment Foundation has contributed more than $360,000 to local environmental causes.  Almost 1000 employees contribute annually to the foundation through a direct payroll deduction.

Motivates employees to care for the environment by presenting Eco-Star Performer awards which recognize outstanding environmental contributions.

Reduced hazardous waste generation from 1180 gallons in 1997 to 427 in 2001.  SkiCo is now implementing a zero hazardous waste policy that will make it the first ski resort to completely eliminate hazardous waste.

Worked with Colorado State University to conduct a thorough energy audit.  In the process, SkiCo reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 150 tons, reduced water usage for snowmaking by 3 to 4 million gallons, and is building additional reservoirs for snowmaking which should cut energy usage by as much as 15%.

Its Sundeck Restaurant is one of the first 10 buildings in the U.S. to be certified green under the U.S. Green Building Council�s Leadership in Energy and Environmental (LEED) program.  The building makes extensive use of recycled materials, energy efficient design, on-site employee housing to reduce transportation impacts and a variety of other measures to reduce its environmental impact.

The Cirque lift at Snowmass is the only wind-powered ski lift in Colorado.  SkiCo is purchasing windpower-generated electricity from the region�s public utility, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 20 tons.  

Its most significant long-term impact on the natural environment was the decision by SkiCo to support Alternative D in the White River Forest Management Plan.  Alternative D emphasizes biodiversity over development and extractive uses, and will significantly constrain any expansion of SkiCo activities in the National Forest.

Created the first Environmental Affairs Department of any company in the industry.