MARCO ISLAND, Florida — At the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) Convention’s Marketing & Guest Service Awards, three Vermont ski resorts were honored with the best overall programs in their respective skier visit categories. Mad River Glen received the Best Overall Marketing Award for up to 100,000 visits; Jay Peak earned the Best Overal Marketing Award for 100,000 – 250,000 skier visits and Sugarbush was honored with Best Overall Guest Service Program for 250,000 – 500,000 skier visits.

“Given the impressive range of applications from 31 ski resorts across the country vying for just eight spots, it is truly an honor to have three Vermont ski areas awarded for best overall marketing and guest service programs,” said Vermont Ski Areas Association President Parker Riehle. “Coupled with the three environmental excellence awards won by Stowe, Okemo and Stratton, and the NSAA Lifetime Achievement Award given to industry icon Hank Lunde, this year’s national awards are an incredible testament to Vermont’s role in the ski industry and our contributions to developing and promoting the sport.”

The NSAA Awards are presented annually to ski resorts nationwide for their successful marketing and guest service programs that ultimately help grow the sports of skiing and snowboarding. Awards were designated in categories based on the resorts’ skier and rider visitation. The categories were: Up to 100,000 visits; 100,000 to 250,000 visits; 250,000 to 500,000 visits; and 500,000 and more visits.

Judges for this year’s awards were Margie Bootenhoff, president of Clarity Marketing, Colo.; Rob Brown, president of Mountain News Corp., Calif., Christine Donovan, Event Director, BEWI Productions Inc., Mass., and Andy Hawk, Marketing Director, PSIA/AASI.