Banff Gate Update - Message From The Board December 2016 As I write this letter I am sitting at the kitchen table in a chalet at our resort and enjoying the view. The Christmas lighting is beautiful and the light layer of snow which fell this morning really puts me in the spirit for Christmas. As does the progress we are making with the resort renewal program. We have reached the end of the third year in our five-year renewal program and are at a significant milestone well worth celebrating. After the 2013 flood the resort was shut down for six months. While planning the recovery, and subsequent renewal program, the Health and Municipal affairs departments of the Alberta government mandated several infrastructure improvement projects. The largest being a three-phase project to upgrade our septic system at a cost of more than $300,000. It is a pleasure to report that all the mandated projects have been completed, including the septic system work which was finished in November. Other projects completed this year, some of which were started last year, are: new chalet blinds, new chalet locks, occupation of the staff housing unit, new barbecues, foundation work on chalets 5, 6, 16 and 30, repairs to the water treatment plan, as well as many smaller projects. We are currently working on a project to bring high speed internet service to the chalets in time for the Christmas rush. Replacement of the appliances in the chalets is partly done and will be completed next year. (Cont. on next page) Page 1 of 11
The remaining two years of the renewal program are more focused on the vacation experience for owners and guests as they spend time at the resort. I know a poorly functioning septic or water system are very noticeable, but the tendency is to take their proper functioning for granted. While the list of 2017 projects is not yet finalized, the focus will clearly be the chalet interiors. The intent is to complete the appliance replacement program for the remaining chalets. In addition, there will be a number of projects for all the chalets interiors as well as the repair or replacement of some of the decks. A more definitive list will be available for a newsletter in the spring. Our resort is now safe and functional, and we will make it great. While I know I am being repetitive this is another reminder to pay your maintenance fees and book early for next summer since the Bow Valley will be extremely busy next summer and Stairs to Chalet 8 accommodation will be at a premium. This month I will be working with our Treasurer to pay off the mortgage on our property. Our existing mortgage does not have a clause guaranteeing continued use and enjoyment of our resort should we ever get into financial difficulties. A legislative change several years back made it questionable whether we could sell weeks without this clause. Paying off the mortgage removes a potential hurdle at a time when we are looking to start selling weeks again. I will finish this note by taking the opportunity to express my thanks to our hard-working staff and to you, our members. We couldn t make the progress we are making without you and I want to thank you and wish you a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year. Yours truly, Herman Leusink Page 2 of 11
Getting Ready for Christmas at the Resort! Anyone for a photo-op with Teddy? The BGMR staff have been working hard preparing the resort for the Holiday Season. The interior of the lodge is fully decorated as well as the exterior. The staff have set up a family photo opportunity that includes a giant bear, decorations, presents and large Christmas Tree. Everyone is welcome to have their picture taken to send out to all your friends and family. Daily activities are scheduled throughout the holiday season. Some of the activities include Hot Chocolate Socials on Sundays, Movie Night with popcorn and snacks on Monday evenings, Arts and Crafts with gingerbread man decorating on Wednesdays and Thursdays will be all day board games. Large puzzles will also be set out throughout the Holidays for any to participate. A coloring station will be set up all day everyday for our Crayola artists as well as a large board where they can display their masterpieces. The Meet and Greet breakfast will be held every Tuesday with the opportunity to meet with General Manager Douglas Peterson and the BGMR staff to learn more about the projects, operations and successes that have been accomplished at your Resort throughout 2016. As you can see the Banff Gate elves have been very busy but don t be surprised if they come to your chalet door on Christmas Eve, bearing Holiday surprises. Deer and Elk are abundant throughout the resort, creating lots of opportunity to take some wildlife pictures. Colouring Station for children An early Christmas present is the reopening of Chalets 16 and 30, bringing our inventory to 45 chalets out of 46. With expectations of 5 million visitors to the valley next year they will be well utilized. The housekeeping staff have deep cleaned 75% of the chalets and the remaining will be completed by the Holiday Season. The Maintenance staff are currently completing their winter preventative maintenance (Cont. on next page) Page 3 of 11
Getting Ready for Christmas at the Resort! programs to ensure everything is in working order throughout the winter. The staff are busy putting the finishing touches on the plans for Christmas 2016. Lodge decorations Teddy Bear pictures Christmas surprises for guests Deer outside the office window Page 4 of 11
2017 Invoices By the time you read this Newsletter, you will have received your assessments for 2017. Unfortunately, due to some glitches, the invoices were delayed. Members will have received an e-mail notice that the invoices have been sent. In keeping with the Recovery Plan, the 2017 assessments are the same as the previous two years. The ability to reduce fees that we hoped for was not possible. There were several unforeseen expenses related to a water leak and the need to replace the filters in the water treatment plant. Payment Payment options are similar to those of last year. Members may pay in Canadian dollars by Sending a cheque to the resort at: Banff Gate Mountain Resort PO Box 8113 Canmore, AB T6J 0S7 (if paying by cheque, please include your Owner ID on the reference line of your cheque.) Paying in person at the resort Paying online at: http://payments.latourhotelsandresorts.com If members are having difficulty in making their payment, they are encouraged to speak with the resort staff. For some members, it may be more comfortable to pay on a Payment Plan. The process for setting up a payment plan is included in the billing package. Booking for 2017 Members are encouraged to make their payments early so that they can book their week(s) for 2017. In 2017, Parks Canada is celebrating their 150th Anniversary by giving free admission to all federal parks in Canada. As a result, we expect that there will be a flood of visitors to the Bow Valley this will be members, exchange visitors and rentals. Although members get first consideration for bookings, it is likely that many members will want to use their weeks at the resort this year. BOOK EARLY! Page 5 of 11
Types of Booking Members book their weeks at the resort or exchange them according to the regular maintenance fees that they pay. However, there is an additional type of booking time at the resort that is available to members in good standing; this is Bonus Time. Members are able to book available time at the resort, no more than 45 days in advance, and pay the member rate for the nights they have booked. Based on availability, members may have only 2 sets of Bonus Time per year. Bonus Time has been traditionally used in off-season, to allow members to take advantage of time of greater availability. With the increase in rentals, availability is more constrained. Work Completed in 2016 Significant work has been completed in 2016 as we continue working through the Recovery Plan. Infrastructure work is mostly complete, with the major project being the septic and sewer system upgrades. The pictures below show some of the work performed on the third stage of repair. We have completed the Make it safe and most of the Make it functional phases and are now working toward the Make it great! phase. 2016 saw the start of the Make It Great! activities with the replacement of the door locks, replacement of BBQs, replacement of appliances in most chalets and installation of new blinds in all the chalets. Septic 1 Tank 2 pumped out Tank 1 Complete (Cont. on next page) Page 6 of 11
Work Completed in 2016 Major work has been done to the foundations for chalets 5 and 6 to bring them back into service. Additional work has been done on chalets 16 and 30 with the intention of bringing them back into service by Christmas. A few members have expressed concern about the relatively slow performance of the Internet, particularly when some of the youngsters try to download games and movies. Work is underway to provide high speed Internet access; new equipment will be acquired and line-of-site access will be provided from a site in Canmore. This facility will make use of new technology hopefully installed and working by Christmas A significant change in 2016 was the increase in revenue from guests and special activities such as long term commitments and trade shows. Trade Show Page 6 of 11
Plans for 2017 Projects for 2017 continue forward in the direction of making the resort more attractive and up to date. We expect that the decks will be replaced or repaired and the remainder of the appliances will be replaced; bedding and furniture will be upgraded. Budget for 2017 Page 7 of 11
Policy on Cancellation of Booked Weeks Because some members have been no-shows for their weeks, the Board has developed a policy for cancellation of booked weeks. Cancellations within 24 hours of the time your reservation is confirmed, there will be no cancellation fee. Cancellations up to 30 days before the first night of your stay, you will receive a full refund of your week and you will be charged an administration fee of $39. Cancellations 29 days to 72 hours before the first night of your stay, you will receive a full refund of your week and you will be charged an administration fee of $99. Any administrative or exchange fees paid on confirmed reservations are non-refundable in the case of cancellation. Cancellations less than 72 hours before your confirmed check-in time, or for an unscheduled late checkin, you will lose full usage of your week. How are we doing? During the year, comments from guests members, exchanges and renters have been very favourable. There has been a marked improvement in: Cleanliness General appearance Staff The resort also receives feedback and scores from RCI that have been taken from the Comment Cards completed by guests. In addition, we receive feedback through TripAdvisor some good, some not so flattering. LaTour responds to those comments and addresses any concerns expressed. In the new year, we expect to implement an electronic comments card through LaTour. This will allow us to address the immediate shortcomings identified by guests. The staff have shown that they are committed to addressing concerns and making the proper adjustments. Page 8 of 11
Exchanges Happy holidays from RTX! This is the time of year that many RTX members are busy planning their 2017 vacations. Our members travel to fantastic destinations all over the world, from Ireland to Orlando to Vancouver to Mexico, and everywhere in between. Among the countless destinations in our network, there are a few tried and true places that are in high demand with RTX members. We are happy that several Banff Gate Mountain Resort owners took advantage of our initial membership special, and we are thrilled to tell you about another special membership offer for you. Typically, the membership fee for one year of Premium Plus is $391. For a limited time, your first year as a Premium Plus member is available at a membership fee of $290 at just over $100 in savings! This discount will get you a total estimated value of $1,353 for all of the benefits of one year of membership, we think this deal is a perfect way for you to maximize the benefits and value of RTX. Here s a look at our current Top 5 Destinations for RTX exchange vacations: 1. New Smyrna Beach, FL 2. Banner Elk, N.C. 3. Hilton Head Island, N.C. 4. Branson, MO 5. Kissimmee, FL With a Premium Plus membership, your vacation planning will be as seamless and carefree as possible, and you ll have so much more than just exchange services. RTX offers some of the best deals out there on car rentals, cruise exchanges, airfare, discounted show and attraction tickets, and airport lounge access to ease your time spent at the airport. A new benefit just recently launched to RTX members is our Xclusive Weeks program. Each Monday, RTX members are emailed a list of weeks available at resorts around the world at deeply discounted rates. These are extra vacations that can be purchased without depositing or using an exchange, and they are fantastic for last-minute travel. If you are interested in taking advantage of this discount, please contact us at 888-988-4RTX. We hope that you enjoy using your RTX membership and we look forward to sending you on vacation. For more information about RTX benefits and membership levels visit www.rtx.travel. (Cont. on next page) Page 9 of 11
Exchanges RCI Help Download the RCI App on your Mobile Phone Get educated on RCI products and services. Below are a list of helpful topics that may answer any questions you have and provide useful instructions. Learn more at http://www.rci.com/pre-rci-en_us/help/index.page Download the RCI app on your Apple or Android device. The RCI Application includes the following features: The RCI Affiliated Resort Directory feature allows users to search or browse RCI Affiliated Resorts across the world. Users can not only view resort information and amenities, but they can also view available resort videos and photos as well as easily compare multiple resorts at the same time. Further, they can save resorts into a local "My Resorts" list and share resort information with friends via email. RCI account functions keep subscribing members current with important account information. Login with your RCI account credentials to search for vacations, manage deposits, and many more account functions. Share Your Vacation allows users to capture pictures, video, audio and notes from their vacation and easily share those vacations via email, Facebook and Twitter. After content is submitted, a simple sync process collects vacation memories in an online album experience where users can log-in, view and share their vacation experiences. The RCI TV feature available in the application allows users to view and share location-specific videos, each highlighting the activities and characteristics unique to that vacation destination. Owner Services ownerservices@latourgroup.com RTX Exchange www.rtx.travel Maintenance Fee Payments https://payments.latourhotelsandresorts.com Group Sales & Venue Coordinator - Robbi Davis Robbi.Davis@latourgroup.com (877) 340-4971 (888) 988-4789 (828) 348-4085 (403) 609-9229 Page 10 of 11 Important Contact Information Banff Gate Mountain Resort 302 George Biggy Sr. Rd. Dead Mans Flats, AB T1W 2W4 info@banffgatemountainresort.com www.banffgatemountainresort.com Phone: (403) 609-9229