20th Annual Taste of Vail

From Thursday April 8, 2010 until Saturday April 10, 2010

Vail is gone have its 20th food and wine festival. The annual three-day event is held at several venues throughout Vail Village. Participants at the Taste of Vail will enjoy the best wines from over 50 of the country’s most noted vintners. In addition, visitors will dine at Vail Valley’s world-class restaurants, fine wine poured by winemakers and winery owners from top wineries around the globe, participate in interactive seminars, auctions and dance. As well as going to the Colorado Lamb Cook Off, après ski tasting and the popular mountaintop picnic sensory extravaganza at the top of Vail Mountain. The event will start of on Thursday morning with Celebrities on Snow, the Belgian Beer Lunch and the 5^th Annual Colorado Lamb Cook- Off and après ski tasting. Then on Friday there will be again Celebrities on Snow, a seminar, mountain top picnic, and live auction chef showcase and at night a cigar seminar. Saturday will start off with the aphrodisiac foods army reiley, and the Josh Wesson Seminar. In the afternoon, the Taste of Vail Festival will finish   off with a Pinot Noir Speed Dating Style Seminar and the Great Tasting and Dinner Dance.
In the past years, Vail could welcome more than 5,000 people for the Taste of Vail Festival.

So mark the date- be part of the event and enjoy amazing days in Vail during the Taste of  Vail.

Click here, here and here to see some fun videos from the past Taste of Vail Events !!!

The Vail Film Festival, scheduled for April 1-4, is a premier annual event that attracts up and coming celebrities and filmmakers for 4 days of artistic appreciation. The Program Categories include Features, Documentaries, Short Films, Activism Showcase, Family Showcase, Adventure Film Showcase, and Student Films. There are a variety of passes available for purchase. The passes are priced from $65 to $500+. The Vista Pass, which costs $65 permits access to films, panels, and the festival’s hospitality lounge. The Patron Pass is the most expensive, starting at $500. This is the premier pass and grants VIP access to the films, panels, opening night party, filmmaker reception, first track skiing (Mountain opens early for festival pass holders), and access to private VIP Cocktail Reception with attending celebrities (among other perks). Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can provide you with a variety of ski in-ski out accommodations which will make it easy to take advantage of the first track skiing perk! With over 36,000 local accommodations to choose from, you will truly feel like an A-lister! Celebrities who have been honored in the past at the Vail Film Festival include Sophia Bush(2007), Hayden Panettiere(2007), Olivia Wilde (2008), and Adrian Grenier (2008). 

Visitors wanting to attend the Vail Film Festival but who also love to ski or snowboard are covered. All Film Festival activities are scheduled in the afternoon and evening. Additionally, with the purchase of a pass, visitors will get deeply discounted lift tickets. Other great events including the Street Beats featuring Danielia Cotton, Taste of Vail, and Spring Back to Vail will also be taking place in the following days, just more reasons to extend your stay!! The Vail Valley is only so large, so Book your accommodation today and partake in one of Vail’s most prestigious events!

All can agree that the business climate today is unlike anything most veterans have experienced in a lifetime.  Many companies’ response to the contracting economy has been in short, downsizing, budget adjustments and streamlining of practices in order to focus on what’s going to produce the biggest ROI.

However, not everywhere is hurting.  In fact trends of the last two years pose a phenomenal growth opportunity to those with a vision and a means to act tactfully towards their vision. So when the economy gets back to the levels seen prior to late 2008 these companies are steps ahead of the competition.

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals has been an anomaly in the lodging industry, boosting noteworthy growth in sales from the previous year. Management has taken on additional talented staff, preformed extensive research and is expanding their business model.  Group Travel, RMVR’s most recent addition, was created to meet the growing needs of groups traveling to the Rocky Mountains.  More times than not, someone gets stuck being the group organizer for a trip to the mountains, without having any knowledge of the area to which they’re traveling to.  Yet they are expected by their peers to create a seamless, enjoyable experience for all.  That’s why RMVR group services team leverages their local knowledge, diverse lodging inventory and partnerships; thus allowing the group organizer to relax, while RMVR handles all the details.

With 3,700 properties in Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge/Keystone, and Aspen/Snowmass, RMVR can place groups in anything from a studio rental to a large private home.   Considering that the needs of a particular group vary based on the nature of travel, size of group and length of stay, RMVR has an advantage that hotels don’t have for groups; options. From transportation, meeting space, tours, activities and special event coordination, RMVR has the experience and resources to take care of as much or as little that is required for each client.  Groups will continually come through the Rockies year-round despite the macro economy.  We will be here every expanding and refining our skills so that our clients can rest assured knowing that we are making them look good.  Who doesn’t like that?
CSA

Olympia Update

6 more days to GO- 6 MORE DAYS OF EXCITING GAMES!!!

As of today, Monday February 22, 2010 the United States are in the lead of the Olympic Medal count with 7 Gold Medals, 7 Silver Medals and 10 Bronze Medals followed by Germany who moved closer by winning 3 medals today – 2 in cross country skiing team sprint and in ski jumping team competition.

Lindsey Vonn from Vail won one of the gold medals in the women’s downhill as well as a Bronze Medal in the women’s super ski. Evan Lysacek one another gold medal for the US in one of the most exciting and tight men’s figure skating events in history. Evan Lysacek was fighting against Evgeni Plushenko who won the Olympic Gold Medal four years ago in Turin/ Italy. One of the best performances in the 2010 Olympic Games so far was from the legendary men’s Half Pipe snowboard competitor Shaun White. Shaun White already won Olympic Gold four years ago and everybody was excited what he will present in this Olympics- and he outperformed all expectations. He already had the gold Medal after his first run, but instead of showing some simple jumps in his second run- he did jumps nobody had seen before cleaner anyone can show them. Even if the ice hockey team has still a long way to go- the final will be Sunday at noon, one of the most important games for the US was yesterday- US against Canada. The US won with 5 to 3 goals and moved a big step closer to the final.

For tonight everybody is excited to see the battle between the Canadian and US team in the final round of the Figure Skating Ice Dance performance. Tomorrow Bode Miller will race again in the Men’s Giant Slalom and try to add one more medal to his Gold, Silver and Bronze Medal he already won in this Olympics. We will also see the first round of the women’s figure skating program, the short program which will start Tuesday 23,2010 at 5.30 PM mountain time.

So even if we already saw amazing events- there will be more…!!!

Contact:

Janyce Brandon

Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals

janyce.brandon@rmvrvail.com

1000 Lionsridge Loop, Suite 3A

Vail, CO, 81657

970-790-6167

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:  February 22, 2010

Online Chat Option Battles Uncertainties for Travelers

Vacation rental questions answered quickly and easily online through Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals.

VAIL, Colo. – Last minute travelers can save money by staying in a vacation rental, but face many uncertainties such as “Where will the property be?”, “How much will it cost?”, and “How does renting a vacation property work?” Now, questions can be answered quickly, easily, and from the travelers’ own homes or anywhere they have internet access. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, a vacation rental provider for the high country of Colorado, offers an online chat program where new and returning vacation renters can ask all of these questions before ever speaking with a booking agent.

“Our online chat feature allows both curious and experienced vacation renters to learn everything they need to know from our local agents who know Vail and the properties we offer,” stated Tommy Z. Hoffman, owner and founder. “The online chat can provide vacation information as well as tips on how to save money. Costs can be reduced by hundreds of dollars, simply by having a few meals at their vacation rental; most vacation rentals come with fully equipped kitchens.”

The online chat feature allows vacationers to save time by directly asking a “real person”, who lives in the Vail Valley their questions. When planning their vacation, travelers can find exactly what they need from a Rocky Mountain Vacation Rental professional every day of the week.

The Rocky Mountain Vacation Rental online chat program also allows consumers to learn more about the vacation rental process such as why Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals work with property management companies for quality assurance; travel to and within Vail; as well as all the concierge services offered such as booking ski rentals and grocery shopping; as well as advice on the best family or singles restaurants and bars.

The online chat feature can be found by visiting www.RockyMountainVacationRentals.com, and clicking on the purple “live chat” button. Inquiries will be answered directly by a Rocky Mountain Vacation Rental team member.

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About Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals (RMVR):

Formerly Vail Ski Vacations, RMVR was founded by owner Tommy Z. Hoffman in 1998. RMVR is a vacation rental provider that offers local, friendly, knowledgeable service in the Rocky Mountain Region. RMVR stands out among its competitors by working only with property management companies to ensure the highest quality and cost effective vacations. In addition, RMVR utilizes a local staff whose love for the region, skiing, snowboarding, the great outdoors, and the high country life allow them to share their excitement and knowledge with their customers. To learn more, please visit www.Rocky MountainVacationRentals.com or call 970-477-1777.

Get a Quote Online Chat with Us Have us Call You

Vail Village winter sunset

At Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, we work with Property Management companies. This is because it takes the hassle out of managing Vacation Rentals for owners. Owners have vacation homes for one reason: to vacation in! With the Vacation Rental industry growing, reports are indicating that vacationers trust and have better experiences with vacation rentals that are managed by property management companies. Most vacation rental websites provide owner manuals that contain 26 pages. That is 26 pages of work that owners must complete on their own in order to get the most out of their listing. This is a lot of work for a home, condo, or apartment intended to give vacationers the chance to relax and rejuvenate.

Property management companies take care of all the details, while companies like Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals provide quality assurance, marketing, advertising, and remove the risk of booking directly with an owner. Property management companies will take care of housekeeping, maintenance, legal, and financial aspects of opening your vacation rental home to guests. Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals, whose base office is located in Vail, Colorado, utilizes a skilled, local, and very outgoing sales staff to ensure that the vacationer finds exactly what they are looking for at the best price and, most importantly, the guests AND the home owners get to ENJOY their vacations.

One of the greatest things about living in Colorado is the shared excitement in watching the snow fall report.  When I was a student at The University of Kansas, snow meant torn up streets, messy sidewalks, and bone chilling winds that shook you to the core. Here in Vail, its a totally different story. We got 32 inches of fresh powder this week, making the valley sparkle and the mountain gleam. Conditions have not been this great all year. Snowboarders and skiers unite with delight at the fresh powder which has increased the base to a whopping 55 inches! What’s more, the dedicated city of Vail makes sure that the village roads and highway are always clear and safe for travel. The Vail/Beaver Creek area is a virtual paradise, attracting visitors from all over the world to come ride, shred, annihilate, take no prisoners, and hot-rod on the mountain! Maybe it has something to do with the Olympics, but I have seen more people just tearing it up and having a blast than ever before. Sure beats that old dreaded Kansas cold!

Speaking of Kansas, March Madness is quickly approaching. Being a die-hard Jayhawk fan myself, I was delighted to find a vast array of local game watching spots. Can you imagine anything better…After a long day of skiing, you unwind and relax with your buddies, drinking beer, watching the game, and laughing about the head-first plunge you took on the mountain! If this sounds in any way appealing, I’m telling you, now is the time to get out here and make it happen!  And when you’re looking for a great place to watch the big game, I recommend the Tap Room or Garfinkles (Both boasting a plethora of TV’s for the sports connoisseur who likes variety). However, if you prefer staying in the comfort of your own home, Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals can definitely set you up in something spectacular. You can watch the shot clock wind-down from the couch without any distractions!

Families looking to plan their next vacation typically let one common denominator influence their decision on where and when to travel; price. These days it’s common for one to search Expedia or Hotels.com and take the quoted room rates at face value, book the hotel room and disregard what they have sacrificed for this booking. However, savvy vacation planners know that the buck doesn’t stop here and there are many things such as one’s health, the cost of food, privacy and the overall experience that comes into play when making a lodging decision.

Consider the trade-off of staying in a hotel room vs. renting a vacation rental from a reputed company such as Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals. For arguments sake, let’s say a family of five books lodging at a standard hotel room in Vail, CO for 5 nights at $249.00 a night. Without a proper kitchen, this family will be spending at minimum $200 a day eating out (remember we’re in Vail). So the real cost of their hotel stay is closer to $500 a day. This is a large price to pay considering the sacrifices that are being made to ones diet, only to be cramped into a small space, competing for the next spot in the bathroom. Fun.

The wise consumer, who opts to stay in a professionally managed vacation rental property, receives the benefit of a fully functional kitchen, space for each family member and uncompromising privacy for under $400 a night. One $200 trip to the grocery store and a family has enough food to enjoy home cooked meals all week long in an intimate setting. For once the primary goal of quality family time isn’t lost by crowded restaurants, temptations, and the hustle and bustle of a hotel.

Any health conscientious individual can quickly weight the consequences of eating out every meal for five days. Living well shouldn’t stop because one is on vacation; vacationers’ remorse doesn’t have to come into play once back to the “real world”.

This market is saturated with competitive pricing options for vacation lodgings. But what one can’t comprise is the how the choice of lodging is responsible for the overall experience of a destination. So my advice is weigh your options, what you want to get out of your holiday and talk to a local from Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals to get you exactly where you want to be.

CSA

Olympics Update

After four days of exciting Olympic races and performances, Germany is leading with a total of nine medals- three gold medals, four silver medals and two bronze medals, followed by the US in second with a total of eight medals, and France which is third in the medal count with seven medals. The two gold medals for the US are from Snowboard Cross racer Seth Wescott and Freestyle Moguls skier Hannah Kearney. The two silver medals come from the Colorado Nordic Combined racer Johnny Spillane who grew up in Steamboat Springs, and Short Track Speed racer Apolo Anton Ohno. The four bronze medals the US has so far are from Bode Miller who got third in the Men Alpine Downhill, Bryon Wilson a Freestyle Moguls skier, Shannon Bahrke who placed after Hannah Kearney as well as J.R. Celski who got another medal for the US in the men 1500m Short Track Speed Skating.

For today Wednesday February 17, 2010, there are more very interesting Olympic competitions on the program. First there is the Ladies Downhill skiing where Linsey Vonn from Vail is a potential medal candidate. The Ladies’ Downhill will start at noon our time. During the whole day, the Cross Country skiing sprint heats are going on where Kikkan Randall from Alaska is hoping to make the final. One of the most spectacular competitions today will be the men’s Snowboard Halfpipe event. Starting with the qualification at two mountain time and ending with the finals at eight o’clock everybody is excited what Shaun White practiced at his secret private half pipe somewhere in Colorado as well as his competitors. Hopefully there is going to be some better weather up in Whistler Mountains so that the alpine races can have a fair competition…

So get ready for more very intense and exciting Olympic days!!!

P.S. Congratulations to one of the most amazing athletes – Tatjana Huefner, who was my roommate in some army camps back home in Germany and who won the gold medal in women’s luge!!!

When you thinking of heavy drinking on the weekends, Coffee usually isn’t the first thing that comes to mind – not the case for me! After the weekends, I have to practically detox from coffee overdose. Waking up at 5 am to work at Loaded Joes Coffeehouse on Saturdays and Sundays, I definitely have to keep myself on a steady coffee fix to make it through the morning! If you’ve never checked it out, Loaded Joes conveniently has two locations in the Valley; one in Vail next to the Covered Bridge and the other in Avon beside Finnegan’s Irish Pub.
Vail’s Loaded Joes is more of a fast-paced coffee shop where you can get a quick sandwich, wrap, bagel, or pastry and get yourself out to those slopes! Plus, right now, during the entire month of February, if you stop in between 9pm-2am at the Vail location you can put your name in a drawing for $1000 to use at Loaded Joes. Now that’s a lotta lattes!
If you prefer more of a lounge and local atmosphere, make sure to sit around the bar at the Avon’s Loaded Joes. They also have nightly events that, I can vouch, are so much fun! Last night, most of us who work here at Rocky Mountain Vacation Rentals went out to Open Mic night at the Avon Loaded Joes to support our co-worker Nick, who was playing his first open-mic night. Watching the singers and instrumentalists with a drink in hand was a nice, chill ending to Valentine’s Day! Check out the Calendar of Events so you don’t miss out on what’s happening at Loaded Joes. http://loadedjoes.com/index.php?option=com_eventcal&Itemid=27

A beautiful latte at Loaded Joes

So if you’re coming to the area, you’ve got to stop in at Loaded Joes and if you’re here on the weekends, come visit me on Saturday mornings in Vail and Sunday mornings in Avon at Loaded Joes!