Blair

Hello Ocean 11 & Shatterhand I'd love to get out more during the season, but there is just too much that requires my attention in the village. As I've said before, some days it is difficult even getting to my desk, let alone out on the mountain. When I do get to my desk, there is always e-mail that has come in overnight which is waiting to be answered. Basically, instead of getting out on the mountain myself more (like I used to do in the past), I get alot of pleasure from watching others get out there and enjoy themselves (while knowing that I played a small role in

Hi Kobet Winter workers at ARAI usually do one of three things during the green season: 1. Stay on at the resort and help out with green season operations; 2. Return to their home towns; or 3. Travel overseas for boarding and the like. Oblivion Wages for winter workers at resorts in my opinion are at the subsistence level; However, generally most folk come for the snow as opposed to cash. In Canada and other parts of the world, I understand the situation to be quite similar. Blair.

Hi Dale Yes, it is nice to be able to be a bit more proactive instead of reactive. There is still lots to do, but it is more "9 to 5" style. Thanks for showing an interest in reading about resort operations - we're going to do our best to bring more columns to you in the future as well. Blair.

Hi frannyo Sorry to have been away for awhile. A guest appreciation day is a good idea, and while ARAI does not yet have anything for Adults, we have been offering Kids free lift passes on specified days this white season(usually Sundays - twice a month). db Speaking of food, I agree that the restaurants at the top of the mountain(I used to wash dishes/bus tables in that restaurant during the '96-'97 white season)are the place to be for lunch - a band plays up there at peak times and the balconies offer a great view of the neighboring Japanese Alps. I also agree that

Hi No, nobody lost their jobs as far as I can tell. Needless to say though, the incident was a stressful one for all of those involved. It is my intention here to explain what I presently understand about the incident(which stems from our disabled program), and move on. On a day when the two main staff members of the disabled program were not available, a third staff member met with the guest concerned, and followed up by writing some notes in a folder intended only for staff-to-staff communication. On a subsequent meeting, one of the main staff members of the disable

Dear No Fakie While it is true that some people will complain about anything, they represent the reality of the service industry. I'm not sure if the apology is excessive or not at this point, as I still do not understand exactly what happened. Scooby doo It is a big deal to stand up and make an apology, especially in such a prominent manner during the middle of the season. Rach The apology has now been removed from the top page of the Japanese website. I will let you know more about what happened when I do. Scouser Before I worked at ARAI, I skied here

Hi We have actually had an international crew working up here this white season consisting of four Canadians, a reflexologist from Taiwan, two bands from the Phillipines and a guy from Hawaii. It has been really nice to have had some support when both looking after the international guests and teaching the Japanese staff English. If you look at the top page of http://www.araimntspa.com you will notice icons for both a fishing lodge in Canada as well as a Dolphin Project in Palau. These companies belong to the same group that ARAI does, and they are all privately o

Hi Dumbstick There was an incident at the ARAI GUIDE CENTER involving our disabled program. To be honest I too do not quite undrestand everything, but needless to say that ARAI is taking this one seriously. In addition to the top page, there is also some further info. on the Japanese BBS. As far as I understand, nobody is physically hurt and the incident stems from a difference of opinion between a guest and a customer. Once I understand the incident in full I will be able to answer your question in better detail. Thanks and regards Blair.

Hi SKI The guy I did the last in-depth interview with has now moved on to America of all places(maybe he really wants to ski out of bounds? - some insider humor there); However, I'm planning to do interviews with some of our international staff for the next volume of the setting journals. Thanks for reading Blair.

Hi silly-sausage To undertake an expansion on any mountain is incredibly capital intensive, requires years of planning and is obviously subject to the elasticities of demand. Industry wide, I have often heard resorts etc. talk about expansion, but only a few of them actually follow through. There are I beleive many reasons for this, but one of the main ones is being able to establish a return on investment acceptable enough to secure financing for such a project. Thanks for reading Blair.

Welcome to February everyone! To answer your questions - Fattwins: I really have multiple duties here, ranging from visual identity(menus, signs etc. into English) through to attending to international guests when they visit the resort. I'm also on standby for any emergencies that require hospital visits and the like. In the green season, I teach English to the staff. Twenty of ARAI's full-time employees sat the TOEIC exam last November. As for opening more terrain, there is definitely potential for ARAI to do so. The question of the hour is whether the economy, i

Hi Thanks for reading. There is no music on the slopes at ARAI. What is the reason behind having music on the slopes? I do try to get out whenever possible, lately though I manage to get out once or twice a month. It is a great way to blow off steam. Regards Blair.

Hi everybody Thanks for helping to keep the thread going. To get to your points: Ken Barlow - The accountant has said that sales are slightly up this year compared to the previous two; grungy-gonads - I apologize for going quiet. I'm sometimes pushed into a reactive mode and appreciate a nudge every now & again to come back and check out a thread; & SKI - The next installment is now in the final stages of editing and should be out soon. It seems like most of Japan is getting some great powder lately, eh?

Hi Rajeem Yes, from Kansai to ARAI takes a bit of time. You do have the option of travelling up the Sea of Japan route via the Hokuriku Expressway or inland via Nagano. Exerting that extra bit of effort to get here though pays off in my opinion, as in the process you leave the crowds behind. Thank you Blair.

Hi Fattwins Thank you very much for answering my questions. I'll start by saying that my Japanese is less than perfect, so please understand that the translation of the letter you are requesting is rough at best. Here goes: ================================================= Dear guests of ARAI Thank you very much for coming to our resort. Like many other businesses in the latter part of this year, we have had to adjust our operations due the the economic impact resulting from the tragic terrorism which occurred in New York on Septemeber 11th. Our intention

Dear Fattwins ARAI as a company sends out many letters. Please try to be a bit more specific concerning which letter you are talking about. Please also confirm exactly which point it is that you are trying to prove. If you can give me some relevant information concerning the above two items, I will then be in a better position to comply with your request. Thank you Blair.

Hi there I've done my fair share of sleeping in cars/buses/planes/ships/camp sites all over the world - to be honest, I grew tired of it. I now like to stay in places that are clean, safe, friendly, functional and warm while at the same time offering me personal privacy when I need it. The guys that camp in the car park have the price of their lift ticket subsidized by those persons staying in the hotels - this was quoted to me by ski course designer Mr. Mike Larson. Such a quote is applicable all over the world in a general sense; That is, the 10% of boarders/skiers that

Hi there The resort here is not actually releasing actual data for the snow depths until the second week in December. There are a variety of reasons for this. I agree that the reports are perhaps rather benign at present. My thinking is that a little benignity may actually be welcomed by some? Once the season gets going, the reports will take on a more factual tone. Thank you very much Blair.

Hi Lin Statistically, ARAI has been getting 60% Boarders and 40% Skiers. Thank you very much Blair.

Hi Ugachuga I apologize for the delay in posting the next volume of the setting journals. I'm going to do my best to get #6 online over the weekend. Thanks very much Blair.

Hello Hello A room at the Inn at Arai can be had for JPY 14,000 single use, with nights preceding national holidays and Fridays Saturdays excluded Ocean 11, speaking for myself, I don't know what the accountant was really thinking when I talked to him about our ticket prices. Companies, in my experience, don't always share the numbers among their own employees. Please understand that it is not possible for me to show you the numbers when I've never actually seen them myself. Thank you very much Blair.

Hello Hello Well, I've just talked with one of the accountants for his take on the ticket prices. I was told that we tried the half price ticket policy for the first time two years ago, but the numbers from then indicated that the strategy failed to have a significant impact. The company did not want to give up on the strategy, so we tried half price tickets again last year, but had similar results. Our present strategy represents an effort to balance out the weekdays and weekend visitors by offering tickets at JPY 4,300 for day trippers and JPY 3,500 for hotel guests.

Hi there From Dec. 14th thru to Dec. 20th, ARAI is offering Gondola/Lift Day tickets for JPY 3,600. The prices then go up to JPY 4,300 from December 21st thru to March 31, 2003. The ticket prices will then revert to JPY 3,600 from APRIL 1st to the close of the season. Thank you very much Blair.

Hello Hello Thanks again for keeping the thread " active", I'll do my best to check it on a daily basis from now on. To answer the questions posed: 1. ARAI has discontinued last year's weekday discount policy and instead, among other things, lowered the price of day gondola/lift tickets from JPY 4,600 to JPY 4,300 for the coming season. 2. We're very sorry about our English web being down right now, but are in the process of coming back with an improved site. One of the main reasons for the new site is that ARAI wants to take a more active role in listening to what you

Hello Ocean 11 I plan to give the full story of why we're not opening early in the next column of the setting journals due out later this month. Thank you very much Blair.