ORDA's Biggest Mistakes

[jasonwx]

To correct earlier information, Sodexo now runs the food service at all ORDA venues. Same provider Clarkson used in their dining halls. They also have contracts with other ski areas like Holiday Valley, Bristol, Jiminy Peak, and Smuggler's Notch. I still think it's weird to farm out what should be a highly profitable operation.

I have been in the contract food service biz for 25yrs.. ORDA is correct in farming out the food service. Food service is a management nightmare. Highly profitable? not really. Very tight margins , rising food costs, basically only holiday and weekend business etc etc.. you get the picture..

 

[Campgottagopee]

ORDAs biggest mistake is they don't live up to their mission statement. Seems like they're run by politics

 

[Peter Minde]

I have been in the contract food service biz for 25yrs.. ORDA is correct in farming out the food service. Food service is a management nightmare. Highly profitable? not really. Very tight margins , rising food costs, basically only holiday and weekend business etc etc.. you get the picture..

The last few years before the new lodge opened, the Green Goddess market did food service at Mt van Ho. Owner declined to bid to run food service in the new lodge. She cited difficulty finding employees and the feast-or-famine nature of the business. I.e. holiday weeks and weekends were good, non holiday weeks were dead. Something to be said for economy of scale unfortunately.

 

[DomB]

ORDAs biggest mistake is they don't live up to their mission statement. Seems like they're run by politics

 

[DomB]

Could not

 

[Milo Maltbie]

I haven't been since the new lift but dark side, as great as it was, was not my favorite. You all know, I know, and we don't talk about those...

Sadly, I think I've aged out of all those. They're all either too steep, too tight or too long and flat. Maybe that's why I'm unhappy about Darkside.

mm

 

[Milo Maltbie]

To correct earlier information, Sodexo now runs the food service at all ORDA venues. Same provider Clarkson used in their dining halls. They also have contracts with other ski areas like Holiday Valley, Bristol, Jiminy Peak, and Smuggler's Notch. I still think it's weird to farm out what should be a highly profitable operation.

I worked in state government and various corporations and non-profits my whole career. There's a reason they all contract out food service. NYS has the worst combination of 19th century civil service rules and state of the art non-discrimination policies. How does ORDA run a food service with that? At least you can hope a contractor will fire the guy who pees in the soup.

mm

 

[Campgottagopee]

Even in the 80s Smuggs food/beverage was run by Boston Concessions. As Jason pointed out, I was told there's no money in it.

 

[Huezee]

To correct earlier information, Sodexo now runs the food service at all ORDA venues. Same provider Clarkson used in their dining halls. They also have contracts with other ski areas like Holiday Valley, Bristol, Jiminy Peak, and Smuggler's Notch. I still think it's weird to farm out what should be a highly profitable operation.

That's why Clarkson still sucks...

 

[Brownski]

Even in the 80s Smuggs food/beverage was run by Boston Concessions. As Jason pointed out, I was told there's no money in it.

Isn’t it crazy how the bosses always claim there’s no money to be made anywhere? I’ve also heard that lift tickets are loss- leaders so the hill can clean up on F&B.