Intrawest Reviews

Pros

When I started at Intrawest, it was a great place to work with tons of growth potential. That worked really well while the economy and real estate market were great, but was unsustainable (obviously). The benefits (insurance, vacation discounts) were very attractive, and it's hard to beat the beauty of the resort locations.

Cons

I have never before seen such an astounding level of incompetence at the corporate level. From not being able to print a brochure without spelling/grammatical errors to promoting people who have absolutely no experience in the industry (who then take credit for all the ideas their more competent underlings suggest), the management is so out of touch that anyone with an ounce of talent is completely demoralized every time a promotion is announced.

Advice to Senior Management

Read the story "The Emperor's New Clothes" and honestly ask yourself which character you are in the story. You don't retain talent by cutting pay and punishing innovation.

Pros

Free Ski Pass and staff ski days
Reasonable working hours
Good people and senior management
Down town location is convenient

Cons

Numerous rounds of lay offs and a hiring freeze mean current staff are stretched to the limit. Employees are working harder than ever yet have had a pay freeze for the past 2 years, no bonuses and significant cuts to benefits. Chances of getting promoted in this environment are slim to none (I can't think of anyone in recent years).
Seems most important decisions are made at the Fortress level.
Given all of the layoffs, there is no job security.

Advice to Senior Management

Once the economy recovers, the remaining good people will leave. You can only cut/lose so many people before the ship starts to sink.

Pros

Great Training, Great great people working there, awesome mountain, friendly customers, non restrictive management, good altitude, great snow, awesome events

Cons

Poor upper level management, secluded village, poor wages, poor benefits, poor opportunities as a new instructor to take higher level groups, lack of privates, complete lack of tips.

Advice to Senior Management

Bring wages and benefits up to scratch with close by resorts (Vail). Give instructors oppurtinities to teach higher level classes so they can properly prepare for certs.

Pros

Work Life Balance
People
Interesting Product
Geographic
Career Success

Cons

Senior Management Strategy
Senior Management Communication
Clear Deliverables

Advice to Senior Management

Focus
Learn how to grow
Can't cut your way into success
Know your core strengths

Pros

Pre-Fortress Intrawest marketing was on the forefront of marketing. Driving for a customer centric approach.

Free ski pass and reduced rates / deals on other resorts

Pre-Fortress approach of wanting employees to experience what the company offered.

Cons

Post-Fortress it became a span work shop environment where contacting as many people as possible about absolutely non-relevent deals was the goal.

No promotional opportunities due to collapse of company and continued layoffs.

Poor direction from management. Marketing stuck in the 80's in post-Fortress leadership

Advice to Senior Management

Sell the company to someone who actually cares about the business and people that work in the business.

Pros

Free ski pass, six plus months of WINTER, high altitude cardio training, pine beetle experiment in action, logging truck competitions on the local highway, learning French language soon

Cons

Declining pay and benefits year after year are not the nuturing attributes I need from an employer even if we are owned by a broke hedge fund Fortress. Excuses are like bad jobs, everyone has one so sack up Intrawest and Free us from Fortress.

Advice to Senior Management

You have to have a clue to get real , so start asking some questions of people who were employed when it was fun. We all have the answers however you are reluctant to ask it. Figure it out.

Pros

Great locations, many fun people work for the company.

Cons

Has become a completely cash focused, short time horizon company - does not seem to be thinking or working with any future in mind.

Advice to Senior Management

Communicate better - we understand things if they are explained to us, and will be more than happy to help.

Pros

The quality of life is second to none in resort towns. Intrawest provides core employees decent Benefits - Free Ski Pass, Free skiing at ANY resort in CO (excluding Vail Resorts), 3.5% 401K matching, respectable health/dental insurance, etc. Paid Time Off is average.

Cons

Unfortunately, Intrawest turns over its best workers because they under-pays the majority of employees. Stifled 3% raises are unacceptable and usually not based on competence or quality of work. Benefits are hard for seasonal employees to access. For the past 3 years (2006-2009) they have been slashing the work-force while expecting the remaining employees to pick up the slack. Un-achievable financial goals make it nearly impossible to obtain a respectable bonus. Food at resorts is Expensive and mediocre in quality. Hiring Freeze and no raises for fiscal year (2008). Parking and then riding a freezing bus. Minimal capital re-investment into a crumbling infrastructure.

Advice to Senior Management

Pay your employees what they are worth...otherwise you will CONTINUE to to lose the best and the brightest.
Your most valuable assets walk out the door every night...What are you doing to make sure they come back tomorrow?

Pros

If you are looking to gain experience working for a large company in a position that you know will translate directly to another company (definitely confirm this) then this may be an option of last resort.

Cons

Pay is poor for company of this size which affects turnover (competent people leave) which affects workload (you'll have to do everything) which makes you resent the poor pay all the more. Raises are 3% once a year unless you change jobs which will be paid at under market rates. Bought by hedge fund who are trimming non-existent fat by overloading workers. You will be barraged with requests outside of your job scope and you will have to have to work unpaid overtime to complete them or refuse.

Advice to Senior Management

None.

Pros

Free ski pass, the people that are attracted to work for Intrawest are fantastic.

Cons

This is a company that has been "in flux" for years, very difficult environment for staff, very little regard for employees well being. "If you don't like it leave" attitude.

Advice to Senior Management

Create some structure and discipline around the work that you do. Invest in Human Resources.