TETON VILLAGE, Wyo. (February 22, 2006) Families with young kids who enjoy the great outdoors have a leg up this summer at Jackson Hole's Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa thanks to its Gear Closet program, which will offer complimentary use of Kelty child-carrier backpacks and jogger-strollers during guests stays at the property.
First initiated in summer 2005 with day packs, waterproof rain jackets, binoculars and trekking poles, the Gear Closets expansion into outdoor equipment for families was a logical extension of the program, said Tom Walker, director of sales and marketing at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa. A family component to the Gear Closet will make it easier for visitors with children to hit the trails and paths in Grand Teton National Park, which is located less than a mile from the property.
Most recently, Walker worked as director of sales at the Wyndham Hotel - Colorado Springs, where he managed a team of 13 people for the 300-plus room hotel and oversaw year-over-year revenue growth while in that role. In addition, Walker developed and enacted the hotel’s annual marketing plan. He earned the property’s Manager of the Year award in 2002, a peer-nominated distinction, and was recognized as a member of Wyndham’s Achiever Circle in 2004.
"With the Lodges ease of access into Grand Teton Park, families are a big part of our guest base," Walker said. "When guests learned about our Gear Closet program, they were pleasantly surprised, but some people also asked whether there were any offerings for families and kids. Now there are."
For the coming summer, the Gear Closet program will offer Kelty Wanderer kid-carrier packs, which carry children up to 40 pounds, as well as Speedster jogger-strollers, which feature large wheels with rubber tires for navigating rolling and more rugged terrain.
The Gear Closet program was started last summer in an effort to ensure guests had access to all the requisite outdoor equipment to enjoy a mountain-country vacation. Front-desk representatives found that some guests didnt own the outdoor gear that many mountain town residents do. As well, guests sometimes forgot an important piece of outdoor gear for their trip, or their bags didnt arrive on time following their flights. The Gear Closet was initiated to address all those situations.
Guests who want to borrow an item from the Gear Closet simply call the front desk to inquire about its availability and check out the item for the length of time they need. Guests are informed about the free program through information in each room, and they also can make reservations in advance of a visit to Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa.
The original Gear Closet program also continues for summer 2006 with Cloudveil mens and womens waterproof-breathable jackets, Indigo Equipment day packs, Brunton Binoculars and Life-Link trekking poles. There is also a winter version of the Gear Closet program for skiers and snowboarders, offering Cloudveil ski pants, jackets and gloves and Ryders Eyewear goggles.
For more information on Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, visit www.tetonlodge.com or call (800) 631-6271.
About Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa
Completed in late 2002, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa is a full-service hotel offering luxury rooms and condominium suites all located slopeside at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and less than a mile from Grand Teton National Park. The setting offers out-the-front-door access to the full spectrum of winter and summer outdoor activities. A blend of 79 condominium units that break into 128 hotel suites and rooms allow the Lodge to combine luxury hotel services and amenities with the convenience and flexibility of condominium accommodations. Recognized in 2005 and 2006 by Cond Nast Traveler as one of the top-50 ski lodges in the country and as a reserve listing on the publications Gold List of top accommodation in the world, Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa also has been featured in publications ranging from Travel + Leisure, Outside and Ski to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
