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That’s 35 years of timesharing, well beyond the threshold for legacy status, which is
defined by the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) as single-site, HOA–
controlled resorts erected prior to 1995. In simple terms, in an industry that challenges
independent operators to achieve prolonged success, three-and-a-half decades is stunning.
What makes The Christie Lodge even more impressive is that it has lasted so long in a
region that’s seen so much high-end growth. Back in early 1980, Vail had just recently become
a renowned ski destination, nearby Beaver Creek was getting ready to open, and the entire
area was on the verge of breaking through as a summertime playground for travelers.
Today, world-class restaurants, shopping, and weather draw visitors year-round, while
golf, fishing, and hiking highlight the warmest months. As for skiing and snowboarding, Vail
graduated long ago from being merely renowned. It’s now a titan, arguably one of the most
popular snow destinations on Earth, perfectly complemented by sister mountain Beaver Creek
and its unique vibe, which manages to be both ritzy and welcoming at the same time.
Because of all this, it should be no surprise that vacation ownership is very popular here. Or
that during the same 35-year stretch, new developments backed by big brands continuously
raised the bar in terms of comfort and luxury.
What may be somewhat of a surprise, though, through all that stately expansion, The
Christie Lodge, an admittedly low-key property situated between two international ski destina-
tions — about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from Vail and just less than 3 miles (5 kilometers) from
the base of Beaver Creek — has remained a mainstay of the area’s timeshare market.
Lisa Siegert-Free, managing director and general manager at The Christie Lodge, is
very proud of her resort’s position in the community — and the industry — and, quite sim-
ply, is undaunted by all the vacation ownership properties that have risen and expanded
throughout the region over the years. “We have always had the attitude that we are fiercely
independent,” she says.
Comment Cards
That fierce independence is based on many factors, of course, but the foundation is refresh-
ingly straightforward: “We take our owners’ and guests’ comments very seriously, and do
our best to include their suggestions in the renovations of the Lodge,” says Siegert-Free.
To stay as up-to-date as possible, The Christie Lodge operates on a seven-year ren-
ovation cycle — and Siegert-Free might be understating just how much effort goes into
compiling and incorporating those comments.
For the latest round of refurbishments, coined Project WOW, the management team
studied 10 years worth of suggestion-box notes from overnight visitors, pored over vari-
ous internet accommodations-rating sites, and discussed any property-related concerns
brought up by housekeeping and maintenance staffs.
After cross-referencing the varied sources of information, the team created a list of the
20 most important issues, and then engineers and designers set out to address them. “We
upgraded the kitchenettes to be more efficient,” explains Siegert-Free. “The units have beauti-
ful new cabinets, an upgraded refrigerator, dishwasher, microwave, and a newly added single
stovetop burner.
“The bathrooms are also newly remodeled, with walk-in showers and new toilets, tile, and
vanities. We upgraded all trim and doors, added furnishings, and the floors have recently been
changed to wood, with decorative rugs.”
Other significant renovations include removing the popcorn ceilings, installing ceiling fans,
replacing all the existing lighting with LED bulbs, rebuilding the fireplace mantles, and relocating
the dishwashers.
“It’s all part of our goal to be constantly upgrading the Lodge’s appearance and installing
new technology,” Siegert-Free says.
And it’s a major undertaking. The Christie Lodge has 253 one-bedroom suites and 27
three-bedroom units that average approximately 400 square feet (37 square meters) and 800
square feet (74 square meters), respectively.
Needless to say, Project WOW is not a weekend endeavor. In fact, virtually none of the work
is done on the weekends.
Self-Control
The goal from the very beginning for Project WOW was not to rush to a hasty completion,
but, instead, to avoid disrupting regular services as much as possible — and to keep the
costs manageable. Ultimately, those two objectives are intertwined.
The construction schedule is Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
THE CHRISTIE LODGE
The Christie Lodge
in Avon,
Colorado, was built in 1980, and
offered its first vacation ownership
product two years later. At the
time, the resort was one of the
largest timeshare properties in
North America, with 280 rooms and
almost 15,000 deeded intervals.
(It remains one of the largest
resorts in the Vail Valley.)
BY J.B. BISSELL
A Commitment
to Wow Owners
JANUARY – MARCH 2018
RESORTDEVELOPER.COMVACATION INDUSTRY REVIEW