banff gate update - message from the board december...

Banff Gate Update - Message From The Board December 2016

As I write this letter I am sitting at the kitchen table in a chalet at our resort and enjoying the view. The

Christmas lighting is beautiful and the light layer of snow which fell this morning really puts me in the

spirit for Christmas. As does the progress we are making with the resort renewal program.

We have reached the end of the third year in our five-year renewal program and are at a significant

milestone well worth celebrating. After the 2013 flood the resort was shut down for six months. While

planning the recovery, and subsequent renewal program, the Health and Municipal affairs depart-

ments of the Alberta government mandated several infrastructure improvement projects. The largest

being a three-phase project to upgrade our septic system at a cost of more than $300,000. It is a

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(Cont. on next page)

pleasure to report that all the mandated projects have been completed, including the septic system work which

was finished in November.

Other projects completed this year, some of which were started last year, are: new chalet blinds, new chalet

locks, occupation of the staff housing unit, new barbecues, foundation work on chalets 5, 6, 16 and 30,

repairs to the water treatment plan, as well as many smaller projects. We are currently working on a project

to bring high speed internet service to the chalets in time for the Christmas rush. Replacement of the

appliances in the chalets is partly done and will be completed next year.

The remaining two years of the renewal program are more

focused on the vacation experience for owners and guests as

they spend time at the resort. I know a poorly functioning septic

or water system are very noticeable, but the tendency is to take

their proper functioning for granted. While the list of 2017

projects is not yet finalized, the focus will clearly be the chalet

interiors. The intent is to complete the appliance replacement

program for the remaining chalets. In addition, there will be a

number of projects for all the chalets interiors as well as the

repair or replacement of some of the decks. A more definitive

list will be available for a newsletter in the spring. Our resort is

now safe and functional, and we will make it great.

While I know I am being repetitive this is another reminder to

pay your maintenance fees and book early for next summer

since the Bow Valley will be extremely busy next summer and

accommodation will be at a premium.

This month I will be working with our Treasurer to pay off the mortgage on our property. Our existing mort-

gage does not have a clause guaranteeing continued use and enjoyment of our resort should we ever get into

financial difficulties. A legislative change several years back made it questionable whether we could sell

weeks without this clause. Paying off the mortgage removes a potential hurdle at a time when we are looking

to start selling weeks again.

I will finish this note by taking the opportunity to express my thanks to our hard-working staff and to you, our

members. We couldn’t make the progress we are making without you and I want to thank you and wish you

a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Yours truly,

Herman Leusink

As I write this letter I am sitting at the kitchen table in a chalet at our resort and enjoying the view. The

Christmas lighting is beautiful and the light layer of snow which fell this morning really puts me in the

spirit for Christmas. As does the progress we are making with the resort renewal program.

We have reached the end of the third year in our five-year renewal program and are at a significant

milestone well worth celebrating. After the 2013 flood the resort was shut down for six months. While

planning the recovery, and subsequent renewal program, the Health and Municipal affairs depart-

ments of the Alberta government mandated several infrastructure improvement projects. The largest

being a three-phase project to upgrade our septic system at a cost of more than $300,000. It is a

of 11

Stairs to Chalet 8

pleasure to report that all the mandated projects have been completed, including the septic system work which

was finished in November.

Other projects completed this year, some of which were started last year, are: new chalet blinds, new chalet

locks, occupation of the staff housing unit, new barbecues, foundation work on chalets 5, 6, 16 and 30,

repairs to the water treatment plan, as well as many smaller projects. We are currently working on a project

to bring high speed internet service to the chalets in time for the Christmas rush. Replacement of the

appliances in the chalets is partly done and will be completed next year.

The remaining two years of the renewal program are more

focused on the vacation experience for owners and guests as

they spend time at the resort. I know a poorly functioning septic

or water system are very noticeable, but the tendency is to take

their proper functioning for granted. While the list of 2017

projects is not yet finalized, the focus will clearly be the chalet

interiors. The intent is to complete the appliance replacement

program for the remaining chalets. In addition, there will be a

number of projects for all the chalets interiors as well as the

repair or replacement of some of the decks. A more definitive

list will be available for a newsletter in the spring. Our resort is

now safe and functional, and we will make it great.

While I know I am being repetitive this is another reminder to

pay your maintenance fees and book early for next summer

since the Bow Valley will be extremely busy next summer and

accommodation will be at a premium.

This month I will be working with our Treasurer to pay off the mortgage on our property. Our existing mort-

gage does not have a clause guaranteeing continued use and enjoyment of our resort should we ever get into

financial difficulties. A legislative change several years back made it questionable whether we could sell

weeks without this clause. Paying off the mortgage removes a potential hurdle at a time when we are looking

to start selling weeks again.

I will finish this note by taking the opportunity to express my thanks to our hard-working staff and to you, our

members. We couldn’t make the progress we are making without you and I want to thank you and wish you

a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

Yours truly,

Herman Leusink

Getting Ready for Christmas at the Resort!

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Colouring Station for children

The BGMR staff have been working hard preparing the resort

for the Holiday Season. The interior of the lodge is fully

decorated as well as the exterior. The staff have set up a

family photo opportunity that includes a giant bear, decora-

tions, presents and large Christmas Tree. Everyone is

welcome to have their picture taken to send out to all your

friends and family. Daily activities are scheduled throughout

the holiday season. Some of the activities include Hot

Chocolate Socials on Sundays, Movie Night with popcorn

and snacks on Monday evenings, Arts and Crafts with

gingerbread man decorating on Wednesdays and Thursdays

will be all day board games. Large puzzles will also be set

out throughout the Holidays for any to participate. Anyone for a photo-op with Teddy?


A coloring station will be set up all day everyday for our

Crayola artists as well as a large board where they can

display their masterpieces. The Meet and Greet breakfast

will be held every Tuesday with the opportunity to meet with

General Manager Douglas Peterson and the BGMR staff

to learn more about the projects, operations and successes

that have been accomplished at your Resort throughout

2016. As you can see the Banff Gate elves have been very

busy but don’t be surprised if they come to your chalet

door on Christmas Eve, bearing Holiday surprises.

Deer and Elk are abundant throughout the resort, creating

lots of opportunity to take some wildlife pictures.

An early Christmas present is the reopening of Chalets 16 and 30, bringing our inventory to 45 chalets out of

46. With expectations of 5 million visitors to the valley next year they will be well utilized.

The housekeeping staff have deep cleaned 75% of the chalets and the remaining will be completed by the

Holiday Season. The Maintenance staff are currently completing their winter preventative maintenance

programs to ensure everything is in working order throughout

the winter.

The staff are busy putting the finishing touches on the plans for

Christmas 2016.

• Lodge decorations

• Teddy Bear pictures

• Christmas surprises for guests

Getting Ready for Christmas at the Resort!

of 11

The BGMR staff have been working hard preparing the resort

for the Holiday Season. The interior of the lodge is fully

decorated as well as the exterior. The staff have set up a

family photo opportunity that includes a giant bear, decora-

tions, presents and large Christmas Tree. Everyone is

welcome to have their picture taken to send out to all your

friends and family. Daily activities are scheduled throughout

the holiday season. Some of the activities include Hot

Chocolate Socials on Sundays, Movie Night with popcorn

and snacks on Monday evenings, Arts and Crafts with

gingerbread man decorating on Wednesdays and Thursdays

will be all day board games. Large puzzles will also be set

out throughout the Holidays for any to participate.

Deer outside the office window

A coloring station will be set up all day everyday for our

Crayola artists as well as a large board where they can

display their masterpieces. The Meet and Greet breakfast

will be held every Tuesday with the opportunity to meet with

General Manager Douglas Peterson and the BGMR staff

to learn more about the projects, operations and successes

that have been accomplished at your Resort throughout

2016. As you can see the Banff Gate elves have been very

busy but don’t be surprised if they come to your chalet

door on Christmas Eve, bearing Holiday surprises.

Deer and Elk are abundant throughout the resort, creating

lots of opportunity to take some wildlife pictures.

An early Christmas present is the reopening of Chalets 16 and 30, bringing our inventory to 45 chalets out of

46. With expectations of 5 million visitors to the valley next year they will be well utilized.

The housekeeping staff have deep cleaned 75% of the chalets and the remaining will be completed by the

Holiday Season. The Maintenance staff are currently completing their winter preventative maintenance

programs to ensure everything is in working order throughout

the winter.

The staff are busy putting the finishing touches on the plans for

Christmas 2016.

• Lodge decorations

• Teddy Bear pictures

• Christmas surprises for guests

By the time you read this Newsletter, you will have received your assessments for 2017. Unfortunately, due

to some glitches, the invoices were delayed. Members will have received an e-mail notice that the invoices

have been sent.

In keeping with the Recovery Plan, the 2017 assessments are the same as the previous two years. The abil-

ity to reduce fees that we hoped for was not possible. There were several unforeseen expenses related to

a water leak and the need to replace the filters in the water treatment plant.

Members are encouraged to make their payments early so that they can

book their week(s) for 2017. In 2017, Parks Canada is celebrating their

150th Anniversary by giving free admission to all federal parks in Canada.

As a result, we expect that there will be a flood of visitors to the Bow Valley

– this will be members, exchange visitors and rentals. Although members

get first consideration for bookings, it is likely that many members will want

to use their weeks at the resort this year. BOOK EARLY!

2017 Invoices

Payment options are similar to those of last year. Members may pay in Canadian dollars by

• Sending a cheque to the resort at:

Banff Gate Mountain Resort

PO Box 8113

Canmore, AB T6J 0S7

(if paying by cheque, please include your Owner ID on the reference line of your cheque.)

• Paying in person at the resort

• Paying online at: http://payments.latourhotelsandresorts.com

If members are having difficulty in making their payment, they are encouraged to speak with the resort staff.

For some members, it may be more comfortable to pay on a Payment Plan. The process for setting up a

payment plan is included in the billing package.

Payment

Booking for 2017

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Members book their weeks at the resort or exchange them according to the regular maintenance fees that

they pay.

However, there is an additional type of booking time at the resort that is available to members in good

standing; this is Bonus Time. Members are able to book available time at the resort, no more than 45 days

in advance, and pay the member rate for the nights they have booked. Based on availability, members may

have only 2 sets of Bonus Time per year. Bonus Time has been traditionally used in off-season, to allow

members to take advantage of time of greater availability. With the increase in rentals, availability is more

constrained.

Types of Booking

Significant work has been completed in 2016 as we continue working through the Recovery Plan. Infrastruc-

ture work is mostly complete, with the major project being the septic and sewer system upgrades. The pictures

below show some of the work performed on the third stage of repair. We have completed the “Make it safe”

and most of the “Make it functional” phases and are now working toward the “Make it great!” phase. 2016

saw the start of the “Make It Great!” activities with the replacement of the door locks, replacement of BBQs,

replacement of appliances in most chalets and installation of new blinds in all the chalets.

Work Completed in 2016

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Major work has been done to the foundations for chalets 5 and 6 to bring them back into service. Additional

work has been done on chalets 16 and 30 with the intention of bringing them back into service by Christmas.

A few members have expressed concern about the relatively slow performance of the Internet, particularly

when some of the youngsters try to download games and movies. Work is underway to provide high speed

Internet access; new equipment will be acquired and line-of-site access will be provided from a site in

Canmore. This facility will make use of new technology – hopefully installed and working by Christmas

Tank 1 Complete

Tank 2 pumped outSeptic 1

A significant change in 2016 was the increase in revenue

from guests and special activities such as long term

commitments and trade shows.

Significant work has been completed in 2016 as we continue working through the Recovery Plan. Infrastruc-

ture work is mostly complete, with the major project being the septic and sewer system upgrades. The pictures

below show some of the work performed on the third stage of repair. We have completed the “Make it safe”

and most of the “Make it functional” phases and are now working toward the “Make it great!” phase. 2016

saw the start of the “Make It Great!” activities with the replacement of the door locks, replacement of BBQs,

replacement of appliances in most chalets and installation of new blinds in all the chalets.

Major work has been done to the foundations for chalets 5 and 6 to bring them back into service. Additional

work has been done on chalets 16 and 30 with the intention of bringing them back into service by Christmas.

A few members have expressed concern about the relatively slow performance of the Internet, particularly

when some of the youngsters try to download games and movies. Work is underway to provide high speed

Internet access; new equipment will be acquired and line-of-site access will be provided from a site in

Canmore. This facility will make use of new technology – hopefully installed and working by Christmas

Work Completed in 2016

Page 6 of 11

Trade Show

A significant change in 2016 was the increase in revenue

from guests and special activities such as long term

commitments and trade shows.

Projects for 2017 continue forward in the direction of making the resort more attractive and up to date.

We expect that the decks will be replaced or repaired and the remainder of the appliances will be

replaced; bedding and furniture will be upgraded.

Plans for 2017

Budget for 2017

Page 7 of 11

Because some members have been no-shows for their

weeks, the Board has developed a policy for

cancellation of booked weeks.

• Cancellations within 24 hours of the time your reservation

is confirmed, there will be no cancellation fee.

• Cancellations up to 30 days before the first night of your

stay, you will receive a full refund of your week and you

will be charged an administration fee of $39.

Policy on Cancellation of Booked Weeks

During the year, comments from guests –members, exchanges and

renters – have been very favourable. There has been a marked

improvement in:

• Cleanliness

• General appearance

• Staff

The resort also receives feedback and scores from RCI that have been

taken from the Comment Cards completed by guests. In addition, we

receive feedback through TripAdvisor – some good, some not so

flattering. LaTour responds to those comments and addresses any

concerns expressed.

In the new year, we expect to implement an electronic comments card

through LaTour. This will allow us to address the immediate

shortcomings identified by guests. The staff have shown that they are

committed to addressing concerns and making the proper adjustments.

How are we doing?

Page 8 of 11

• Cancellations 29 days to 72 hours before the first night of your stay, you will receive a full refund of your

week and you will be charged an administration fee of $99.

• Any administrative or exchange fees paid on confirmed reservations are non-refundable in the case of

cancellation.

• Cancellations less than 72 hours before your confirmed check-in time, or for an unscheduled late check-

in, you will lose full usage of your week.

Happy holidays from RTX! This is the time of year that many RTX mem-

bers are busy planning their 2017 vacations. Our members travel to

fantastic destinations all over the world, from Ireland to Orlando to

Vancouver to Mexico, and everywhere in between. Among the count-

less destinations in our network, there are a few tried and true places

that are in high demand with RTX members.

Exchanges

Page 9 of 11


We are happy that several Banff Gate Mountain Resort owners

took advantage of our initial membership special, and we are

thrilled to tell you about another special membership offer for

you. Typically, the membership fee for one year of Premium Plus

is $391. For a limited time, your first year as a Premium Plus

member is available at a membership fee of $290 at just over

$100 in savings!

This discount will get you a total estimated value of $1,353 for

all of the benefits of one year of membership, we think this deal

is a perfect way for you to maximize the benefits and value of

RTX.

Here’s a look at our currentTop 5 Destinations for RTX

exchange vacations:

1. New Smyrna Beach, FL2. Banner Elk, N.C.

3. Hilton Head Island, N.C.4. Branson, MO5. Kissimmee, FL

With a Premium Plus membership, your vacation planning will be as seamless and carefree as possible, and

you’ll have so much more than just exchange services. RTX offers some of the best deals out there on car rent-

als, cruise exchanges, airfare, discounted show and attraction tickets, and airport lounge access to ease your

time spent at the airport.

A new benefit just recently launched to RTX members is our Xclusive Weeks program. Each Monday, RTX mem-

bers are emailed a list of weeks available at resorts around the world at deeply discounted rates. These are

extra vacations that can be purchased without depositing or using an exchange, and they are fantastic for

last-minute travel.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this discount, please contact us at 888-988-4RTX. We hope that

you enjoy using your RTX membership and we look forward to sending you on vacation. For more information

about RTX benefits and membership levels visit www.rtx.travel.

Important ContactInformation

(877) 340 - 4971

Exchanges

Phone: (403) 609 - 9229(403) 609 - 9229

Owner [email protected]

Maintenance Fee Paymentshttps://payments.latourhotelsandresorts.com

(888) 988 - 4789(828) 348 - 4085

RTX Exchangewww.rtx.travel

Group Sales & Venue Coordinator - Robbi [email protected]

Ban� Gate Mountain Resort302 George Biggy Sr. Rd.

Dead Mans Flats, AB T1W 2W4info@banffgatemountainresort.comwww.banffgatemountainresort.com

RCI Help

Download the RCI App on your Mobile Phone

Get educated on RCI products and services. Below are a list of helpful topics that may answer any questions you have and provide useful instructions. Learn more at http://www.rci.com/pre-rci-en_US/help/index.page

Download the RCI app on your Apple or Android device.

The RCI® Application includes the following features:

Page 10 of 11

The RCI Affiliated Resort Directory feature allows users to search or browse RCI Affiliated Resorts across the world. Users can not only view resort information and amenities, but they can also view available resort videos and photos as well as easily compare multiple resorts at the same time. Further, they can save resorts into a local "My Resorts" list and share resort information with friends via email.

RCI® account functions keep subscribing members current with important account information. Login with your RCI account credentials to search for vacations, manage deposits, and many more account functions.

Share Your Vacation™ allows users to capture pictures, video, audio and notes from their vaca-tion and easily share those vacations via email, Facebook and Twitter.After content is submitted, a simple sync process collects vacation memories in an online album experience where users can log-in, view and share their vacation experiences.

The RCI TV feature available in the application allows users to view and share location-specific videos, each highlighting the activities and characteristics unique to that vacation destination.

banff gate update - message from the board december...

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