HomeMy WebLinkAbout12. WelcomeCenter_supervisorFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 18, 2016
Contact: Stan Zemler, 970-479-2105
Vail Town Manager
Town of Vail Announces Changes to Welcome Center Operations
(Vail)--The Town of Vail is pleased to announce the hiring of new and returning personnel to
manage and staff the Welcome Centers in Vail Village and Lionshead. Since Oct. 1, the centers
have been operating as a town-run function which replaced a management model previously
serviced by an independent operator.
Leading the Welcome Center operations is Amanda Zinn who has been hired to fill a newly-
created supervisor position on behalf of the town. Zinn will be responsible for the day-to-day
operations as well as partner outreach and relationships. A resident of Vail since 1997, Zinn
brings a strong guest service and operations background to the centers with both hospitality and
retail experience, having most recently served as event sales manager for the Park Hyatt
Beaver Creek Resort and Spa.
Assisting Zinn is Mark Christie who returns as a full-time guest service agent. Christie’s
presence in the Welcome Centers has spanned more than 11 years. His background includes
experience in the reinsurance industry before retiring from corporate life in 2004 and relocating
to Vail full-time.
In announcing Zinn’s appointment, Town Manager Stan Zemler says Amanda’s familiarity with
Vail’s indoor and outdoor offerings as a long-time resident as well as her experiences as a
hospitality professional are a tremendous plus for the Welcome Centers. She’s been a Nordic
instructor, mountain bike instructor and hiking guide throughout her career in Vail as well as a
gallery director and group sales manager.
Zinn describes her new role as an opportunity to further the town’s relationship with other
stakeholders in the community in working to elevate the guest experience. “I’m thrilled and
excited to be part of the Town of Vail team and looking forward to the opportunity to showcase
the Welcome Centers and Community Host program on a new level,” she said. Zinn is currently
working on plans to host an open house for members of the community. The event will be used
to offer tours of the facilities, introduce members of the Welcome Center staff, provide
information about the variety of services offered and collect suggestions for new enhancements.
In addition to bringing the Welcome Center operations in-house, the town’s emphasis on guest
relations and services has included construction of a new facility in Lionshead which opened in
2012 and renovation of the Vail Village Welcome Center in 2014. Historically, the centers have
directly assisted approximately 100,000 guests annually, plus an additional 60,000 guest
contacts through the Community Host program.
For additional details, contact Zinn at 970-476-4790 or email azinn@vailgov.com.
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