Resort Press Room

Community Spirit Makes for a Rewarding Night’s Sleep at The Gant

Serve your local community and reap more than goodwill with Pay it Forward Colorado

ASPEN – Dec. 2, 2009 – The economy’s rippling effects have touched many, including non-profit organizations that people lean on to survive these challenging times. While monetary donations are still important, volunteering has become equally important given that many non-profits have cut staff or reduced hours and are trying to meet a greater demand with less staff. In an effort to encourage Colorado residents to lend a neighborly helping hand, The Gant has launched, Pay it Forward Colorado, a community service rewards program that gives guests a tiered lodging discount or free nights in gratitude for volunteering. Guests, with proof of residence and a completed volunteer form, are eligible for Pay it Forward Colorado credits on new reservations only now through December 2010.

Keepin’ it Local
With this program, Coloradoans have the choice to donate their time at the community organization of their choice. Whether they are passionate about animals and want to help at an animal shelter, are inspired by teaching kids and opt to volunteer at a local school or donate their time at their church, volunteering is the only requirement to earn credits at The Gant. Want to volunteer, but not sure where to start? Try the 2009 Volunteer Guide.

Pay it Forward Colorado offers three credit options that can be applied to any condominium unit:

• Three hours of service earns a 20 percent discount, using promotion code PAYIT20.
• Six hours of service earns a 25 percent discount, using promotion code PAYIT25.
• Eight hours or more earns three nights for the price of two or six nights for the price of four, using promotion code PAYITFREE. Free nights applied at check-in. 

This program is available exclusively to Colorado residents and guests must volunteer at a Colorado-based non-profit or community organization. At check in, guests must present proof of residency and the Pay it Forward Colorado Participant form (download from off website at www.gantaspen.com) completed by the non-profit verifying the hours volunteered.  There is no limit to how many credits a guest earns; however, only one credit can be redeemed per visit and all unused credits expire on Dec. 31, 2010. Starting rates will vary based on final travel dates, but seasonal rates for a one bedroom begin at:

• $195 spring (mid May – mid June)
• $315 summer (mid June - August)
• $195 fall (September - November)
• $225 winter (early December) 

A recent study by the Colorado Nonprofit Association and the Community Resource Center (CRC) reported that nearly 40 percent of survey participants fell short or significantly short of their 2008 revenue goals. Organizations responded to cash flow challenges in various ways: 27.4 percent cut nonessential expenses; 22.8 percent accessed prior year cash reserves; 21.5 percent increased fundraising activities; 15.9 percent cut back programs; 13.8 percent cut staff pay or hours. More than 35 percent of human service organizations have reduced staff hours, 38 percent have not filled positions through attrition and nearly 20 percent have laid off staff or plan to. More than 43 percent of those surveyed reported that the economy has had a negative impact on their ability to keep on track with program plans and more than 38 percent were unable to meet the needs of their current clients. For the complete report, visit http://www.coloradononprofits.org/. 

“Money is obviously a vital necessity for a service organization, but people shouldn’t overlook how important a resource volunteers can be,” said Erin Peck, director of sales at The Gant. “Volunteering is a hands on way to actively serve the community you live in. We hope this program will remind Coloradoans that they can make a difference in someone’s life, and you don’t need a checkbook to do it.” 

Aspen Shimmers with New Improvements
Winter in Aspen, with four mountains available for the price of one lift ticket, has never been better. Downtown has several new and updated restaurants and shops, and Aspen Skiing Company (ASC) will invest nearly $8 million in on-mountain improvements this year. It has already invested more than $130 million over the previous six seasons. Improvements include 11 new lifts with two new gondolas, the industry-leading Treehouse Kids’ Adventure Center, three new restaurants, additional terrain, and the new Snowmass base village.

Same goes for The Gant. It recently completed a comprehensive, $7.2 million, four-year renovation effort that focused on enhancing the property’s exterior grounds and communal interior areas. The Gant now boasts five acres of artfully manicured landscape, new outdoor lounging areas, a refurbished meeting facility, lobby and an impressive main entryway.

The Gant is an economical way to enjoy plush, upscale condominiums ranging in size from studios to four bedrooms, as comfy and convenient as home, yet with the amenities and services of a hotel, located in an internationally-acclaimed, year-round destination. 

To learn more about this program or to book a reservation, please visit www.gantaspen.com or call 866.956.6317. 

About the Gant
Situated in a peaceful enclave at the base of Aspen Mountain with convenient access to downtown and the ski lifts, The Gant is Aspen’s finest condominium resort.  A resort within a resort, The Gant offers high quality, friendly hotel services at the highest level of any Aspen condominium property. The Gant’s privately owned condominiums are regularly refurbished and fully equipped, offering the comforts of home to today’s travelers and meeting guests, with the services of a hotel.

About Destination Hotels & Resorts
The Gant is one of more than 30 independent, upscale hotels, resorts and conference centers by Destination Hotels & Resorts, the fourth largest independent hospitality management company in the country. To protect and preserve the unique communities in which the company operates, Destination launched Destination Earth, an environmental sustainability program in 2008. New for 2009 is the 582-room Terranea Resort situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in southern California. The 102-acre ocean front resort will feature a 25,000-square-foot destination spa, three swimming pools, three restaurants and a Todd Eckenrode-designed par three golf course. In addition to Terranea in the greater Los Angeles area, Destination operates properties in key metropolitan areas and resort markets including Washington, D.C., Denver, San Diego, Santa Fe, Aspen, Palm Springs, Houston and Lake Tahoe. Destination is a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based investment, development and management firm Lowe Enterprises.  For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, please visit www.destinationhotels.com.