Many employees at Purgatory Resort are on a two-week furlough, other employees have had their hours reduced and some positions have been eliminated as the resort deals with the financial hit of a dry winter and the 416 Fire.
“The 416 Fire has had a significant financial impact on Purgatory Resort,” Kim Oyler, director of communications for Mountain Capital Partners, wrote in an email to The Durango Herald on Tuesday. “Because of that, Purgatory’s team has been forced to make some very tough business decisions that include furloughs and a reduction of hours for all of our staff, and the elimination of some positions.”
Before the fire, Purgatory’s sales had been up 30 percent in May compared with May 2017, and executives for Mountain Capital Partners had expected the trend to continue through the summer if it had not had to face the blow from the fire, Oyler said.
More than 350 employees have been impacted, she said.
Purgatory’s Human Resources Department is actively working with employees on assistance that is available to them, she said.
Oyler added that the resort is currently closed, but it plans to reopen in July and has strong bookings for July and August.
“Purgatory is looking forward to reopening, welcoming back our employees and guests, and finishing out the summer strong,” she said.
parmijo@durangoherald.com