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Pines Resort announces operational cuts

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010, 1:25 PM)

84 chalets and 20 Ducey's suites closed four days a week through mid-May

In a cost-savings move amid a slow economy and a decline in discretionary spending, The Pines Resort at Bass Lake has implemented a partial closure of their lodging operations.

The resort's lodging will be closed Sunday through Wednesday through May 12. The new schedule went into effect Sunday.

The Pines' lodging facilities includes 84 two-story chalets and 20 lakefront suites at Ducey's on the Lake.

Ducey's on the Lake Restaurant and Ducey's Lakeside Bar & Grill are now open four days a week -- Thursday through Sunday.

The well-known and popular business will return to a seven-day operation for the summer season, resuming the reduced days of operation Sept. 12.

"Changing to a seasonal calendar was a very difficult business decision," general manager Theresa Moody said. "It is common knowledge that the entire nation is facing an economic downturn, and the hotel industry is no exception. It simply is not fiscally responsible to operate a full-service resort for 365 days a year when consumer demand does not support it."

The Pines Market, Pines Lounge, Shell gas station, and the reservations, accounting and administrative offices will remain open seven days a week. The resort's sales office will be open Tuesday through Friday.

Moody and Pines managers met with employees last week to explain the decisions and answer questions.

Moody said consumers are cutting back on the number of leisure getaways and corporate retreats.

"We are seeing leisure travelers favoring weekends, holiday periods and annual summer vacations," Moody said. "Our guest history shows as much as 80% of our winter business in on the weekends."

The Pines operates with about 150 full- and part-time employees during the winter. The number increases to almost 300 during the summer.

The Pines is owned by Greenlaw Pines Investments and Carmel Pines Investments. The umbrella corporation of the two companies is Greenlaw Partners, a real estate development and investment management company in Newport Beach. The Pines Resort was purchased in March 2007, after the death of then-owner Rudi Schulte of Santa Barbara.

Greenlaw Partners was formed in March 2003 with a focus on acquiring and developing office, industrial, retail, residential, golf and hospitality properties.

Over the past seven years, the company Web site says, the company has executed 50 transactions, totaling about $1.3 billion.

Scott Murray, owner's representative for the resort, is involved in daily operations.

Murray said the company spent more than $1 million to modernize and upgrade the property, as well as guest amenities and services, within the first year of ownership.

The first general manager for Greenlaw was Raphael Torres, who came to the Pines from the Ritz-Carlton in New Orleans where he served as food and beverage director. Torres was at the Pines for about a year when Paul Ratchford was named GM. Ratchford, well known in the Mountain Area, was the GM at Tenaya Lodge from 1993 to 2000.

Ratchford left the Pines in December 2008 for a vice president's position with Delaware North in Yosemite. After his departure, Moody was promoted from her food and beverage director position to GM on Jan. 1, 2009.

In October, the resort reduced staff because of traditional off-season staffing needs.

"Although some employees will be reduced to a four-day workweek, we anticipate very few, if any, additional layoffs," Moody said.

Moody said the company is offering cross-training to employees so they can supplement their incomes with additional hours in other resort departments.

The resort is in the process of contacting groups and individuals who have mid week lodging reservations through May 13, but Moody said few groups are scheduled during the time period.

"For our leisure guests that have booked midweek, we are working with them to find a mutually agreeable solution," Moody said.

The Williams family bought the resort in 1945, and the property became the Pines Resort when Robert Stern purchased it in 1974. Schulte became a 50-50 partner with Stern in 1977.

The resort was expanded that year with construction of 84 two-story lodging units, or chalets, that featured downstairs bedrooms and upstairs living rooms, kitchens and lofts. A second phase of chalet construction occurred in 1979.

Schulte became sole owner of the resort in 1984. His goal, along with that of company vice president Steve Welch, was to upgrade the resort and expand its meeting and banquet facilities while making it a profitable year-round operation.

The historic Ducey's Lodge, on North Shore Road (432), was destroyed by fire on June 2, 1988, after standing for almost 50 years. A two-story lakefront Ducey's, featuring a fine-dining restaurant, a bar and grill, 20 suites and a swimming pool, opened in April 1991, adjacent to the chalets.

In 2000, the company acquired the Pines Marina and made extensive upgrades to the facility and waterfront.

Welch, who owns Bass Lake Realty, said difficult choices have to be made during difficult economic times.

"I don't envy their (Greenlaw) situation," he said.

Dan Cunning, chief executive officer of the Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau, thinks the Pines Resort has made a wise business decision to help minimize decreased occupancy and revenue during the off-season.

"We are confident in our continued ability to operate the resort with the high standards of service and amenities for which it has been known throughout eight decades of operation," Moody said. "We appreciate our valued employees, guests and the local community for their support and understanding."