• Club Med (01455 852202) is to open a new village in Colorado's Crested Butte. The French operator has bought the Marriott Resort at the foot of the ski runs, about three miles from the former mining town, where the main street's original 19th-century buildings have been converted into shops and restaurants. The property will be renovated in time for next season and will offer the usual all-inclusive formula - packages including lift passes, meals, nightly entertainment, ski and snowboarding lessons, and activities for children between four and 12.
• Watch for bargain holidays in late March. Travel agents say a late Easter has left tour operators with something of a trough in bookings. Thomas Cook Ski Direct (0870 7520044), for example, is already offering discounted Neilson deals, including a week's half-board at a four-star hotel in Andorra's Soldeu, with flights from Gatwick or Manchester on March 19. With £20 off the brochure price from the operator and a further 10% from the agent, that brings it down to £382.50. Thomas Cook is also offering a week's self-catering with Airtours in Flaine, leaving Gatwick on March 18, for £225.50, based on two sharing. It will provide free insurance on holidays costing £349 or more. Specialist agent Snow Line (01858 828000) has deals including self-catering packages in Belle Plagne for £245, based on four sharing; half-board breaks for £219 at Encamp in Andorra; and chalet holidays at £279 in Bardonecchia (Italy) and £309 in the French resort of Valmorel.
• Winter Park, known as Denver's local hill, has plans to build a gondola lift to link its slopes with the town centre. At present, skiers have to catch shuttle buses to and from the main lift base area. But it could be up to five years before the project comes to fruition. Besides finance - it will cost an estimated £12.5 million - the proposal will need approval from private landowners and public bodies, not least of which is the US Forest Service.
• The Swiss resort of Crans-Montana, which has a source of thermal water, is to get a major new spa complex. Scheduled to open in 2002, and promising spectacular views over the Rhone Valley, it will have an outdoor and two indoor pools - one for children - saunas, slides, waterfalls, a hammam and a health and beauty clinic.
• A new complex of restaurants, shops and hotels is to be built at Whistler, in British Columbia. Owner Intrawest has been given planning permission to revitalise the Whistler Creek area, at the base of the Creekside gondola lift. The three-year project will include the construction of three condominium hotels.
• The latest astonishing transatlantic bargain comes from Thomson (0870 6061470), which is offering a week in the Colorado resort of Breckenridge for £299, accommodation only with British Airways flights non- stop from Gatwick to Denver. Departures are on Thursdays and Sundays from February 24 to the end of the season. Full-board packages start at £369.
