Business Notes

There go the rich and famous, whooshing down manicured slopes in their designer parka-and-pants outfits and wearing $600 skis. Where can this be but Aspen or Vail? On second glance, it is neither of those places. Since the two most famous Colorado resorts have become insufferably chic, members of the smart set are seeking seclusion and pampering at Deer Valley, a 10-year-old resort in Utah's Wasatch Mountains. So far, this unspeakably well-groomed complex has entertained the likes of Bruce Willis, Kevin Costner and Cheryl Tiegs.

Deer Valley is more like a grand hotel than a ski resort. When guests arrive at the parking lot, they are greeted by valets, who carry skis to racks at the base lodges. Lift-line ticket sales are limited to 5,000 a day in order to limit waiting times to five minutes. The resort charges accordingly. Accommodations at the Stein Eriksen Lodge range from $265 to $1,400 a night.