Big Sky Resort reaches 1,000 employee beds

By Mira Brody VP MEDIA

This coming August, Big Sky Resort will open the doors to Levinski Lodge B and C, two employee housing units that will achieve the resort’s goal of more than 1,000 employee housing beds in Big Sky, a goal they hope can serve as an example for other resorts across the country.

“We are certainly at the top, if not the resort with the most team member housing in the industry at the moment,” said Stacie Harris, public relations manager at Big Sky Resort. “I don’t know of any other resort that has close to 1,000 beds. The industry average is about 184 beds, so we have five times the industry average.”

When fully staffed, Big Sky Resort hosts a winter workforce of about 1,900 and summer workforce of around 900.

The three-phased Levinski project began with Lodge A, completed in February 2023, which includes a one-bedroom unit and 17 two-bedrooms units. Building B includes 18 studio units, six one-bedroom units and six two-bedroom units. Building C includes 52 dormitory-style units with double and triple occupancy, and two single or ADA compliant rooms. All those living on the Levinski campus have utilities, Wi-Fi and cable TV included in their rent, as well as access to free laundry, a recreation room, gym, four quiet rooms, a community lounge, six common kitchen spaces, bike and ski storage and repair area, and an outdoor barbecue area. Each room is fully finished with beds, dressers and dining room tables, said Michael Henry, team member housing manager at Big Sky Resort.

An important aspect of employee housing for the resort is accessibility to the base area—where most employees will be working. With the addition of Levinski Lodge, 75% of Big Sky Resort’s housing offerings are within walking distance. While tenants have access to parking should they have their own vehicle, the setting encourages walking, biking and utilizing the nearby Skyline bus system—passes to and from Bozeman are provided to all employees.

Levinski Lodge’s rent is kept within 50-60% of local market rate, as established by the Big Sky Community Housing Trust’s Rent Local program. One-bedroom units go for $850, while two-bedroom units are $1,700.

“The rates are flat for the units,” explained Henry. “We are no means looking to exceed 30% of someone’s income.”

Tenants also have flexible leases and are only required to pay for the nights they are living in their unit, terms which are meant to accommodate those arriving halfway through the month, or leaving early. Tenants in good standing are also able to secure a unit ahead of the following season if they have plans to return, and have the option of requesting preferred roommates. Harris said the resort is also open to housing a family of a resort employee.

The amenities in Levinski units B and C were designed based on feedback from team members that have been living in unit A for the last year. That feedback was compiled from community town hall meetings and implemented into the plans for the new units, Harris said.

“We’ve had great feedback surrounding our team members that are in the Levinski building,” Henry said. “I think a lot of it does surround access and the location alongside having those apartment style amenities, like the ability to cook right there.”

Harris said while the resort has their eyes set on going beyond 1,000 beds in the future, right now focusing on a high quality employee experience is paramount.

“We set a goal … as we were talking about the road to 1,000 beds, was how do we become the best employer in the industry—in the entire industry. It’s a challenge that we think about all the time, and we try to benchmark ourselves against other folks in the industry and other towns and try to figure out ways to offer the best employee experience possible,” Harris said. “Housing is certainly a huge part of that and definitely kind of where it all starts for everyone’s experience working at Big Sky Resort.”