Tamarack Resort's World's Best Award: Marketing Coup or Earned Recognition?

Tamarack Resort Scores Travel + Leisure Accolade

Tamarack Resort in Idaho has landed a spot on Travel + Leisure's 2025 World's Best Awards list, joining the ranks of 'Top Resorts' as voted by the magazine's readership. While any positive industry recognition is noteworthy, it's worth examining what this actually means for skiers and riders considering a trip to the self-proclaimed 'America's Only Ski, Golf, and Lake Resort'.

The award comes from Travel + Leisure's annual reader survey, which reportedly garnered responses from 180,000 participants casting over 657,000 votes across 8,700 properties. Resorts were evaluated on rooms, location, service, food, and value - notably absent are any specific criteria related to on-snow experience or lift infrastructure.

Tamarack Trail Map 2025. © Tamarack Resort

Tamarack's inclusion on this list appears to be more a testament to its overall resort offering than its merits as a pure ski destination. The resort spans 3,600 acres with 1,530 acres of skiable terrain and 2,800 feet of vertical drop - respectable figures, but not industry-leading by North American standards. What likely set Tamarack apart in voters' minds is its year-round appeal, with golf, mountain biking, and water sports on Lake Cascade complementing winter activities.

Scott Turlington, Tamarack's President, predictably lauded the award as validation of the resort's vision and staff dedication. However, it's important to note that these types of reader-voted awards can often favour properties with effective marketing campaigns or those catering to a specific demographic of traveller, rather than objectively assessing ski area quality.

Tamarack does offer a diverse range of accommodation, from lodge rooms to luxury homes, which likely factored into its strong showing in the survey. The resort has also been pushing development of its village area, aiming to create a more complete destination experience.

Tamarack Resort on a bluebird morning. © Tamarack Resort

For skiers and riders, Tamarack's inclusion on this list shouldn't necessarily bump it to the top of must-visit destinations. While the resort offers a solid ski product, particularly for the Idaho market, its strengths appear to lie more in its four-season appeal and overall resort experience.

The Travel + Leisure accolade is undoubtedly a marketing win for Tamarack, potentially exposing it to a broader audience of travellers. However, dedicated snow sports enthusiasts would be wise to dig deeper into specific terrain offerings, snow quality, and lift infrastructure when planning trips.

Ultimately, this award speaks more to Tamarack's success in positioning itself as an all-round resort destination than to any particular strength of its ski product. For those seeking a varied winter getaway with options beyond just skiing and riding, Tamarack may well deliver on its newly-minted 'Top Resort' billing. Pure powder hounds, on the other hand, might find more compelling options elsewhere in Idaho or the broader American West.