Joan Viladomat, president of Pas Grau International Management Group (PGI) and Grandvalira Ski Resort in Andorra will give a presentation at 3 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22, in Behavioral Sciences Building Room A101. During his lecture “Ski development in Western Europe,” he will talk about the development and poverty alleviation efforts of PGI through tourism and ski area development.

The Master of Tourism Management program is sponsoring this event, which is open to all CSU students and the public.

A family history of success

Viladomat’s family developed the ski industry in Andorra, a small principality in the Pyrenees region of Europe, beginning in the early 1950s. The growth and success of this venture fundamentally changed this rural and primarily agricultural region’s economic structure to a tourism-focused destination.

Based on his experience, Viladomat formed PGI Management Group in order to partner with governments in lesser developed nations to develop mountain and snow tourism as a means of livelihood and economic development. PGI is currently developing resorts in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Russia, and operates nine ski resorts worldwide. They also operate an ecolodge in Argentina that specializes in glacier kayaking and extreme descent river rafting.

Viladomat obtained his Master in Business Administration at ESADE Business School in Barcelona, Spain. Viladomat now holds more than 20 years of management experience in the snow industry. He is the torch carrier of the legacy of his father, Francesc Viladomat, founder of the company, Olympic skier and snow business entrepreneur.