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Show A-10 Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, March 16-19, 2019 The Park Record MARKETPLACE Nightly Lodging Tally Occupancy Report for week of March 16 - 22, 2019 100% Tech company emerges in Park City Banjo uses AI to provide information about live events 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% CAROLYN WEBBER ALDER 10% Sun The Park Record In an office building in Kimball Junction, a tech company is tracking movements and patterns around the globe. The head of the organization, Damien Patton, intends to change the world with the data the company disseminates. Patton is the founder and CEO of Banjo, a tech company that tracks real-time data and uses artificial intelligence to organize digital signals so people can better understand events taking place. Emergency responders such as police officers and firefighters use Banjo to quickly identify and respond to life-threatening incidents, and news organizations use the software so they can inform the public. Patton started the company in 2010 in California, but he moved the headquarters to Park City in February of 2018. A combination of Patton’s diverse experiences and a serendipitous event led him to found Banjo almost a decade ago. He grew up homeless, but he sought out opportunities and learned whenever he could. When he served in the military for two tours in Desert Storm, he said he learned teamwork and camaraderie. While working as a chief mechanic for a top NASCAR team, he learned what it takes to put out quality work every time. He did a bout as a crime scene investigator, too, and he said he learned how to put pieces of a puzzle together. Collectively, the experiences taught him that in order to solve a problem, people need to have accurate information all in one place. “It makes it very difficult for us as human beings to make the Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 2019 - As of 2/28/19 Week High 2019 .........Sun 75% 2018 - As of 2/28/18 Week High 2018 .........Sun 63% 2017 - Historic Actuals Weekly Average 2019 ....... 66% Weekly Average 2018 ....... 52% NOTE: This is not a forecast of bookings. Data presented in this report represents occupancy on the books as of the report date. Source: DestiMetrics & Park City Chamber/Bureau © 2018 Resorts choose to keep closing date Officials say late Easter means skiers would not come CAROLYN WEBBER ALDER The Park Record CAROLYN WEBBER ALDER/PARK RECORD Damien Patton, founder and CEO of Banjo, moved the tech company’s headquarters to Park City last year. right decision because when we are making a decision, we are making it on partial information or information that has been stepped on,” he said. “For me, it was about solving that problem.” One particular instance turned him onto the idea of what would later become Banjo. He arrived home after a flight to learn that a friend he served with in Des- ert Storm was at the airport at the exact same time, but they missed each other. Patton, who had started working in technology and was going to graduate school, was convinced he needed to discover a way to get live information to everyone. In 2008, he started designing algorithms and artificial intelligence that would show people BRING YOUR FRIENDS & F A M I LY T O real-time data by aggregating their social media networks. Patton’s idea took off after his wife entered him into an annual hack-a-thon at Google, a competition between computer programmers to solve a problem using technology, in 2010. He beat out hundreds of other engineers to win the competition, and Silicon Valley investors Please see Company, A-11 The Rocky Mountain region has had abundant snowfall this season, prompting several Colorado resorts to delay their closing dates a few weeks to capitalize on the powder. But Park City resorts are not interested in following their lead. Representatives from Deer Valley Resort and Park City Mountain Resort said the ski areas remain set on their closing date of April 7, just three weeks away. The closing of the resorts early in the month will likely have a significant impact on Park City businesses, as lodging numbers are expected to plummet after the first week of April. Emily Summers, spokesperson for Deer Valley, said the re- sort has not extended its closing date for 15 years, and it did not consider breaking its streak this year. Summers said Deer Valley sets its opening and closing dates a year in advance. Deer Valley selected April 7 as the closing date for this season because of Easter coming late in the month and spring break in many places around the country occurring in midMarch, Summers said. Easter and the spring break period are some of the busiest times for the resorts because kids are not in school and families often head to the slopes for their vacations. Easter is April 21. “We have not had success in staying open longer in April when Easter is late like it is this year,” Summers said. “In past seasons where the calendar was similar, we didn’t see the skiers to warrant staying open later, and extending a season doesn’t give people the time to plan ahead and make a last-minute ski trip.” Deer Valley has plenty of snow to remain open, though. Please see Season, A-11 — join us — S at u rd ay, A p r i l 27 t h 1 1 a m - 4 p m J e re my R a n c h G o l f a n d Co u n t r y C l u b, 87 70 J e re my Ro a d , Pa r k C i t y The area’s first and best dog show, The BESTMINSTER Dog Show is a pet fair with featured dog contests that is open to the public, even if you don’t bring a dog!! The featured contests are for all dogs, regardless of breed or size. Fun booths will be displayed, along with light-hearted dog contests like Best Bark, Waggiest Tail, Loveliest Lady, Fabulous Fella, Best Kid Handler, Best Costume, and Best Owner/Dog Lookalikes! B EST MTIH EN ST E R B EST M I N ST E R DOG SHOW A F u n , Fa m i l y- F r i e n d l y Pe t Fa i r & C a n i n e Co n te st ! I t ’s o p e n to eve r yo n e - eve n i f yo u d o n ’ t b r i n g a d o g ! ! presented by You MUST register your dog and purchase admissions in advance by April 19th! Dog Entry: $20/dog for unlimited size category entries, includes 1 adult handler General Public admission, even if you don’t bring a dog: $5/ adult, kids 10 & under free TO ENTER YOUR DOG & PURCHASE ADMISSIONS, CONTACT JULIE AT 435.640.5119 OR parkrecordevents9014@gmail.com sponsored by |