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Vail Valley banker Dan Godec knows what he and the folks at Community Banks of Colorado have been doing to weather this economic storm. But it was good to hear another company's doing many of the same things.

Godec was in the audience Thursday for the Vail Valley Partnership's annual Vail Valley Business Forum, held this year at the Westin Riverfront Resort.

"It was good to hear about efficiency, about doing more with less," Godec said.

The speakers on the podium represented banking, state government, lodging and the newspaper business. All said the current slump has forced them to use people and resources more efficiently.

Those speakers had a big audience. About 250 people came to the session, called "Forget the guesswork - Here's the plan."

Panel member Jim Kauffman, a senior vice president with Marriott Lodges said, Marriott still is learning how to get more out of its front-line employees and managers while maintaining its customer service levels.

That can include finding cheaper brands of bacon or ice cream that still taste great. It also includes quick reversals when customers complain.

Kauffman said Marriott recently tried to drop oatmeal from some of its food service.

"We heard about it within 48 hours," Kauffman said. Oatmeal quickly was brought back.

In the banking world, John Ikard, CEO of Colorado-based FirstBank, said there's only so much cutting that's possible. FirstBank - which actually posted record profits last year - still has quietly shut down a few branches, particularly in grocery stores. But, he added, most customers still want a local branch bank they can go to, whether it's a small business owner who needs to talk to a loan officer he's done business with for years or a depositor with a problem.

Although the business people at the forum had different stories, most agreed that a full economic recovery could take awhile.