ASPEN, Colo. (AP) -- With celebrities in town to ski at Aspen Mountain, Aspen Skiing Co. has hired a security guard to ward off paparazzi from snapping photos of high-profile people in its Gondola Plaza during the holidays.

Company spokesman Jeff Hanle tells the Aspen Daily News it's the first time the company has hired security for the area. The guard's first day was Monday.

The guard won't be in the plaza after the holidays.

Guest-services employees previously shooed paparazzi away, taking them away from their other duties.

Last week, Paris Hilton was seen coming off a ski run, with a group of paparazzi waiting at the bottom to photograph her.