SkiNH: 21% Drop in Skiers/Riders for 2011-2012; Peaks Resorts Bows Out

[thetrailboss]

I just read this press release in SAM from SkiNH:

http://www.saminfo.com/news/article.php?tid=5848

Not surprising is that NH saw a 21% drop in skiers and riders from last season. This was a drop from 2.35 million to 1.9 million. Tubing saw 93,000 visits and XC saw 96,000 visits.

What made news was that Peaks Resorts has withdrawn from the organization, taking its three resorts (Attitash, Wildcat, and Crotched) out of the organization. SkiNH will lose $63,000 in membership revenue and Peak Resort tickets. As you will read, Peaks said that they were not happy with the organization's focus on marketing instead of representing the industry. I think part of the heartburn was the large number of discount/free tickets that SkiNH handed out...from 25,000 or so to 8,700. That is a big drop!

[deadheadskier]

25K free tickets? I had no idea SkiNH gave away so many. Can't say I've ever even spoken with someone who received a freebie. Somewhat surprising considering I find the deals through SkiNH to be far inferior to those offered through SkiVT

[hammer]

25K free tickets? I had no idea SkiNH gave away so many. Can't say I've ever even spoken with someone who received a freebie. Somewhat surprising considering I find the deals through SkiNH to be far inferior to those offered through SkiVT

Would that be the number of passes that SkiNH sold? We still get a few of these passes each year (only way to get discounts during holiday periods) but the discounts are not what they used to be...

[Nick]

Maines not as well organized or is it just the lower quantity of resorts in the state?

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[Geoff]

Maines not as well organized or is it just the lower quantity of resorts in the state?

Sunday River and Sugarloaf combined must be 2/3 of the skier visits in the state. I'm sure they would view a "SkiME" organization as a poor use of their marketing dollars.

[thetrailboss]

The article says 24,952 "trade tickets," so I imagine that would include freebies handed out by SkiNH and the SkiNH passes. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

And it costs $21,000 a year for a ski area to be a member...since Peak's three resorts paid $63,000 total. That is a good chunk of change. Now we know why Whaleback and Tenney weren't members.

[Edd]

I have no doubt a deal will be presented to retain Peaks somehow.

[riverc0il]

The article says 24,952 "trade tickets," so I imagine that would include freebies handed out by SkiNH and the SkiNH passes. Maybe someone else can confirm this.

And it costs $21,000 a year for a ski area to be a member...since Peak's three resorts paid $63,000 total. That is a good chunk of change. Now we know why Whaleback and Tenney weren't members.

You are assuming that all ski areas pay the same fee. I would imagine they would have a sliding scale. I can't imagine places like Abanaki, McIntire, King Pine, and Granite Gorge are paying $21k/year. They would never see a return on the money invested. I am sure larger resorts pay more. Perhaps multi-resort corporations pay a flat fee for all areas. Who knows. But I think it is false extrapolation to assume $21k is a flat rate per area.

Attitash, Wildcat, and the Crotch have been removed from the SkiNH web page roster but are still on their interactive map. I'm sure that will change.

I could see the bulk of those tickets being discount tickets for clubs. I'm a member of ACE and never buy NH tickets because the discounts are terrible. I don't know who is at fault for that: clubs, SkiNH, or the areas themselves. I can't believe it is the club's fault since SkiVT tickets are so much cheaper. But since it is across the board for all NH areas, perhaps it is SkiNH's fault? Perhaps they are skimming from the top? Who knows? All I know is compared to SkiVT, SkiNH discounted club tickets suck. You pay more for areas that offer less, not a good combination.

[hammer]

You are assuming that all ski areas pay the same fee. I would imagine they would have a sliding scale. I can't imagine places like Abanaki, McIntire, King Pine, and Granite Gorge are paying $21k/year. They would never see a return on the money invested. I am sure larger resorts pay more. Perhaps multi-resort corporations pay a flat fee for all areas. Who knows. But I think it is false extrapolation to assume $21k is a flat rate per area.

Attitash, Wildcat, and the Crotch have been removed from the SkiNH web page roster but are still on their interactive map. I'm sure that will change.

I could see the bulk of those tickets being discount tickets for clubs. I'm a member of ACE and never buy NH tickets because the discounts are terrible. I don't know who is at fault for that: clubs, SkiNH, or the areas themselves. I can't believe it is the club's fault since SkiVT tickets are so much cheaper. But since it is across the board for all NH areas, perhaps it is SkiNH's fault? Perhaps they are skimming from the top? Who knows? All I know is compared to SkiVT, SkiNH discounted club tickets suck. You pay more for areas that offer less, not a good combination.

Are SkiVT tickets valid during holiday weeks?

When I first started skiing, the SkiNH tickets were a great deal and would routinely sell out for most areas. Could have been the bad weather but no passes sold out this season. I think only a few areas sold out the previous year.

[steamboat1]

Ski VT coupons sell out almost immediately.

You snooze you loose.