Vail Resorts CEO on Why More People Aren't Skiing More

[Nick]

http://www.bloomberg.com/video/why-aren-t-more-people-skiing-in-the-u-s-GF1ovMouQx6r3RmUhmagEg.html

An interesting video.

Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz discusses how climate change issues affect the skiing business and Vail’s expansion plans. He speaks with Erik Schatzker and Stephanie Ruhle on Bloomberg Television's "Market Makers." (Source: Bloomberg)

He talks about a bunch of things. Interestingly, they talk about potentially going after some Northeast targets.

 

[thetrailboss]

WV is for sale

 

[4aprice]

He talks about a bunch of things. Interestingly, they talk about potentially going after some Northeast targets.

I've been very jealous of the west and their multi mountain passes and hope a few do break into the northeast. I know we now have the Big 3 in NY and a 4 mountain pass in NH+ the Peak Resort Passes. I've always thought a popular home bump like Camelback (Jack Frost just doesn't have enough to get me interested in the Peak pass) should team up with other farther north areas (out west would be nice too). It would definitely drive my business to those areas. How about Camelback, Hunter, Magic, Smugglers Loveland and Solitude? (I'm a good dreamer:lol

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[watkin]

I am steaming at how good a deal the Epic pass is, even for an east coaster. With the 6 free friend passes you could basically take one week long trip, split it with a buddy and it would be more than paid for. Very jealous.

 

[steamboat1]

Boy do I miss the ASC days. Not only good at 6+ areas in the northeast but it was dirt cheap. I think my weekday pass used to cost $199.

 

[bobbutts]

I've always been upset that Vail Resorts took over Heavenly after I moved away and slashed the season's pass prices. Would be nice to finally enjoy some of those low low prices.

 

[vdk03]

I am steaming at how good a deal the Epic pass is, even for an east coaster. With the 6 free friend passes you could basically take one week long trip, split it with a buddy and it would be more than paid for. Very jealous.

The 6 ski with a friend tickets are not free, they are only about $10 maybe $15 off of the walk up ticket price. The pass alone is unbeatable price wise, most bang for your buck that I know of. Its actually been driving the pass prices of other colorado resorts down as well.

 

[skiberg]

I saw this interview and it was interesting. What I liked most was the interviewers had to check themselves several times to stop form axing skiing questions for the sake of skiing. This was a financial interview, but the interviewers kept steering the questions to skiing and then they would realize we need to talk dollars and cents for the shareholders. It was pretty funny because you could see them checking themselves. Interesting overall however. Significant was the outright refusal of the CEO to answer directly how much a day pass is. You could see even he was embarrassed by the price. He worked it like a true politician and only said over $100 and then pointed out what a great deal the EPIC pass was.

 

[St. Bear]

I wonder what % of tickets are ever sold at full price? Even the 1 time a year skiers are going to get their tickets bundled with lodging at a resort like Vail. There's a lot of noise made about the $100+ ticket, but I bet only a (relatively) small number of them are actually sold at that price.

 

[skiberg]

He answered that but cant remember exactly. But I do recall that he said 50% of skiers have a seasons pass. I was shocked by that. But at $129 per day its understandable.

 

[St. Bear]

At least, that's what I have always heard to be true. Western resorts make their money off lodging and food, and use tickets as loss leaders to drive revenues elsewhere. Eastern resorts draw far more day trippers, so they are much more reliant on ticket sales.

 

[jimmywilson69]

At least, that's what I have always heard to be true. Western resorts make their money off lodging and food, and use tickets as loss leaders to drive revenues elsewhere. Eastern resorts draw far more day trippers, so they are much more reliant on ticket sales.

I agree but I would love to know how many people are buying day tickets at full price in the East. With minimal research you can find any number of discounts.

 

[Nick]

Boy do I miss the ASC days. Not only good at 6+ areas in the northeast but it was dirt cheap. I think my weekday pass used to cost $199.

I miss being in college and getting the ASC pass for $249 with no blackout

 

[wa-loaf]

WV is for sale

An Epic Pass tied to WV would get me skiing there ...

 

[Domeskier]

An Epic Pass tied to WV would get me skiing there ...

As good as this sounds, I think there are laws against a company buying a State....

 

[4aprice]

As good as this sounds, I think there are laws against a company buying a State....

I hope you are being sarcastic. Otherwise broaden your horizon and figure out what WV means in terms of northeastern skiing. (hint its not West Virginia)

Alex

Lake Hopatcong, NJ

 

[Domeskier]

I hope you are being sarcastic. Otherwise broaden your horizon and figure out what WV means in terms of northeastern skiing. (hint its not West Virginia)

Misinterpreting the use of contextually unambiguous but semantically equivocal terms and expressions is kind of my stock-in-trade....

 

[spring_mountain_high]

Misinterpreting the use of contextually unambiguous but semantically equivocal terms and expressions is kind of my stock-in-trade....

sitcom writer?

 

[Edd]

sitcom writer?

Politician....lawyer?.....

 

[Domeskier]

sitcom writer?

Ha! Unfortunately, no. But it does explain why my attempts are internet humor are generally formulaic, derivative and not particularly successful, though - I approach it like an episode of television's Friends!