Northeast Ticket Discount Ideas

[catskills]

Anyone have any new marketing ideas to increase ticket sales here in the Northeast with limited trails opened, skied off high traffic conditions, and rocks pushing through the snow everywhere?

Here I will start.

Instead of internet blog bashing and rock throwing, the marketing departments should invent new ticket sale discounts like $10 off for every 100 miles you drive up to a maximum of $40 discount for each person in the car. If you drive all the way from Washington DC to Okemo, then you get the full $40 discount for everyone in the car. Proof of address on drivers license etc would be required. :grin:

 

[tcharron]

Anyone have any new marketing ideas to increase ticket sales here in the Northeast with limited trails opened, skied off high traffic conditions, and rocks pushing through the snow everywhere.

Here I will start.

Instead of internet blog bashing and rock throwing, the marketing departments should invent new ticket sale discounts like $10 off for every 100 miles you drive up to a maximum of $40 discount for each person in the car. If you drive all the way from Washington DC to Okemo, then you get the full $40 discount for everyone in the car. Proof of address on drivers license etc would be required. :grin:

Not too bad of an idea, but the number I suspect would need to be more then 100 miles. How far are most of the mountains from Boston?

 

[threecy]

The ski areas who really need the skiers at this point in the season cannot afford to keep on discounting tickets.

 

[tcharron]

The ski areas who really need the skiers at this point in the season cannot afford to keep on discounting tickets.

Well, they can, but they have to operate in 'Break Even at all cost' mode, instead of 'We can still make lots of money this year!' mode.

 

[adamti91]

Whiteface is offering free discount cards to all that show any NY/NJ season pass at the ticket booth. From Whiteface...

Hey NY / NJ skiers and riders!

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2007

Cash in with us at Whiteface and Gore!


WILMINGTON, N.Y. – With Gore and Whiteface mountains now getting natural snow and making tons of their own, New York and New Jersey skiers and riders can capitalize on the good fortune that has befallen the Northern Adirondacks.

The Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), managers of both resorts, is offering season pass holders in both states the opportunity to come north and enjoy outstanding conditions at reduced prices.

Just present your season pass from any New York or New Jersey resort for the 2006-07 season at a ticket counter at Gore or Whiteface and obtain one of our frequent skier cards for free.

The skier / rider, depending on their needs, will receive the Empire Card, the Student Card, the Snowball Card or combinations of the three at no up-front cost. All you have to do is present that card and enjoy these big mountain experiences at discounted prices.

The Empire Card (for adults) enables the guest to purchase a lift ticket for $12 off the weekend and holiday price and $16 off the mid-week, non-holiday price.

The Student Ski Card is geared toward teens 13-19 years old and college students taking 12 or more credit hours. Youngsters can carve turns for $35 any day of the season at either resort. To qualify, college students must show proof of credits by presenting their photo along with a current class schedule or a bursar bill.

The Snowball Card (juniors 7-12 years of age) allows the youth to buy a lift ticket for $27 at Whiteface and $20 at Gore any day of the season.

There are no blackout dates affecting these opportunities, and since the respective cards are issued free of charge, there are no free days of skiing attached to them.

For more information on these great deals, please log on to www.whiteface.com, call 518-946-2223 or visit one of our helpful ticket sellers at the mountains.

 

[Bumpsis]

This milage discount is a fairly good idea if it were applied to week day trippers.
I could get tempted to come out, especially if a few inches on natural stuff falls.
But in my case it would have to be a bit more than $ 10. I hate man made snow.
Given the little cover there is, I just won't pay anything close to a regular price to ski on crap.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

I hate man made snow.

Why?

 

[Bumpsis]

Why?

Because it's a low quality experience, yet I'm paying big money for it.

Man made snow ices up really quickly. It compacts into hard whitish ice even with moderate traffic and it's just not fun to ski on, even with sharp edges and good technique.
Turns that otherwise would be graceful arcs end up being series of controled side slips, at best.

Natural snow also has this really nice texture to it, even if it's heavily tracked on. Most of the time the man made stuff just doesn't even come close. Snow makers just want to make cover that sticks and can survive warm spells. So even if temps would allow for more fluffy stuff to be made, they opt for more water content and sticky stuff.

Also, snow makers tend to cover mostly the beginer and intermediate slopes. Most of the interesting terrain, i.e. steeper, twisting trails just don't get the same priority from snow makers, especially in seasons like now. So, the whole experience tends to be rather boring.
I also like to ski bumps. For good quality bumps, you've got to have natural snow. Icy bumps just suck.
Lastly, I've had the fortune of spending a good deal of time on natural snow and man made stuff is just doesn't measure up. If man-made cover is all there is, I just don't bother going, given the averge cost of a lift ticket. It's just not worth it to me.

 

[tcharron]

Because it's a low quality experience, yet I'm paying big money for it.

Man made snow ices up really quickly. It compacts into hard whitish ice even with moderate traffic and it's just not fun to ski on, even with sharp edges and good technique.
Turns that otherwise would be graceful arcs end up being series of controled side slips, at best.

Natural snow also has this really nice texture to it, even if it's heavily tracked on. Most of the time the man made stuff just doesn't even come close. Snow makers just want to make cover that sticks and can survive warm spells. So even if temps would allow for more fluffy stuff to be made, they opt for more water content and sticky stuff.

Also, snow makers tend to cover mostly the beginer and intermediate slopes. Most of the interesting terrain, i.e. steeper, twisting trails just don't get the same priority from snow makers, especially in seasons like now. So, the whole experience tends to be rather boring.
I also like to ski bumps. For good quality bumps, you've got to have natural snow. Icy bumps just suck.
Lastly, I've had the fortune of spending a good deal of time on natural snow and man made stuff is just doesn't measure up. If man-made cover is all there is, I just don't bother going, given the averge cost of a lift ticket. It's just not worth it to me.

While perhaps not as experienced as some here, I have to disagree. I think it depends on where you go. This may be becouse many locations provide manmade snow simply to provide cover, but don't 'do it deep'. I'm really curious to know what others in the forums think.

 

[MarkC]

Well, they can, but they have to operate in 'Break Even at all cost' mode, instead of 'We can still make lots of money this year!' mode.

At many areas this season "Break even at all cost mode" is at this point charging full price for a ticket and doing the snow dance. Two of the major holiday periods that bring in a considerable chunk of an areas annual profits are a total loss.

 

[catskills]

While perhaps not as experienced as some here, I have to disagree. I think it depends on where you go. This may be because many locations provide man made snow simply to provide cover, but don't 'do it deep'. I'm really curious to know what others in the forums think.

I also have to disagree. Natural snow does not hold up to constant wear and tear day after day of heavy traffic. Snow that is man made holds up much better. I have made first tracks in some awesome high quality DRY man made snow. Just beautify stuff. I love Northeast midweek conditions when I know they have made a lot of snow because of very cold temps and making first/second/third tracks in new man made snow.

I definitely have to disagree that man made snow is a low quality experience. Yes I also ski out west and have experience chest deep powder with face shots. Then again I also like skiing in the rain like this last weekend. Right now I am in my office and I have to get back to work. Now that is a low quality experience. :roll:

 

[Greg]

Instead of internet blog bashing and rock throwing, the marketing departments should invent new ticket sale discounts like $10 off for every 100 miles you drive up to a maximum of $40 discount for each person in the car. If you drive all the way from Washington DC to Okemo, then you get the full $40 discount for everyone in the car. Proof of address on drivers license etc would be required. :grin:

Sounds like an administrative nightmare...

 

[catskills]

Sounds like an administrative nightmare...

Greg, probably right but it will keep every busy, they will learn new math skills, and it will keep their mind off how bad the season is. :wink:

 

[Greg]

Greg, probably right but it will keep every busy, they will learn new math skills, and it will keep their mind off how bad the season is. :wink:

Maybe you are on to something... :idea:

 

[billski]

Me thinkz

While perhaps not as experienced as some here, I have to disagree. I think it depends on where you go. This may be becouse many locations provide manmade snow simply to provide cover, but don't 'do it deep'. I'm really curious to know what others in the forums think.

Me thinks that we may not have a choice this season.....

 

[billski]

never ever....

Here's an idea they will NEVER try: pay by the hour or pay by the run....

 

[Greg]

Here's an idea they will NEVER try: pay by the hour or pay by the run....

Again. Administrative nightmares. I like what Jiminy does for their half day ticket - it gets time stamped so you can ski four hours whether you start at 9 am or 2 pm...

 

[reefer]

Hey bumsissy

Because it's a low quality experience, yet I'm paying big money for it.

Man made snow ices up really quickly. It compacts into hard whitish ice even with moderate traffic and it's just not fun to ski on, even with sharp edges and good technique.
Turns that otherwise would be graceful arcs end up being series of controled side slips, at best.

Natural snow also has this really nice texture to it, even if it's heavily tracked on. Most of the time the man made stuff just doesn't even come close. Snow makers just want to make cover that sticks and can survive warm spells. So even if temps would allow for more fluffy stuff to be made, they opt for more water content and sticky stuff.

Also, snow makers tend to cover mostly the beginer and intermediate slopes. Most of the interesting terrain, i.e. steeper, twisting trails just don't get the same priority from snow makers, especially in seasons like now. So, the whole experience tends to be rather boring.
I also like to ski bumps. For good quality bumps, you've got to have natural snow. Icy bumps just suck.
Lastly, I've had the fortune of spending a good deal of time on natural snow and man made stuff is just doesn't measure up. If man-made cover is all there is, I just don't bother going, given the averge cost of a lift ticket. It's just not worth it to me.

your credibility is waning............Try Killington. Blowing snow on double blacks constantly, great soft bumps. Any snow freezes when it warms (and rains) then dips below freezing again. Downdraft at Killington was a "rush" yesterday. I should have stopped to take a picture...................we're all hoping for al' natural, which of course rocks, but c'mon...................We wouldn't be sking this year w/o the mm - but I guess you're not! Get a Vermont Passport (Vermont Ski Area Association - skivermont.com) - $40.00 a ticket!

 

[billski]

bar codes

Again. Administrative nightmares. I like what Jiminy does for their half day ticket - it gets time stamped so you can ski four hours whether you start at 9 am or 2 pm...

with bar code technologies this should not be a problem. (they drive me crazy zapping me every run)

they sell "live" tickets already for larger resorts.

It's more of a revenue issue I suspect.

 

[Bumpsis]

your credibility is waning............Try Killington. Blowing snow on double blacks constantly, great soft bumps. Any snow freezes when it warms (and rains) then dips below freezing again. Downdraft at Killington was a "rush" yesterday. I should have stopped to take a picture...................we're all hoping for al' natural, which of course rocks, but c'mon...................We wouldn't be sking this year w/o the mm - but I guess you're not! Get a Vermont Passport (Vermont Ski Area Association - skivermont.com) - $40.00 a ticket!

My credibilty has nothing to do with the nature of my post. I'm not stating any unsupportable facts just offering an opinion based on my observations and a point of view.
That view draws on about 40 some seasons of skiing in just about all sorts of conditions and in many different environmnets (geographic locations).

I was asked why I don't like man made snow, so I offered an opinion
One fact which I do believe to be accurate is that man made snow, here in NE, under heavy traffic will ice up much faster than natural snow. For the most part, what we ski on here is man made and a lot of time the surface conditions are far less than optimal as compared to natural cover.
Ask any western skier what they think of easteren skiing and I'm sure that the word "icy" will be one of adjectives.

Is is possible to catch a good session on man made? Sure, I have, many times. But for every one of those times I had many more that were just simply crappy.
I'm sure that muti ticket purchase like Vermont Passport make it less expensive per session, that's is not a solution for everyone. Some of us have greater time constrains than others.

I freely admit that anyone's exprience is valid and subjective. You feel what you feel and that's based on your internal reference. What's good for some, maybe crappy for others, but the experience is nontheless valid.
I strongly prefer softer conditions that are usually a result of decent natural cover. As a mostly day skier now, have to pay the "full retail" - which was one of my points.
So if I know that more than likely I'll encouter less than optimal conditions (icy, thin cover, limited trails, etc.), is it worth it for me to come out. In my opinion, no.

But I'm watching the weather just like everybody else here, so I'm sure that I'll catch some conditions that I consider optimal.