Anybody with a brain that they probably asked first likely turned it down. Honestly nobody in their right mind would take on that dumpster fire in NH, which eliminates alot of good GM candidates
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VAIL SUCKS
- Thread starter thebigo
- Start date
MogulMonsters
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From my experience with Greg he was a stand up guy. He seemed to be willing to do whatever it takes (even bumping the Yankee on holiday weekends) to get folks out on the slopes. Will the new GM have any more success with sub market wages, old infrastructure with missing parts, and the fact that everyone hates Vail?
For some reason I don't think that Greg or ANY new GM will be set up for success.
Yea unfortunately. I paid the online price for 3 tickets over President's weekend for myself, wife, and son. Even though I booked way in advance there was no discount to the window price since the tickets were for the Saturday of President's week. We were out there last year for an extended period and we all wanted to ski Deer Valley atleast once so we gave it a shot even though the price was ridiculous.
I ended up skiing there a second day (Friday) because I got tied up at work and didn't get a chance to get out until later in the day. So rather than shuttling over to Park City I just skied right down to the ticket window at Deer Valley instead and got about 2 hours of skiing in. They did give me around $40 or $50 off the window price since I only skied the half day, which is still no bargain.
In any event I believe more people pay the window price than what you think. I picked up my pass at Vail this year and when I was in line I noticed a bunch of people paying the absurd window prices. I work with a guy that's taking has family of 5 out to Beaver Creek for the week and spent around $4500 for the tickets which is crazy to me.
MidnightJester
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At Beaver Creek Its almost $220 a day for anyone "13" and over. OMG WTF. Scary
He got a "discount" because he bought in advance but it was still absurd for 5 days of skiing which doesn't include the flights, rental car, or hotel rooms for a family that size.
The cost of his day tickets versus passes for everyone would have been about the same although they only get to ski 5 days instead now.
My sisters boyfriend always buys day passes and refuses to buy them online ahead of time. I’ve told him multiple times it’s cheaper to buy a pass or get the tickets online early and he’s just like
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jimmywilson69
Well-known member
That guy has way too much money then...
Definitely doesn’t have a lot of money thats why its even more mind boggling to me.
FBGM
Well-known member
Good thing I identify as a 12 year old
Non gender human. Try to question me
on that and risk a law suite
So a law "suite" is likely the office where the lawyer works. A "lawsuit" is what said lawyer files.
A comparable thing would be someone who buys Phish tickets last minute off a scalping agency.
Fuck, I hope I'm not giving Rob Katz an idea. Scalped lift tickets.
xlr8r
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Looks like Tim Kelley flew out to Utah to ski at Park City. But can't ski because Vail has not lifted his pass restriction when they said they would.
Yeah they generally don't like that
As seen last weekend at Deer Valley (so much for that whole "old fashioned" hospitality thing):
So Epic.
I would expect (and hope?) that most companies don't want anyone stealing from them.
Absolutely. That said, there is a more dignified way to do it. Deer Valley always had lifties hand check tickets to deter theft. They did it in a friendly way ("good morning, how are you? I need to punch your ticket. Thanks!") A "punched" ticket signalled to later lifties that a human had verified the ticket and no further checking was needed. Though it may seem old school, the experience, and hospitality, were essential parts of their brand. Anyone who has been to Costco sees that they do EXACTLY the same process at the exit for the same reason--theft deterrance (obviously) but more emphasis on one last human connection to make a positive impression before the customer leaves the store.
It's sad that Alterra's immediate thought goes to scaring away anyone who might think of stealing in a very blunt way. Again, it's not the normal Deer Valley way of doing things, but that all died in 2018 I guess. Now Alterra charges a premium for the experience that largely no longer exists.
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I agree that's an odd way to do it, however, does Alterra have that same sign at other resorts? If no, then why do you think it is an Alterra decision and not some local management decision? (I can only speak to Sugarbush and they have no such signs there, so at least so far I'd say it isn't some corporate-wide directive to do at all their resorts).
As for "punching" a ticket, I'm not sure I really understand how that proves no further checking is required later in the day. What if someone somehow transferred the ticket mid-day? (if it is a friend/family member, you could even loan your jacket to them if the ticket itself isn't easy to transfer from jacket to jacket somehow).
You're missing the bigger point--the hospitality that Mr. Stern made paramount for Deer Valley. His family ran nice hotels. He was the first to bring elements of a fine hotel to a ski area. Now it's all gone. There is no more "local" management because the long-time CEO (Bob Wheaton) retired and actually is now working with Stern's kids to open their own high-end resort. A lot of other senior staff either retired or left. The longtime VP for development was "let go" just two months ago in the middle of DVR applying to build a huge hotel expansion. Additionally, the Alterra-picked CEO "left" the position right before the season. The guy running it now is one of Rusty's bros from Mammoth. So yes--all signs indicate that the signage, and other decisions, are indeed directed by Alterra.
Additionally, the rate of theft you mention is pretty small. Especially considering the number of employee interactions with people at various points. Of course I imagine that SOME people, relatively very few, would be crafty and motivated enough to switch tickets off-premesis. But MOST of DV's clientele were OLDER and wealthier folks (old money). That crowd doesn't steal services.
I'm not really missing the point. I get it. I just don't see a point in blaming "Alterra" without knowing the actual reasoning/justification behind putting up the sign. For all we know, maybe someone tried to sue them for having cameras and invading their privacy or some nonsense so they were forced to put up the sign to explain the cameras. I'm just not big into jumping to blame a particular person/entity without knowing more details about the decision itself and who actually made it and why.
I edited my post. Re-read it, re: who is in control. My point is the overall change in the Deer Valley experience.
