BeastPatroller;c-70494 wrote
... Why are more Vail owned ski resort employees forming unions if Vail is treating them so good? Why did the number of season pass sales drop for the last 2 yrs.? Why does it cost more to ski at a Vail owned resort then in the past or at other non Vail owned areas? And, why are more skiers & riders moving to the Indy Pass along with the recent resurgent's of skiing independent mountains over corporate mountains?
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"Why are more Vail owned ski resort employees forming unions if Vail is treating them so good?"
This one is mostly on the Patrollers. I spoke to several managers from various NH and VT areas who were forced to scab last winter. I am not at liberty to share their stories. They were told to me in confidence, but management's problem with the Park City Patrollers goes back many years.
"Why did the number of season pass sales drop for the last 2 yrs.?"
Because the crowds caused by the cheap passes were unbearable. It is a supply and demand situation. Vail's Corporate revenues continue to increase despite decreasing pass sales. Most businesses are happy to have too many customers and expand operations to accommodate demand! Finding mountains to expand operations isn't as easy as finding a new retail location.
"Why does it cost more to ski at a Vail owned resort then in the past or at other non Vail owned areas?"
Again, supply and demand. Vail has decided that 'amusement park pricing' is the way to go. This year, Vail reported that over-the-counter sales were more important to their bottom line than they first thought and they are making adjustments to day-ticket prices. It will likely take a few seasons to work out the supply/demand numbers.
"And, why are more skiers & riders moving to the Indy Pass along with the recent resurgent's of skiing independent mountains over corporate mountains? "
This is too obvious: They don't like the crowds at the corporate areas, and they don't ski enough to justify the season pass.
There are many, like me, who are happy to ski smaller mountains day-after-day; who recognize that no two turns are the same; no repeated runs are exactly the same; no two pairs of different brand skis ski the same, etc.
Vail is not losing money. However, stockholders feel that profit margins could be greater which depresses the price of the stock.
