November 2009 Update

Price comparisons were done using the Adult, all day, all area, full price window Holiday rate.  This rate is the only one which is widely accessible and comparable.  Using this rate as a barometer one can then make reasonable assumptions about other rate increases at a specific resort.  Besides, it’s always fun to beat up resorts after the price shock and awe sets in.

While multi-day tickets offer some break, it’s not as significant as you might think.  Vail’s window rate of 97 goes down to 89 per day for a 3-day ticket.  Steamboat does not reduce prices at all.  An 89 Stowe ticket reduces to 83 for three days.  A Sugarbush 82 reduces to 75 for three days.  This represents a 9% price break in all three examples.   Better discounts exist when lodging is combined with tickets.  No comparison is done in that space as lodging quality and availability varies too widely for a ready comparison.

Most Expensive – West

Most Expensive – East

Price Increases

One-third of all resorts nationally increased prices while one-half of all northeast resorts raised prices.  Insufficient data for Western resorts.  All other resorts held ticket prices at last season’s rate.

While some eastern area that increased prices did so either to address market inequities, others such as Stratton and Sugarbush leave one to speculate that they believe their customer base is unaffected by the economy.  Resorts in general have fewer cash reserves in order to ride out the downswing, which may explain increases by some of the second-tier players.

Many resorts that may have increased prices in the belief that their customers are somewhat resistant to price increases.  The old “skiing is a lifestyle” philosophy will be well-tested this season.   Unemployment and salary reductions have affected all levels of the workforce.  Prolonged periods of unemployment have consumed severance benefits and much of the individual savings.  Investments remain depressed from year-ago highs.  It will be interesting to see how season pass sales hold up, since last season passes were committed to before the economy tanked.   Interestingly, cost containment was king at most resorts, with very few new development projects underway.  Labor costs, the largest single budget item at ski resorts remained flat, as did that of most trade goods and consumables.