One, Does Not Make A Trend
March 5th, 2009Posted in Skiing Everywhere
March 2, 2009: KILLINGTON, Vermont — Vermont’s Killington Resort, the largest ski and snowboard resort in the East, today announces lower 2009-10 Unlimited season pass prices and an extended season operating schedule.
So read the headline at AlpineZone.Com a couple of days ago. Is the recession going to bring relief from rising skiing prices to skiers? Killington’s action will redoubtably put downward pressure on the season pass prices offered by other resorts in the East next year. If this becomes a trend in the East, I’d imagine resorts in the West might feel compelled to follow suit rather than risk losing goodwill from their passholders who will know their skier brethren in the East are enjoying relief they aren’t getting.
Judging by the number of businesses I see closing here in the Teton Valley, and the numbers I have read about closing in other resort areas, season pass sales might be in trouble next year if resorts don’t respond to a changing world. If giant Killington is concerned, managers across the country surely are too. No one wants to see resort profits disappear, but season pass holders are an important customers resort need to court. Lose their loyalty and revenues will be in trouble. If this year’s passholders see discounts galore being offered to day skiers while they still end up paying the same prices, I don’t know how that will sit with them and affect their readiness to spring for passes next year.
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