Ski Resorts Forecast A Turnaround This Year As Skiers Perceive Economic Improvements

Bloomberg reported Monday that ski resorts across the country are confident that business will improve this season over last year, as skiers see the economy as improving. Hayley Wolff, and analyst at Rochdale Research was high on Vail Resorts:

Vail forecast in September that earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from its mountain operations and its lodging component would climb as much as 9.9 percent to $188 million for fiscal year 2010, ending July 31, from the prior year. Wolff rates Broomfield, Colorado-based Vail Resorts, which has climbed 38 percent this year, "buy."

Resorts throughout the state have offered special deals this season in order to lure locals and tourists to the slopes. Vail spokesman Andy Katz told the Denver Post on October 4 that the industry would be pulling out all the stops this season:

"We're in a difficult business right now, and we need to engage our guests in every way we can," Katz said. "Anybody who thinks improving the hamburger will save us from a down economy, well . . . But it sends a signal about what we're trying to do."

Below, see some of the best--and strangest--ski deals being offered by Colorado resorts this year:

• • • • • • • Want to live in Aspen for a year... free? An Aspen marketing firm, Qittle, is starting a raffle on January 1st for a year in a downtown condo complete with ski pass and bar tab. Other potential perks include a membership at the Caribou Club, tickets to local events, a ski or snowboard set-up and a grocery stipend.

Comments

[sikskifreak]

things have turned around a bit due to great deals across colorado I personally love winter park, co I got my tickets from http://www.winterpark.travel/planning/flights-to-winter-park.htm
and cant wait to hit the slopes!

[Ed and Deb Shapiro - Huffpost Blogger]

I just want to skiiiiiiiiii

skiiiiiiii

ski

as many days as I can

blessed are the ski slopes as they are the best place to have a heck of a good time.

Who else loves to ski?

who agrees?

Ed

[tapeatsbill]

Love love love it too. Maybe see you in Telluride???

BB

[mjeffn]

Absolutely. I'll be teaching in T-ride part-time and skiing the rest at Purg and Wolf Creek. It's gonna be a great season. The best winter of my life.

[TazoWolf]

Blergh. Crested Butte USED to offer FREE early season skiing... WITHOUT purchase of lodging. You just had to get your butt to the Butte.

Good ski forecast, though. Whopper of a storm hitting Tuesday-Thursday.

[wadenelson1]

The ski industry in Colorado is being destroyed by corporate bean counters.

Consider Purgatory, now called "Durango Mountain Resort."

They have a ski program for the disabled. It has traditionally been staffed by enthusiastic volunteers. Locals.

The deal was always "For every day you spend helping a disabled kid, or adult, ski, or learn to ski, you get a day of free skiing in return."

This year the accountants decided...­"Oh, we're giving away too much free skiing. Volunteers NOW only get a 40% off coupon."

It always USED to be that there would be 3 lifties for every 2 jobs. They'd swap out working and skiing all day long. It was one of the perqs of the low-paying job.

Now the resorts only have one person per position. Many of them are foreign workers, brought in on visas, living 6 to a room in "dormitory style" housing. They know better than to ever complain.

Students and locals aren't stupid enough to accept low wages at a job that requires a 45-1:15 commute on snowy roads each way, huge expenditures for gear and clothing, and lousy working conditions.

They can work in a restaurant in town for 2/3 the wages and net more money. Or clean rooms.

The ski industry is being gutted by the same greed that has destroyed the rest of America.

[InYourWorld]

if that is true it's a shame. Purg had a very well respected adaptive sports program. This afforded many people a way to get a few days of skiing and helping people. The people that live the lifestyle and are the best skiers often cant afford a $45 ticket, ecspecially to less than stellar resort. Shame on DMR. I'd imagine all the employees in their new real estate department need jobs though....

[wadenelson1]

$45 tickets went away a long time ago.

[mjeffn]

Before college I spent a year living and working in Vail during the 1972-74 season. Nothing has changed. I lived in Avon which was two trailer courts and a country store 30 minutes from downtown, in a two bedroom trailer with six other guys. The rent them was something $500 per month. My first job was working part-time at Mid-Vail incinerating trash in a burner that was right next to the restaurant. (yes, we did that back in the day) The job paid $1.15/hr plus a ski pass. I then got a job at the Deli at Vail right downtown working for Otto. (That guy was nuts) Then a job busing tables at a restaurant in Lions Head for $1.25/hr plus 15% of whatever the waitress said her tips were. (Usually nothing) Then I hit gold in the spring and copped a gig on trail crew. That rocked. Great people to work (ski) with and everyday was fun.

Vail was owned by Vail Associates back then. We were peons, knew it, and could have cared less so long as we were skiing. That is what we were there to do. That year was a very heavy snow year and some of the best days of my life.

Don't be a skier, biker, climber, etc. and come live in Durango not expecting a little sacrifice in exchange for daily access to whatever it is that brought you here.

[tompoe]

One more corporate media attempt to bamboozle folks into spending money they don't have. You'd think these jerks would realize, any money is found in a handful of Wall Street bankers, and stop trying to write to the masses.