Industry News
Big Sky Resort announced today it will be moving to RFID tickets for the 2019-2020 season and beyond. This is just another item on the long list of improvements and upgrades the resort is investing in as part of their Big Sky 2025 initiative.
Big Sky, Mont. (August 22, 2019) – Gone are the days of paper tickets, removing gloves, and fumbling with lanyards to present a ticket or pass to load the chairlifts at Big Sky. This summer, Big Sky Resort will install Axess smart gates equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology at select lifts that serve as access points to the mountain. RFID allows a ticket or season pass to be scanned from inside a pocket, keeping hands warm and ski days smooth.
Starting in the 2019-2020 ski season, all winter lift tickets and season pass products will be loaded on to a Sky Card equipped with RFID technology. RFID gates will be installed at select access lifts that will automatically open with active media.
“RFID technology allows for a guest-friendly lift ticket and season pass process, making it easier than ever to load lifts and add additional days to your pass without visiting the ticket window,” says Troy Nedved, vice president of mountain services, Big Sky Resort.
All Sky Card media will be electronically reloadable for added guest convenience. Once guests have a Sky Card, days can be reloaded online, eliminating the need to visit the ticket window to update passes or lift tickets.
Rumor among the locals is that the move to RFID tickets is to combat the backlash over the Ikon Pass by making them less visible. In reality, this is just another great technology upgrade by the resort, sure to do nothing but make the ski day more enjoyable.
Which “locals” did you talk to about this “rumor” I wonder? Have you ever been to Big Sky, Mr. Lavery?
I would suspect the motivation is to reduce the cost of staff scanning tickets, though this means a less personal experience at the mountain’s base.