Industry News
Also new for the 2020-21 season: Exclusive 20 Percent Discounts for Pass Holders with the launch of “Epic Mountain Rewards”
Today Vail Resorts announced two new pass products designed for skiers and riders on the East Coast looking for incredible access in the region at an unmatched value.
The Northeast Value Pass, priced at $599 for adults and $419 for college students, provides guests with unlimited, restricted access to Okemo, Mount Snow and Hunter, 10 restricted days at Stowe, plus unlimited, unrestricted access to Wildcat, Attitash, Mount Sunapee, Crotched, Liberty, Whitetail, Roundtop and more. The Northeast Midweek Pass, priced at $449, offers guests similar access but restricted to Monday through Friday, and five restricted midweek days at Stowe.
“With eight resorts in the Northeast and more in the Mid-Atlantic now in our portfolio, we’re excited to offer skiers and riders on the East Coast two new pass products to help them achieve their skiing and riding goals,” said Doug Pierini, chief operating officer of Vail Resorts’ eastern region. “Between these two new products and our renowned Epic Pass products, skiers and riders can find the best value whether they plan to ski one day or every day – in the region or around the world.”
With the introduction of the Northeast Value Pass and the Northeast Midweek Pass, the Company will no longer offer the Explorer, Drifter, Ranger, Traveler or Scout passes previously offered by Peak Resorts.
For guests looking for unlimited, unrestricted access across the former Peak Resorts ski areas, the Epic Local Pass, priced at $729 for adults and $659 for college students, offers an incredible value and includes additional access to all of the Company’s owned and operated North American resorts. The Epic Local Pass offers unlimited, unrestricted access to Okemo, Mount Sunapee, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Crested Butte; unlimited, holiday-restricted access to Stowe, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood; and continues to provide ten combined days of holiday-restricted access to our world-class destinations of Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, and Beaver Creek, at no additional charge, plus additional partner access.
Launching at $979 for the 2020-21 winter season, the Epic Pass provides the best value with unlimited, unrestricted access to all 37 of the Company’s owned and operated resorts plus additional partner access at Telluride, Snowbasin, Sun Valley, Courchevel, Fernie, Kicking Horse, Hakuba Valley, Japan and more.
For guests looking for an incredible deal for their children, the Company provides child and teen pricing across a variety of pass products, including the $49 Northeast Tot Pass (ages 5 & 6), and a complimentary Epic Pass for children age four and under who are signed-up ahead of the season.
INTRODUCING EPIC MOUNTAIN REWARDS
When skiers and riders hit the slopes next season with any of the pass products listed above, the savings will continue all season long. Today, Vail Resorts introduced ‘Epic Mountain Rewards,’ which gives pass holders a discount of 20 percent off food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals and more at the Company’s North American owned and operated resorts.
Epic Mountain Rewards is available for everyone who purchases an Epic Pass, Epic Local Pass, Epic Day Pass, Epic Military Pass, Northeast Value Pass, Northeast Midweek Pass and most of the Company’s other pass products – regardless of whether guests plan to ski one day or every day of the season. The Epic Mountain Reward discounts go into effect for the 2020-21 season.
“Last year, we changed the definition of a season pass by launching the Epic Day Pass and giving all skiers and riders the same value and flexibility – even if they only plan to ski or ride one day. Today, we are transforming the breadth of value offered with a pass by providing our pass holders truly epic discounts on their mountain experience,” said Kirsten Lynch, chief marketing officer of Vail Resorts.
With no sign-up, no point tracking and no blackout dates, Epic Mountain Rewards is designed to be as simple as possible. Pass holders get the 20 percent discounts by simply presenting their pass at the register or logging into their account for online reservations. In addition to the significant discount already offered by purchasing a pass product, a family of four will now be able to save hundreds of dollars per day in food and beverage, lodging, group ski and ride school lessons, equipment rentals, and select mountain activities.
“No other major pass product provides this level of across-the-board savings for skiers and riders – it is completely unique, even across the travel industry,” Lynch continued. “I’m especially excited about the simplicity of Epic Mountain Rewards – which requires no points, no requirements – just one of our pass products and, of course, a passion to have an Experience of a Lifetime at one of our resorts.”
Epic Mountain Rewards also includes 20 percent off Epic Mountain Express transportation in Colorado, Guided Cat Skiing Tours in Keystone and Heli-Skiing packages in Whistler Blackcomb. More details on Epic Mountain Rewards are in the details section of this release or online at www.epicmountainrewards.com.
BUT WAIT…THERE’S MORE
Back for its second season, the Epic Day Pass is a customizable pass for skiers and riders who may not need the unlimited access offered by a traditional season pass. For as low as $93 for a day of skiing or riding at world-class destinations like Vail, Whistler Blackcomb, Park City, and Breckenridge, guests can create their own pass by selecting the number of days they plan to ski or ride – from one day to seven days – and whether or not to add holiday access. Guests can use their Epic Day Pass at any of the Company’s North American owned and operated resorts and have the flexibility to choose where, when and how frequently they want to ski or ride closer to their travel dates. Now the occasional skier and rider will be able to save hundreds of dollars per day by saving up to 50 percent off lift ticket window prices and 20 percent off other mountain experiences with Epic Mountain Rewards.
Returning for the third year, the Military Epic Pass program honors the epic service of the Company’s founders from the 10th Mountain Division, and men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces, Canadian Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force. With a significant discount from the Epic Pass, the 2020-21 Military Epic Pass provides an incredible value for service members and their families to enjoy unlimited, unrestricted skiing at the Company’s owned and operated resorts for $169.
Through the Turn In Your Ticket program, guests who purchase a lift ticket between March 3, 2020, and the end of the 2019-20 ski season can apply the value of a single day ticket toward the price of an eligible 2020-21 pass product, including an Epic Day Pass with four or more days. This program applies to new pass holders who did not purchase a 2019-20 season pass product.
Those who purchase the Epic Pass or Epic Local Pass this spring can pay just $49 down and the remainder in September. They will also get ten Buddy Tickets and six Ski With a Friend Tickets. For additional convenience and flexibility, Buddy Tickets and Ski With a Friend Tickets can now be redeemed online, making it easier than ever to enjoy the mountains with family and friends.
