Industry News
On Wednesday, January 15, Vail Resorts announced credits for guests who skied or snowboarded at Park City Mountain, Utah, with a pass or lift ticket during the patrol strike. Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association (PCPSPA) went on strike from December 27 to January 8, resulting in limited terrain opening during the peak holiday season.
“We deeply value the trust and loyalty of our guests, and while Park City Mountain was open during the patrol strike, it was not the experience we wanted to provide. We have heard our guests’ feedback and are providing credits to those who skied and snowboarded at Park City Mountain during that time. We are committed to rebuilding the trust and loyalty of our guests by delivering an exceptional experience at Park City Mountain this season and in the future.”
— Deirdra Walsh, COO Park City Mountain
In an email sent to pass holders, Park City Mountain COO Deirdra Walsh issued an apology and compensation to its pass holders following the recent ski patrol strike. In her email, Walsh expressed regret for the situation, acknowledging the frustration it caused while affirming the resort’s commitment to improving guest satisfaction. To address the impact, Park City Mountain will provide pass holders with a 50% credit for each day skied or snowboarded during the affected period. The credits can be applied toward the purchase of a 2025-26 pass of equal or greater value to their current 2024-25 pass. Season pass credits will be based on an eight-day calculation, while Epic Day Pass credits will reflect the number of days purchased.
- Related: [UPDATED] Vail Resorts and Park City Professional Ski Patrol Association Reach Tentative Agreement
The resort assured that all pass holders will receive a minimum credit equal to 25% of their 2024-25 pass purchase price. The credit amounts will be tailored to individual pass holders based on their product type, pass price, and days skied during the strike. Unused days on 2024-25 passes or Epic Day Passes will remain valid for the remainder of the current season. Pass holders can expect to receive a personalized email in March detailing their specific credit and promotion code. Walsh emphasized the resort’s dedication to delivering the high-quality experiences guests expect, stating, “Our hope is that these customized credits demonstrate our commitment to you as a valued pass holder.”
Lift ticket guests received a similar email with the following details regarding their credit: “ To address your experience on the mountain, we are providing a 50% credit of the price paid for each day of lift tickets you used to ski or snowboard at Park City Mountain between December 27, 2024, and January 8, 2025, to apply toward the purchase of a 2025-26 pass product (full season pass or Epic Day Pass) of equal or greater value to your credit amount.”
If pass holders and/or visitors to Park City Mountain have any questions, they can visit a special Frequently Asked Questions section regarding the refunds.
To the people who traveled to Park City for a ski holiday the price you are crediting is minuscule to the total amount that people paid for lodging accommodation. The ski holiday was meant to be skiing not sitting all day or most of the day in a hotel room. Many people rented ski/snowboard equipment for the week, many people had ski lesson scheduled. Many people were full of disappointment. The strike could have been avoided if Vail Resort would have negotiated in good faith. It was another Vail Fail.