Vail Resorts has released its batch of discounted ski passes for 2022-2023 after attracting more than 2 million skiers with discounted tickets last year.
The Epic Pass went on sale today and offers skiers and snowboarders up to 20 percent off tickets for next year’s season.
The $841 season pass gives skiers and snowboarders access to 40 resorts in North America, Canada and Australia, including Vail, Whistler, Breckenridge and Park City. It also offers limited access to Telluride, Colorado. The $626 Epic Local Pass offers access to several resorts in North America. Travelers can also choose passes for the number of days they want to ski or ski.
The Epic 2-Day Pass is $86 to $183 per resort, while the 4-day Pass is $162 to $347. Vail Resorts released tickets on Monday.
They will be effective from autumn 2022. This year, skiers and racers can also pay for their passes in installments, making them even more affordable.
While the discounts are good news for travelers and those looking to hit a few resorts in the new season, locals in cities like Vail didn’t accept them last year when many complained they led to crowds and long queues for the lifts.
This year, Vail Resorts has pledged 21 new high-speed lifts across 14 resorts, as well as additional runs to ease congestion.
Vail Resorts was inundated last year with complaints from local residents about long waiting times for elevators. The company says it will add 21 new high-speed lifts at 14 busy resorts to ease congestion.
In the 2021-2022 season, more than 2 million people sold tickets, which is a record for the resort group.
This year, Vail Resorts is adding 21 new high-speed lifts at 14 of its busiest resorts to reduce crowds.
Among them are two new high speed ski lifts in Vail, two in Park City, two in Whistler Blackcomb and two in Keystone, Colorado.
The group says it is also starting to invest $175 million a year in its employees’ salaries, housing and more. Vail Resorts will also invest $300 million to improve its resorts.
“We will not waver in our commitment to continually reinvest in skiing and skiing with the goal of creating the experience of a lifetime for our season pass holders.
“We are making a bold investment to have a fully staffed team of dedicated and passionate employees and are adding 21 new lifts at our 14 resorts to help skiers and riders get up and around mountains faster and easier.
This year, Vail Resorts says it’s investing $300 million to improve resorts so they’re better equipped to handle next season’s influx of tourists.
Improvements include several new chairlifts and high-speed gondolas at some of the busiest resorts like Vail.
In Keystone, Colorado, 16 new trails are being created to help reduce elevator wait times and give people more room on the slopes.
The company is adding two new chairlifts to Park City, one of its most popular resorts, to reduce wait times.
Discounted tickets bring prices down from $1,000 per season for unlimited access to all resorts to $841. Travelers can now also choose to pay over time.
“We are committed to delivering amazing value and experience to our pass holders,” said Ryan Bennett, director of marketing for Vail Resorts.
At Whistler Blackcomb, the resort is upgrading the 6-person Creekside Gondola to a 10-person high-speed gondola, which will “significantly reduce wait times, and replace the Big Red Express with a 6-person speed chair to increase uphill travel. capacity by almost 30%,” they say.
Last year, locals complained about the sudden influx of tourists, which meant longer lift queues, busier slopes and difficulty booking restaurants in towns.
At the time, Vail’s head of communications said the problem was exacerbated by the fact that warmer-than-usual conditions had resulted in reduced uptime hours.
“The first months of this skiing and cycling season have been challenging for a variety of reasons and I am proud of the great work of all our teams in responding quickly to the improvements in our resorts,” she said.
“Our goal is always to provide our guests with an amazing experience and I’m sure we’re in for a great season,” said CEO Kirsten Lynch.
Last year’s increase in sales led to a 76 percent increase in the company’s sales compared to pass sales in 2019-2020 and a 30 percent increase in profits from fiscal 2020-2021.
This season, Vail Resorts paid all of its employees a $2 an hour bonus, but wages still remain uncompetitive compared to local retail and fast food outlets. Pictured: Vail, Colorado, March 2018.