Vail Resorts said today that despite unseasonably dry weather affecting its operations, it is pleased with the ski season so far.
“We have had some very unusual weather so far this season,” said Rob Katz, Vail Resorts chief executive officer.
“For the first time in 30 years, a lack of snow has not allowed us to open the back bowls in Vail as of Jan. 6, 2012 and, for the first time since the late 1800s, it did not snow in Tahoe in December”, said Katz.
Katz said that despite these conditions, the company was very pleased that season-to-date the total life ticket revenue was up 0.6 percent, and ski school revenue increased 0.9 percent compared to the prior year when record snowfall was reported across the company’s resorts.
However, the company said of lack heavy snow has seen season-to-date total skier visits at the company’s six mountain resort properties down approximately 15.3 percent through Jan. 2, 2012, compared to the prior year season-to-date period ended Jan. 3, 2011, including lower utilization by season pass holders.
Fiscal year to-date retail/rental revenue, which includes preseason ski sale events, was down 0.7 percent through Jan. 2, 2012, compared to the same period last year.
Season to date revenue for ski school was up 0.9 percent while dining was down 5.6 percent due to limited access to certain on-mountain dining facilities, through Jan. 2, 2012, compared to the prior year season-to-date period ended Jan. 3, 2011.
Season-to-date total lift ticket revenue at the company’s six mountain resort properties, and including an allocated portion of season pass revenue, was up approximately 0.6 percent through Jan. 2, 2012, compared to the prior year season-to-date period ended Jan. 3, 2011.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
