Booth Creek Ski Holdings, the parent company to Norhtstar, Sierra at Tahoe, Waterville Valley, Mt. Cranmore, and Loon Mountain saw revenues decline and expenses increase during the company’s fiscal fourth quarter, which ended on October 29. The ski resort company’s 2004 fiscal year painted a much more positive picture, with higher revenues, more skier visits, and more operating income in the resort segment.

Booth Creek’s fourth quarter is an off-peak period. Resort operations revenues were $4.3 million for the fourth quarter, a decrease of 4.5% compared with $4.4 million for 2003. The company cut its operating loss for the resort segment by 1.0% to $10.8 million compared to an operating loss of $11.4 million for the corresponding period in 2003.

During Fiscal 2004, Booth Creek saw several improvements to infrastructure and expense control. As a result, the company reported total resort revenues increased 0.4% or $414,000 over last year. Operating income for the resort segment for the fiscal year was $5.4 million, an increase of 14.9% compared to $4.7 million in 2003.

Skier visits for fiscal 2004 increased by 28,000 visits, or 1% over fiscal 2003. Season passes revenues rose 12% to $22.0 million. The company said that improved snow school and retail sales partially offset the impact of reduced lift ticket sales. The company generated $53.19 in revenue per skier visit this year compared to $53.74 last year.