Vail Resorts, Inc. reported  retail/rental revenue for resort store locations was up 3.8 percent for the comparative periods from the beginning of the ski season through April 19, 2015, and for the prior year period through April 20, 2014, adjusted as if Park City was owned in both periods. 

The estimate, along with other ski season metrics Vail Resorts released April 24, do not incorporate the urban ski areas of Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton.  The data mentioned in this release is interim period data and subject to fiscal quarter end review and adjustment.

Other metrics include:

  • Season-to-date total lift revenue at the Company's nine mountain resorts, including an allocated portion of season pass revenue for each applicable period, was up approximately 8.5 percent compared to the prior year season-to-date period.  
  • Season-to-date ancillary spending outpaced skier visitation, with ski school revenue up 3.4 percent and dining revenue up 3.3 percent at the Company's nine mountain resorts compared to the prior year season-to-date period.
  • Season-to-date total skier visits for the Company's nine mountain resorts were down 2.8 percent compared to the prior year season-to-date period.  

“We are very pleased with our results as the 2014/2015 ski season comes to its conclusion,” said Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer, said,. “This was a challenging year, with snowfall in Tahoe at record lows and Utah experiencing abnormally warm and dry conditions this spring.  However, we were able to overcome these challenges through the strength of our season pass program and data-driven marketing efforts, by providing a comprehensive world-class destination experience, by attracting high-income guests from around the world, and through growth in our ski school, dining and retail businesses. 

“Our lift revenue growth of 8.5 percent significantly outpaced visitation as a result of the benefit of our season pass program that secured significant revenue in advance of the season and mitigated the volatility of results and by expanding yields through increasingly sophisticated pricing, promotion and distribution strategies. We remain comfortable with the latest guidance we issued March 12, 2015, though we are likely to finish the year in the lower half of the range, given the further deterioration in conditions we faced this spring in Utah and Tahoe.”

Discussing spring season pass sales results, Katz continued, “We are already hard at work on fiscal 2016 with spring season pass sales underway for the 2015/2016 ski season, which will conclude on May 25, 2015.  The breadth of our season pass collection, led by the Epic Pass and Epic Local Pass, remain the most compelling value for skiers and riders in the United States and from around the world.  To date, we have seen strong overall results with significant continued growth in sales to our destination markets and good momentum in Colorado and Utah, offsetting some expected declines in Tahoe.”

The table below highlights our season-to-date metrics compared to the prior year.

Season-to-Date Ski Season Metrics (1)

(% Change from Prior Year Period)



Season-to-Date


4/19/15 vs. 4/20/14

Total Lift Revenue

8.5%

Ski School Revenue

3.4%

Resort Retail/Rental Revenue

3.8%

Dining Revenue

3.3%

Total Skier Visits

(2.8%)


(1) Adjusted as if Park City was owned in both periods and excludes Afton Alps and Mt. Brighton from both periods.