tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post6839089476721617150..comments2023-10-11T12:55:33.400-04:00Comments on A Family Skiing in Maine: The Holiday Week Pricing vs. Terrain Open DebateMichael Salisburyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12060209580250854814noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-42331520500147714232011-12-27T12:41:34.151-05:002011-12-27T12:41:34.151-05:00Thanks for the year correction @Steve. I agree the...Thanks for the year correction @Steve. I agree there is a lot more to the resort revenue model than day of walk up sales. I imagine discounting lift tickets will make the people that bought lodging packages grumpy particularly if walk-ups are paying less than what they did. But that can be remedied with food discounts or discount coupons for future visits I would think. Walk-up sales has to be a pretty good chunk of revenue however - particularly on the mountains with no or limited on-mountain lodging.<br /><br />Another factor is beginners and intermediates won't ski the whole mountain anyway - but they typically pay full price if they want access to all the lifts when the mountain is fully open.<br /><br />I find @Anonymous comments interesting. "We NEEDED to ski and they NEED the revenue this week." Very Loyal Skier! Sunday River does put out a very good early-season product so they can get this type of loyalty out of their patrons.<br /><br />A lot of factors in play. The best answer is for Winter to show up! <br /><br />Thanks for all the comments everyone. Please keep them coming!Michael Salisburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12060209580250854814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-27854464379231962582011-12-27T11:31:35.122-05:002011-12-27T11:31:35.122-05:00Sunday River seemed kind of quiet yesterday. A bar...Sunday River seemed kind of quiet yesterday. A bar employee stated that it was a big arrival day and that they were fully booked for lodging. We never waited in line at the lifts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-68445664463068989752011-12-27T11:25:03.849-05:002011-12-27T11:25:03.849-05:00I'm glad to have a season pass at Sunday River...I'm glad to have a season pass at Sunday River. Although we were blacked out(Silver Pass) yesterday we drove up Sunday night and procceeded to pay the $80 and left satisfied that we got our moneys worth as their conditions were great for the challenges they've endured. Most people are only going to get maybe 20 runs in so 47 open trails was plenty. Fact is we NEEDED to ski and they NEED the revenue this week. Good luck to all of the areas going forward! We love Saddleback as well and can't wait till they get the Kennebago spining!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-32022482071234991372011-12-27T11:20:24.860-05:002011-12-27T11:20:24.860-05:00One more thought is that most families up for the ...One more thought is that most families up for the holiday week are not paying walk up window rate. They get their tickets included with lodging. So the walk up rate is for the desperate and day trippers, not the vacation crowd. The reasoning obviously is high demand justifies a high price. But from what I saw at Cannon yesterday, there is definitely NOT a high demand this week.Stevehttp://www.thesnowway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-35546196755061804592011-12-27T11:18:33.052-05:002011-12-27T11:18:33.052-05:00Good post. I think being charged 100% holiday rate...Good post. I think being charged 100% holiday rate for minimal terrain could be bad for long term repeat business. It will leave a bad taste. 10% off seems more than reasonable and at least shows the resort acknowledges the challenges. No one is expecting 100% open for Christmas week. but less than 20% open at the Loaf for holiday rate is pretty rough.<br /><br />Ski areas do have less expense with less terrain open. Less fuel and labor cost on groomers, less electric and labor cost on lifts not running, less labor cost overall because fewer guests show up so the mountain needs less staffing, etc. But obviously most costs are somewhat fixed for this week.<br /><br />It was 06-07 that was the last to start this way. 07-08 started quite good with a very snowy December.Stevehttp://www.thesnowway.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-656530931650946560.post-25066473476007012942011-12-27T10:47:55.496-05:002011-12-27T10:47:55.496-05:00I am glad I have a season-pass at Saddleback. It t...I am glad I have a season-pass at Saddleback. It totally changes your mindset. If you ski 1/2 day on limited terrain, you feel like it is worth it. When you pay full lift ticket prices for limited terrain, you feel like it is not worth it. It is interesting the psychology of this as it is still money in the end.<br /><br />That's our mindset too.Patriciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03612536168859294246noreply@blogger.com