Ann Gallery, president, High View Communications & May Lilley, international communications manager, Vail Resorts Management Company

Representing Heavenly Mountain Resort, Northstar California, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone Resort, RockResorts and Vail, the company recently completed its acquisition of Kirkwood Mountain Resorts at Lake Tahoe California. 

In addition to the growing number of resorts in its portfolio, Vail Resorts has also launched a new partnership that will provide more value for one of its most popular products: the Epic Season Pass.

“Our biggest news of the fall was our recent partnership with Verbier in Switzerland,” said Lilley.

The partnership between Vail Resorts and Verbier now allows for all Epic Season Pass holders to gain three days of free access to the Verbier ski resorts in addition to the unrestricted skiing and riding at the eight U.S. resorts already available to Epic Season Pass holders.

“It really is the best value pass in the industry,” said Lilley adding that the pass is “hugely popular with Canadians” and can be purchased online at epicpass.com.

Vail Resorts Continues To Invest 

“Vail Resorts is the leading U.S. mountain operator and we’re aiming to be the biggest in the world, and we’re well on the way,” said Lilley.  

Despite the recession, the company has continued to invest in its product. This coming year will see Vail Resorts invest US$85 to US$90 million across its seven resorts.

Beaver Creek has added 17 acres of terrain and new snowmaking.  Additionally, Breckenridge has received approval for a 543-acre terrain expansion, which expects to open for the 2013-2014 season and will add 23 per cent more skiable acres. 

The family-friendly Keystone Resort is offering a kids-ski-free promotion throughout the 2012-2013 season that is applicable to children 12 and under, with no blackout dates, provided children stay two or more nights in one of Keystone’s accommodation options.

“No one is offering anything like this,” said Lilley. “Canadians average five or more nights, so this is a [good product] for them.”

Vail Turns 50

Vail will be celebrating its 50^th anniversary during the 2012-2013 season.

As part of the celebration, a new state-of-the-art 10-passenger gondola has been built and will feature heated seats and free Wi-Fi.  

In addition to the new gondola, Vail will also host a series of events to celebrate its 50 years of operation including the Vail Snow Daze festival, which will feature music acts, such as headliners Wilco; the Burton U.S. Snowboarding Championships, Spring Back to Vail and more.

Ann Gallery, president, High View Communications, suggested that Canadian travellers can pre-purchase their lift tickets online from the Vail website for anything less than six days or longer. More than six days though she advised that clients purchase the Epic Pass.