Vail Resorts Announces 2013-2014 Eagle County Merchant Pass Program
- The 2013-2014 Merchant Pass will be offered for $689.
- Business owners maintain ownership of Merchant Pass unlike Epic Pass, which belongs to individuals.
- MerchantPassfeatures one-time transfer for $100 to accommodate employee changes.
- MerchantPasssales begin Nov. 8, 2013 in Vail and Nov. 9 in Beaver Creek and will be available throughout the season.
VAIL, Colo. – Oct. 28, 2013 – Vail Resorts today announced details of the 2013-2014 Eagle County Merchant Pass program, which is consistent with the product offering from years past and offers access to skiing and snowboarding on more than 11,000 acres at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Arapahoe Basin, with some restrictions. The 2013-2014 Eagle County Merchant Pass will be offered for $689. The price of the pass is subject to change with sufficient notice.
The Merchant Pass program has been in existence for many years providing a compelling hiring tool for local businesses due to the wide-ranging benefits for employees and, most importantly, unlike other pass products, the pass ownership resides with the business versus an individual and features a one-time transfer for $100 to accommodate employee changes. Unlike the Epic Pass, which is owned by the pass holder and cannot be revoked or transferred by an employer regardless of who paid for it, the Merchant Pass is owned by the “merchant” or business and in the event that an employee leaves, the pass must be deactivated by the business and transferred to another employee. The Merchant Pass will be restricted at Vail and Beaver Creek Nov. 29-30 and Dec. 26-31, 2013, and Jan. 18, 2014 and Feb.15-16, 2014.
The Merchant Pass provides a number of ancillary benefits to employees. Benefit offerings include access to Vail Resorts’ popular ski and snowboard application, EpicMix, including EpicMix Photo, Racing, and the new EpicMix Academy, six ski-with-a-friend tickets and six buddy lift tickets, summer lift access at Vail and Beaver Creek (excluding bike haul), Adventure Ridge discounts, one free ski or snowboard group lesson at Vail or Beaver Creek, Nordic lesson discounts and more. Some restrictions apply for these benefits.
Qualifying for the Merchant Pass
In order to be eligible for the Merchant Pass program, businesses must first belong to the Vail Chamber & Business Association (VCBA), or Vail Valley Partnership (VVP). Second, businesses must participate in one of two qualifying programs: “Customer Service Seminar,” or the “Platinum Service Program.”
Sponsored by Vail Resorts, the VVP and the VCBA, the “Customer Service Seminar,” will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 7 from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa. The cost is $60 for the first attendee and $15 for additional attendees if registered by Nov. 1. Registration after Nov. 1 is $70 for the first attendee and $15 for additional attendees. Please RSVP to the VVP or the VCBA. Contact information is listed below.
Professionals from the Vail Leadership Institute will guide attendees through what it takes to provide truly great guest service. A panel of local industry experts will be on hand to lead an interactive discussion and there will be updates from Vail and Beaver Creek resorts as well.
The panel of industry experts will include Bob Boselli, owner of Obos Enterprises for 22 years which is comprised of various businesses like the Vail T-Shirt Company, Covered Bridge Store, Vail Style, Generations BC, BC Gear and more, plus Rob Levine, General Manager of the Antlers at Vail and former Vail Town Council member. Levine has also served on boards such as the Tourism Bureau, the Chamber, Bravo!, and the Vail Symposium. In addition Lourdes Ferzacca, owner of La Tour Restaurant since 1998 and VCBA board member for the past six years, will also be on the panel.
The presentation is open to all organization members but only those in good standing of the VVP and VCBA are eligible for the pass. Businesses are strongly encouraged to send management to this important meeting.
The “Platinum Service Program”, now offered through the VBCA and VVP, is a “secret shopper” program, which evaluates and recognizes outstanding customer service in the Vail Valley. New this season, there is a Bronze level member package which includes two secret shops from November through January for only $99. A variety of participation levels are available including upgrade options from the Bronze level. For more information or to sign up, please contact the VVP or VCBA. Contact information is provided below.
Additional Merchant Pass Benefits
- A Merchant Pass may be transferred once to another employee from the same business for $100.
- Six buddy lift tickets provide the option to purchase a ticket to ski and ride during restricted periods. The buddytickets also may be used for friends and family all season. Payment does not need to be made by the merchant pass holder; a friend or family may pay for the ticket. Pass holder must be present.
- Six ski-with-a-friend tickets offer up to six days of unrestricted skiing or snowboarding for family or friends at a discounted rate that varies by date. Tickets will be electronically loaded onto the Merchant Pass and can be redeemed at any ticket window. Payment does not need to be made by the merchant pass holder; a friend or family may pay for the ticket. Pass holder must be present.
- One free adult ski or snowboard group lesson at Vail or Beaver Creek, validDec. 1-21, 2013 or Jan. 20-Feb. 7, 2014. Alternatively pass holders may select a free introductory cross country lesson or snowshoe tour in Vail or Beaver Creek, or for a Tele-Tuesday in Beaver Creek during the same dates when a paying guest is present. Reservations may be made for a discounted Teleworkshop in Vail or Beaver Creek anytime during the season for $60.
- Enjoy a multi-day lesson offer and enroll in a three-day adult ski or snowboard group lesson program for the price of two days. Offered to Merchant Pass holders for $320 in Vail and $340 in Beaver Creek.
- Adventure Ridge discounts will be available. For more information please check www.vail.com/vbcmerchantpass.
- Access to Vail Resorts’ award winning and popular ski and snowboard application EpicMix, and new this year EpicMix Academy. EpicMix Academy will be the fourth generation of the groundbreaking EpicMixapplication, following the introductions of EpicMix Photo and EpicMix Racing. With EpicMix Academy, the Company's ski school instructors will be able to certify the attainment of certain skills and ski levels for any of the students in their classes. Children and adults in both group and private ski lessons will be able to earn permanent recognition and review their accomplishments online. Parents will be able to track the progress of their kids and the Company's ski schools will immediately know the ability level of every student before the start of each lesson. EpicMix Academy will offer special certified digital pins, which can be easily shared through Facebook and Twitter along with pins for vertical feet, photos and racing medals.For more information visit EpicMix.com.
For additional information about the 2013-2014 Vail Resorts Merchant Pass, call (970) SKI-3080 (754-3080), e-mail vbcmerchantpass@vailresorts.com, or visit www.vail.com/vbcmerchantpass. For information about the “Customer Service Seminar” or Platinum Service Program, contact the associations. For the Vail Valley Partnership call (970) 477-4001or e-mail jweintraub@visitvailvalley.com, and for the Vail Chamber & Business Association call (970) 477-0075 or email info@vailchamber.org.
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Media Contacts:Liz Biebl, (970) 754-3001, ebiebl@vailresorts.com
Jen Brown, (970) 754-5292, jbrown@vailresorts.com
Sara Lococo, (970) 754-4528, slococo@vailresorts.com
| |
MerchantPass | EpicSeason Pass |
| Price: | $689, subject to change. The price is guaranteed to be $689 when sales begin in November | $729, subject to change. |
| Valid At: |
Unlimited, with restrictions, at Vail, Beaver Creek, unrestricted at Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin |
Unlimited, unrestricted access at Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Canyons, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt Brighton, Arapahoe Basin, and Eldora + five days at each resort: Verbier, Switzerland; Arlberg, Austria; Les 3 Vallees, France |
| Restrictions: | Nov. 29-30, 2013, Dec. 26-31, 2013, Jan 18, 2014 and Feb.15-16, 2014. | None |
| Ownership: |
The pass is owned by the "Merchant" who purchases the pass on behalf of its employee. The actual pass-holder must be a current, active employee of the business. |
The pass is owned by the individual, regardless of who pays for it. |
| Transferability: |
The pass may be transferred once for $100 to a new employee of the same business. |
Non-transferable. |
| Availability: |
Available beginning Nov. 8, 2013 in Vail and Nov. 9 in Beaver Creek through the 2013-2014 season. |
Available for a limited time. |
| Locations: |
Available at Vail and Beaver Creek pass offices only. |
Available online, by phone and at all Vail Resorts season pass offices. |
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts, Inc., through its subsidiaries, is the leading mountain resort operator in the United States. The Company's subsidiaries operate the mountain resorts of Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge and Keystone in Colorado; Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada; Canyons in Park City, Utah; Afton Alps in Minnesota and Mt. Brighton in Michigan; and the Grand Teton Lodge Company in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The Company's subsidiary, RockResorts, a luxury resort hotel company, manages casually elegant properties. Vail Resorts Development Company is the real estate planning, development and construction subsidiary of Vail Resorts, Inc. Vail Resorts is a publicly held company traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: MTN). The Vail Resorts company website is www.vailresorts.com and consumer website is www.snow.com.