Vail Resorts Reports Certain North American Ski Season Metrics for the Season-to-Date Period Ended April 20, 2025
Rhea-AI Summary
Vail Resorts (NYSE: MTN) has reported mixed results for its North American ski season through April 20, 2025. Total skier visits decreased by 3.1% compared to the previous year, while total lift ticket revenue, including season pass revenue, increased by 3.4%. The company saw modest growth in ski school revenue (+2.7%) and dining revenue (+2.2%), but experienced a 4.0% decline in retail/rental revenue.
CEO Kirsten Lynch highlighted the stability provided by their season pass program and investments in guest experience, despite continued industry demand normalization. Due to lower than expected lift ticket visitation in spring, the company expects Resort Reported EBITDA for fiscal 2025 to be in the lower half of their previously issued guidance range.
For the 2025/2026 season's initial pass sales through April 13, 2025, pass product units showed a slight decline while sales dollars increased. Notably, renewals among loyal, tenured pass holders significantly improved compared to the prior period.
Positive
- Lift ticket revenue increased 3.4% year-over-year
- Ski school revenue grew 2.7%
- Dining revenue increased 2.2%
- Season pass sales dollars grew compared to prior year
- Significant improvement in loyal pass holder renewals
Negative
- Total skier visits declined 3.1%
- Retail/rental revenue decreased 4.0%
- Lower than expected lift ticket visitation in spring period
- Resort Reported EBITDA expected in lower half of guidance range
- Pass product units declined slightly in spring sales
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, MTN gained 0.90%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
- Season-to-date total skier visits were down
3.1% compared to the prior year season-to-date period. - Season-to-date total lift ticket revenue, including an allocated portion of season pass revenue for each applicable period, was up
3.4% compared to the prior year season-to-date period. - Season-to-date ski school revenue was up
2.7% and dining revenue was up2.2% compared to the prior year season-to-date period. Retail/rental revenue for North American resort and ski area store locations was down4.0% compared to the prior year season-to-date period.
Reflecting on the winter season-to-date metrics, Kirsten Lynch, Chief Executive Officer said, "As the 2024/2025 North American winter season nears completion, our overall results highlight the stability provided by our season pass program, our investments in the guest experience, and the strong execution of our teams across all of our mountain resorts. Season-to-date visitation across the Company's 37 North American mountain resorts reflects the benefit of improved conditions, offset by the expected continued industry demand normalization. Destination visitation among pre-committed passholder guests improved as expected in March and April; however, visitation from lift ticket guests was below expectations. Although visitation declined, lift revenue increased compared to the prior year period, driven by the growth in season pass revenue committed ahead of the season. Ancillary spend per destination guest visit showed continued strength across our ski school and dining businesses, while overall revenue growth in our ancillary businesses was impacted by the lower mix of destination visitation. Overall, the results throughout the 2024/2025 North American ski season demonstrate the resiliency of our strategic business model and our network of resorts and loyal guests."
Regarding the outlook for fiscal 2025, Lynch said, "As a result of the lower than expected lift ticket visitation in the spring period, the Company currently expects Resort Reported EBITDA for fiscal 2025 to be in the lower half of the guidance range issued on March 10, 2025. The Company's focus on its Resource Efficiency Transformation plan and strong cost discipline is expected to partially mitigate the impacts from the lower visitation."
Commenting on spring season North American pass sales, Lynch noted, "Our attention is turning to the 2025/2026 season, with spring pass sales underway. The first pass deadline occurred on April 13, 2025, amid significant macroeconomic volatility, and it is currently unknown what, if any, impact that had on early pass decision making. Pass product units were down slightly, while sales dollars grew versus prior year through the April sales deadline, and renewals among our most loyal, tenured pass holders were up significantly from the prior period. The April sales deadline only impacts a portion of our pass holders that are eligible for buddy ticket benefits. We will have more to share in our third quarter earnings release in June 2025."
Basis of Presentation
The reported ski season metrics include growth for season pass revenue based on estimated fiscal 2025 North American season pass revenue compared to fiscal 2024 North American season pass revenue. The metrics include all North American destination mountain resorts and regional ski areas and are adjusted to eliminate the impact of foreign currency by applying current period exchange rates to the prior period for Whistler Blackcomb's results.
About Vail Resorts, Inc. (NYSE: MTN)
Vail Resorts is a network of the best destination and close-to-home ski resorts in the world including Vail Mountain,
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements discussed in this press release and on the conference call, other than statements of historical information, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including the statements regarding fiscal 2025 performance and the assumptions related thereto, including, but not limited to, our expected Resort Reported EBITDA; our expectations regarding weather and economic conditions, and their potential impact on our business; our expectations related to our season pass products; our expectations regarding our ancillary lines of business; our expectations related to guest behavior, patterns, mix, and visitation, and their anticipated impacts on our business; and our expectations regarding our resource efficiency transformation plan. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. All forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to risks related to a prolonged weakness in general economic conditions, including adverse effects on the overall travel and leisure related industries and our business and results of operations; risks associated with the effects of high or prolonged inflation, elevated interest rates and financial institution disruptions; risks related to tariffs, sanctions and trade barriers, and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions; unfavorable weather conditions or the impact of natural disasters or other unexpected events; the ultimate amount of refunds that we could be required to refund to our pass product holders for qualifying circumstances under our Epic Coverage program; the willingness or ability of our guests to travel due to terrorism, the uncertainty of military conflicts or public health emergencies, and the cost and availability of travel options and changing consumer preferences, discretionary spending habits; risks related to travel and airline disruptions, and other adverse impacts on the ability of our guests to travel; risks related to interruptions or disruptions of our information technology systems, data security or cyberattacks; risks related to our reliance on information technology, including our failure to maintain the integrity of our customer or employee data and our ability to adapt to technological developments or industry trends; our ability to acquire, develop and implement relevant technology offerings for customers and partners; the seasonality of our business combined with adverse events that may occur during our peak operating periods; competition in our mountain and lodging businesses or with other recreational and leisure activities; risks related to the high fixed cost structure of our business; our ability to fund resort capital expenditures, or accurately identify the need for, or anticipate the timing of certain capital expenditures; risks related to a disruption in our water supply that would impact our snowmaking capabilities and operations; our reliance on government permits or approvals for our use of public land or to make operational and capital improvements; risks related to resource efficiency transformation initiatives; risks related to federal, state, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including environmental and health and safety laws and regulations; risks related to changes in security and privacy laws and regulations which could increase our operating costs and adversely affect our ability to market our products, properties and services effectively; potential failure to adapt to technological developments or industry trends regarding information technology; our ability to successfully launch and promote adoption of new products, technology, services and programs; risks related to our workforce, including increased labor costs, loss of key personnel and our ability to maintain adequate staffing, including hiring and retaining a sufficient seasonal workforce; risks related to labor disruptions or strikes from labor unions representing certain of our employees; our ability to successfully integrate acquired businesses, including their integration into our internal controls and infrastructure; our ability to successfully navigate new markets, including
All forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. All guidance and forward-looking statements in this press release are made as of the date hereof and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forecast or forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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SOURCE Vail Resorts, Inc.
