Vail Resorts Ticket Revenue Off 7.5%

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• January 09 2009
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Vail Resorts released a report this morning that includes data on the current season to date. While the numbers are all negative, they have improved through December as snow falls blanketed Colorado.

Here are the highlights:

–  Season to date total skier visits for the Company’s five mountain
resorts were down 5.8% compared to the prior year period.

–  Season to date total lift ticket revenue, including an allocated portion
of season pass revenue for each applicable period, was down 7.5%
compared to the prior year period.
–  Bookings through the Company’s central reservations and directly at
the Company’s owned and managed properties as of December 31, 2008,
were down 14.8% in room nights compared to the prior year period,
inclusive of actual guest stays season to date.

Commenting on the ski season metrics season to date, Rob Katz, Chief Executive Officer said, “As we expected, the current economic environment has certainly impacted the beginning of the 2008/2009 ski season with season to date skier visits down year-over-year. However, despite the challenging environment, total skier visits were actually up over the prior year for the peak two week holiday period ended January 4, 2009, partially offsetting the visit decline for the earlier season period. The lift ticket revenue decline was greater than the total skier visit decline due to increased visitation from our season pass holders including the new Epic Season Pass holders. Dining and retail/rental revenues declined in line with our lift ticket revenue, while ski school revenue declined closer to 20%. We believe the greater decline in ski school revenue was due to lower guest spending on certain higher priced items during their trip, a trend that was matched in lower check averages at certain of our fine-dine restaurants. Our booking trends have improved from the 23.3% decline for bookings as of November 30, 2008, that we disclosed in early December 2008, to a decline of 14.8% as of December 31, 2008, confirming that many of our guests are booking closer in, which we saw evidence of in the recently concluded current year holiday period.”