Vail Resorts Announces 2012-2013 Eagle County Merchant Pass Program
- The 2012-2013 Merchant Pass will be offered for $659.
- 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. 2, 2012 in Vail and Nov. 3 in Beaver Creek and will be available throughout the season.
The Merchant Pass program has a long history and is 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 the pass holder owns the pass and it 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. 23-24 and Dec. 26-31, 2012, and Jan. 19, 2012 and Feb.16-17, 2013.
The Merchant Pass provides a number of ancillary benefits to employees. Benefit offerings include access to Vail Resorts’new EpicMix functionality, EpicMix Racing, six ski-with-a-friend tickets and four $79 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 discountsand 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), Vail Valley Partnership (VVP) or Beaver Creek Resort Company (BCRC). Second, businesses must participate in one of two customer service programs: “Service to the Power of You,” or the “Platinum Service Program.”
Sponsored by Vail Resorts, the VVP and the VCBA, “Service to the Power of You,” will be offered on Thursday, Nov. 1 from 8-11 a.m. at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa. The cost is $40 for the first attendee and $20 for additional attendees. Please RSVP to the VVP or the VCBA by Tuesday, Oct. 30th. Contact information is listed below.
The keynote speaker is Eric Chester who will be presenting ‘Turning Rookies into Superstars: How to Get Young Front Line Talent to Perform Better, Lead Faster and Stay Longer.’ Eric Chester is the leading authority on developing work ethic in teens and young adults and leading young employees to achieve at their remarkable potential. His presentation will illustrate why the work ethic in America has declined, and he’ll provide solid, actionable ideas and tools to develop the young worker into an outstanding employee.
The presentation is open to all members but only those in good standing of the VVP, VCBA, and BCRC are eligible for the pass. Businesses are strongly encouraged to send management to this important meeting.
The “Platinum Service Program”, offered through the Vail Valley Partnership, is a “secret shopper” program, which evaluates and recognizes outstanding customer service in the Vail Valley. A variety of participation levels are available. For more information or to sign up, visit VailValleyPartnership.com or contact Jen Weintraub, Events & Membership Manager at (970) 477-4001 or by email at jweintraub@visitvailvalley.com.
Additional Merchant Pass Benefits
- A Merchant Pass may be transferred once to another employee from the same business for $100.
- Four $79 lift tickets provide the option to purchase a ticket to ski and ride during restricted periods. The $79tickets also may be used for friends and family all season.
- 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, validNov. 25-Dec. 14, 2012 or Jan. 21-Feb. 8, 2013. Or use your free lesson on an introductory cross country lesson or snowshoe tour in Vail or 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 $53.
- 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 $300 in Vail and $320 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 Racing. When EpicMix first debuted two years ago it started by tracking skiers and snowboarders vertical feet on the mountain and awarding digital pins for special accomplishments. In its second season EpicMix Photo was introduced and enabled guests to visually capture and share their experience on the snow. Now, with EpicMix Racing, skiers will automatically have their race times compared to ski racing great, Lindsey Vonn, with gold, silver and bronze medals awarded based on achievement. Race times, digital medals, overall leaderboards and leaderboards with just family and friends will all be available on both the EpicMix website and mobile application. For more information visit EpicMix.com.
For additional information about the 2012-2013 VailResorts Merchant Pass, call (970) SKI-3080 (754-3080) or e-mail vbcmerchantpass@vailresorts.com or visit www.vail.com/vbcmerchantpass. For information about the “Service to the Power of You” or Platinum Service Program, call the Vail Valley Partnership at (970) 477-4001or e-mail jweintraub@visitvailvalley.com. For class information you may also contact Vail Chamber & Business Association, call (970) 477-0075 or email info@vailchamber.org, and for the Beaver Creek Resort Company, call (970) 845-5972.
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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
Julia Littman, (970) 754-5169, jlittman@vailresorts.com
| |
MerchantPass | EpicSeason Pass |
| Price: | $659, subject to change. The price is guaranteed to be $659when sales begin in November | $699,subject to change. |
| Valid At: |
Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, and Arapahoe Basin |
Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwoodand Arapahoe Basin |
| Restrictions: | Nov. 23-24, 2012, Dec. 26-31, 2012, Jan 19, 2013 and Feb.16-17, 2013. | 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.2, 2012 in Vail and Nov. 3 in Beaver Creek through the 2012-2013 season. |
Available for a limited time. |
| Locations: |
Available at Vail and Beaver Creekpass offices only. |
Available online, by phone and at all Vail Resortsseason pass offices. |
About Vail Resorts
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, and Heavenly, Northstar and Kirkwood in the Lake Tahoe area of California and Nevada, 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