Vail Resorts Announces 2014-2015 Eagle County Merchant Pass Program
- The 2014-2015 Merchant Pass will be offered for $729.
- Business owners maintain ownership of Merchant Pass unlike Epic Pass, which belongs to individuals.
- Merchant Pass features one-time transfer for $100 to accommodate employee changes.
- Merchant Pass sales begin Nov. 7, 2014 in Vail and Nov. 8 in Beaver Creek and will be available throughout the season.
Vail Resorts today announced details of the 2014-2015 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 2014-2015 Eagle County Merchant Pass will be offered for $729. The price of the pass is subject to change with sufficient notice and available for purchase all season.
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 may be transferred to another employee. The Merchant Pass will be restricted at Vail and Beaver Creek Nov. 28-29 and Dec. 26-31, 2014, and Jan. 17, 2015 and Feb.14-15, 2015.
The Merchant Pass provides a number of ancillary benefits to employees. Benefit offerings include access to Vail Resorts’ popular ski and snowboard application, EpicMix, 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 during the winter season, 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.” Businesses looking for more customer service feedback and training can participate in the Platinum Service Program and add-on the “Customer Service Seminar” at a discounted rate of $30.
Sponsored by Vail Resorts, the VVP and the VCBA, the “Customer Service Seminar,” will be offered on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at the Lodge at Vail. The cost is $65 for the first attendee and $15 for additional attendees if registered by Oct. 30. Registration after Oct. 30 is $75 for the first attendee and $15 for additional attendees.
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. Please RSVP to the VVP or the VCBA. Contact information is listed below.
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 last season, Platinum Service Program 2 includes two secret shops from November through January for only $99. A variety of participation levels are available including upgrade options. 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 buddy tickets 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. Coupons belong to the pass holder and pass holder must be present to redeem.
- 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. Coupons belong to the pass holder and pass holder must be present to redeem.
- One free adult ski or snowboard group lesson at Vail or Beaver Creek, valid Dec. 1-20, 2014 or Jan. 19-Feb. 8, 2015. Alternatively pass holders may select a free introductory cross country lesson or snowshoe tour in Vail or Beaver Creek, or a Tele-Tuesday in Beaver Creek anytime during the season when a paying guest is present. Reservations may be made for a discounted Teleworkshop in Vail or Beaver Creek anytime during the season for $62.
- 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 $340 in Vail and $360 in Beaver Creek.
- 20% off adult activities at Adventure Ridge for Merchant Pass holders during non-holiday periods.
- Access to Vail Resorts’ award winning and popular ski and snowboard application EpicMix. For more information visit EpicMix.com.
- For more information please check www.vail.com/vbcmerchantpass.
For additional information about the 2014-2015 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) 477-4027 or e-mail haley@visitvailvalley.com, and for the Vail Chamber & Business Association call (970) 477-0075 or email info@vailchamber.org.
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Merchant Pass | Epic Season Pass |
| Price: | $729, subject to change. The price is guaranteed to be $729 when sales begin in November | $749, 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, Park City, Heavenly, Northstar, Kirkwood, Afton Alps, Mt Brighton, and Arapahoe Basin + five days at Niseko, Japan and continued partnership with Verbier, Switzerland and Les 3 Vallees, France |
| Restrictions: | Nov. 28-29, 2014, Dec. 26-31, 2014, Jan 17, 2015 and Feb.14-15, 2015. | 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. 7, 2014 in Vail and Nov. 8 in Beaver Creek through the 2014-2015 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; Park City and Canyons in 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.
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