BreezyD Posted March 22, 2005 Posted March 22, 2005 Pretty impressive if you ask me .... *********************** March 22, 2005 Dear Season Passholders, First and foremost, we want to thank you for the incredible support and patience you have shown throughout the past three months. No question, the "winter" of 04-05 has treated the Northwest very poorly and has affected many lives in unkind ways. I know that all of you purchased your pass with the anticipation of many days of great skiing or riding amidst the plentiful Northwest snowfalls to which we've all become accustomed. We want you to know that you, Big S Passholders, are our most valued customers. Many of you have held passes for many seasons and have intentions of holding passes for years to come. Others may have purchased for the first time and we are honored you selected The Summit this year to call your home mountain. It has always been, and most certainly remains, our goal to have the Big S Pass known as the best value in Northwest skiing and riding. With this in mind, we are very pleased to announce to you that we intend to extend the skiing and riding privileges for all 2004-05 Big S Passholders at no charge for the entire 05-06 season! As you can well imagine, this represents a serious financial commitment on our part, but given the nature of this past season, we feel strongly that to protect the trust and loyalty you have placed in us, it is the right thing to do. It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we look forward to welcoming you back next year to a very snowy season! We will be in touch directly with you in the coming weeks with more information and details regarding the extension. We are also pleased so many of you have taken advantage of using your pass privileges at our sister resorts, Northstar-at-Tahoe, and Sierra-at-Tahoe. Both resorts have loads of snow and are expecting great spring seasons. Our offer of complimentary skiing at both resorts with your Big S Pass is still valid for the remainder of the season so if you get the chance, we encourage you to get some turns in sometime in the next few weeks. Lastly, we still have not completely given up hope on snow this year! If we are lucky enough to get adequate snow in the next week or two, we may re-open for limited operations yet this year. It just isn't in our nature to give up! We know many of you would still love to get some more turns in this year, and if we are so lucky, we look forward to helping make that happen. Once again, I want to personally thank you for the huge amount of support you have all shown through this very difficult year. While this has certainly been the most difficult season I have experienced in my 25-year career at The Summit, I am very proud of the tremendous efforts our team has put forth to make the most out of a difficult situation. Thank you to so many for noticing and letting us know. Your positive feedback has been greatly appreciated by the entire Summit team. We look forward to seeing you next year. Sincerely, Dan Brewster General Manager www.summitatsnoqualmie.com/ Quote
Squid Posted March 22, 2005 Posted March 22, 2005 That's pretty cool. Props to unprecedented customer service. Quote
jmace Posted March 22, 2005 Posted March 22, 2005 with the local hills in BC saying F you I say thats is the most amazing thing Ive seen Quote
BreezyD Posted March 23, 2005 Author Posted March 23, 2005 One more note ... when I called and left a message to see if my midweek pass qualified for the free pass ... I actually got a call back from the General Manager, Dan Brewster, and he conveyed his apologies for the dismal year it was and thanked me personally for my business. Service like that is very rare. They'll have my business in the future for sure. B P.S. Big S unlimited, expanded, and midweek all qualify for the free pass next year. Quote
jmace Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 is there any other hills doing the same or near the same?? The other argument I have heard is: you buy a season pass at a reduced rate becasue you are gambling on the season and if you do not like to gamble you can buy day passes... Quote
Ricardo_Montalban Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 (edited) Dave Riley's customer appreciation... To our Season Pass Holders and Ten Time Pass Holders: Due to the unseasonably warm weather and reduced snow pack, Mt. Hood Meadows is forced to suspend lift operations as of March 14, 2005. So far this year we have been able to operate 68 days. If we receive additional sufficient snow in March and/or April, we will resume operations. Hopefully that will occur. Some pass holders have asked what the ski area is going to do considering the low snow pack this year. I am sorry but we will not be refunding any money for season passes or ten time passes purchased and those passes will not be extended to next ski season. Nevertheless, in recognition that some pass holders did not utilize the ski area as much as planned this year, I am pleased to announce we are offering the following incentives for the 2005/2006 ski season. First, you should know that season pass prices will be increasing up to $25 per pass for the 2005/2006 season. Second, we will continue to offer the popular 4x4 discounted season pass. 2004/2005 Season Pass Holders who repurchase a 2005/2006 Season Pass: You’ll qualify for the applicable 2004/2005 season pass price. For example, next year the 4x4 season pass will cost $425, but if you purchased a season pass during the 2004/2005 season your price for 2005/2006 will be $400 - if you purchase as part of a 4x4 group. If you purchase an age-based discounted pass which increases in price next year, you will be able to purchase it at the applicable 2004/2005 season pass price. You will also receive a Mt. Hood Meadows gift card worth 10% of the value of the pass you purchase, free of charge. This gift card may not be applied to the purchase of the 2005/2006 pass. The gift card will be valid for the 2005/2006 season at any of our restaurants, retail shops, rentals, demos, or snow sports learning center once we open. The above incentive offers will expire November 6, 2005. 2004/2005 Ten Time Pass Holders Will receive 2004/2005 season pass pricing on a 2005/2006 season pass purchase. We will hold pricing on 10 Time Passes – both individual ($330) and group ($295 if purchased in a group of 10 or more by November 6, 2005). I feel compelled to clarify the reality of the ski area’s financial condition to you. I have heard a few people say that we are “still making significant profits” this year. While I’m not going to publish our financial statements on the web, I will tell you honestly that we are deeply in the red this year and we do not have a “low-snow” insurance policy to bail us out. Believe me, we are not profiting at your expense. Last summer we spent $5,000,000 on capital improvements. The Vista Express cost $3,000,000 alone. While Vista Express compounded the financial problem this winter, I’m really glad the lift was built last summer. It is obvious that our guests really like how Vista Express has changed the Meadows for the better, especially during busy days when Cascade Express cannot run due to weather. Also, had we not built Vista Express last summer, we certainly would not be in a position to build it this coming summer. We’re continuing to look forward at what we can and should do to make the future the best that it can be for the public to enjoy the resort including an expansion to our snowmaking system. Thank you for your input and thank you for your support. I realize that the incentives outlined above may not satisfy everyone completely but hope you now have a better understanding of the basis for our decision making. I would also like to give credit to the mountain department staff, especially the grooming department, for their extraordinary effort this year to provide you the best skiing and snowboarding possible with the snow conditions available. I look forward to seeing you again on the slopes soon. Sincerely, Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort Dave Riley Vice President & General Manager summary: -bad snow year, not our fault...no refund for you! -thanks for your money, and in appreciation when we raise our prices next year we won't charge you the difference. -oh, and you get a coupon -whine whine...we spent a lot of $$ on a lift with poor load area planning ...whine whine -I look forward to seeing your money on the slopes again soon. did you expect anything else from dave? Edit: i'm not saying pass holders deserve anything. it is a gamble and i lost. but when timberline is still open right next door with better snow (i know it still sucks), they should really offer something better to entice people back to meadows next year. bad move, dave. Edited March 23, 2005 by Ricardo_Montalban Quote
blue_morph Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 That is really top notch! Stevens pass is giving measly vouchers off of some merchandise next year only if you commit to buy next seasons pass in the next month! That is the stingiest crap I've ever heard! They would be better off offering nothing in my book. Quote
Macson Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 Perfect. I think maybe I should start using that strategy too! So when things don't go well for my company I'll just send a big FU letter to my most loyal customers and raise the rates for the ones who are waffling about whether to use my service or not!!! How short sited of Mount Hood Meadows. How many times do they think they can screw their bread and butter before they're toast? Big props to Snoqualmie for recognizing the value of keeping the foundation of their business revenue happy. Quote
Dave_Schuldt Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 Snoqualmie Pass is owned by a big company with lots of other ski areas so they can take a hit better than others. Quote
cman Posted March 23, 2005 Posted March 23, 2005 that is cool of snoqualmie. i don't know what you expect of these other places. they probably lost millions this year already, are they supposed to lose more next year before the season even starts? besides all of you know that you will be frothing at the mouth as soon as it starts snowing next year. seriously, the thought of all that powder, you'll probably be thanking these same jackasses for just staying in business. i am already fired up for a few good days. Quote
Dr_Crash Posted March 24, 2005 Posted March 24, 2005 Also, your Summit pass is valid for free riding at Northstar and Sierra at Tahoe. They've got snow, and it might still be time for a spring trip drC Quote
jmace Posted March 25, 2005 Posted March 25, 2005 Nice another one, maybe this will put some sense in to the mountains who are proposing a big FU March 24, 2005 Dear Mount Washington Skiers and Snowboarders: This has been a very unusual year for weather at Mount Washington. In fact, the winter season of 2004/05 will set a record as our worst season ever with only 32 days of limited operation and marginal conditions. We recognize how frustrating this season has been for everyone and we want to thank you for hanging in there with us. Season Pass Members We are pleased to announce that we have decided to make your current Season Pass valid for the 2005/06 winter season at no additional charge. We trust that this offer will exceed your expectations. Remember, keep your Season Pass in a safe place as it is your access to our chairlifts for the 2005 summer and the 2005/06 winter season. As your season pass is valid for next season, so too is your release of liability, waiver of claims and assumption of risks agreement. There is no need to sign another one. Your rental locker will also be extended for use next winter. If you have changes with your season pass age categories, they will need to be adjusted in September and the difference paid (ie. Tot changing to Child, Youth changing to Adult, etc.). Unused 6IX PAKS or other Lift Tickets? If you have unused 2004/05 lift tickets (single day, 6IXPAKs, Air Miles, etc.), hang on to them. They will all be valid for the 2005/06 winter season. Next winter, go direct to lift with you ticket or if you have a 2004/05 voucher for a lift ticket, present it at the ticket kiosk to receive a 2005/06 lift ticket at no additional charge. Remember, 6IXPAK tickets are transferable so you can share them with friends. Refunds will not be available. We would love to see you up here this summer with your friends. Stay updated with events and new programs via our website: MountWashington.ca On behalf of all our staff, we thank you for your continued support of Mount Washington, especially during these difficult times. Sincerely, Mount Washington Alpine Resort Peter Gibson President Quote
thelawgoddess Posted March 25, 2005 Posted March 25, 2005 i'm pretty impressed by dan brewster's letter. he's not my favorite guy in the world, but props to snoqualmie for what they're doing for their season passholders. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.