Vail’s stock (NYSE:MTN) will be affected

In addition to poor financial results, high leverage and frustrated customers, MTN seems to be challenged with public labor struggles recently.

Ski patrollers at Park City held a public rally this weekend to gain support for their contract negotiations.

Patrollers walk-out/”work exclusion” caused a 3-day closure at Hunter Mountain earlier in Jan. (Vail’s communication on this issue has been vague)

$100M lawsuit alleging violations of labor laws for not paying employees for all hours worked.

Labor risks could be significant if they result in a major resort closure. At minimum I would expect that trends like this put upward pressure on labor costs.

Yahoo Finance board on MTN stock

Stevens Pass Owner Replaces General Manager After Mounting Complaints About the Resort

Stevens Pass ski resort has a new general manager after mounting complaints from customers about poor service and limited operations of its lifts.

Property owner Vail Resorts has replaced Tom Pettigrew with Tom Fortune, who currently manages Heavenly Ski Resort in California, on an interim basis.

Nearly 40,000 skiers and snowboarders have signed a petition demanding that Vail boost staffing at Stevens Pass and open up more of its closed off terrain for activity.

And almost 90 complaints naming Stevens Pass have been filed with the Washington Secretary of State’s Office during the current ski season.

Source: KPQ

“Vail Resorts works to put women in leadership in male-dominated ski industry.”

To Vail Resorts: you should hire professionals based on their leadership skills, not based on their vagina presence. Hashtag: #VailEpicFail.

The most recent “disrupter” in “male-dominated industry” was Elizabeth Holmes with her Theranos bs. Google it if you are living under the rock.

Source: Knowledia

At Stevens Pass, epic lines, not-so-epic times amid staff shortage

Skiers, snowboarders and employees blame owner Vail Resorts for a “dysfunctional” season. Management cites industry-wide issues.

Customers are demanding better treatment of resort employees and refunds of their season passes. An online petition, accusing the company of deceiving consumers in the name of profit, garnered about 20,000 signatures in just a few days this week. And since Christmas Day, at least a dozen people have filed consumer complaints against the resort with the state Office of the Attorney General.

Herald.net

Vail Resorts Long Term Debt increased 13.26%

  • Vail Resorts long term debt for the quarter ending October 31, 2021 was $2.705B, a 13.26% increase year-over-year.
  • Vail Resorts long term debt for 2021 was $2.736B, a 14.62% increase from 2020.
  • Vail Resorts long term debt for 2020 was $2.387B, a 56.25% increase from 2019.
  • Vail Resorts long term debt for 2019 was $1.528B, a 23.78% increase from 2018.

Source: Macrotrends

Park City ski patrol union, Vail Resorts fail to reach wage agreement in 47th bargaining session since 2020

Ski patrollers — who train as first responders to provide on-mountain medical care and mitigate avalanche danger with explosives and other means — are still starting at $13.25 per hour, making rookie patrollers the lowest paid employees at Park City resort. Second year patrollers start at $14.50 per hour.

The Salt Lake City Tribune

“Vale Ski Resorts is putting their customers at risk of Omicron”

Vale Ski Resorts is putting their customers, their season pass holders at risk for Omicron at Heavenly Valley South Lake Tahoe!!! By insisting on grouping multiple parties in the small Timberlodge gondolas. Worst there’s no reason for doing this nonsense; especially on weekdays. Many of these strangers aren’t wearing masks! I’ve been a season pass holder here for as long as the resort’s existed but if they are going to intentionally put my family at risk for Omicron by crowding strangers in these small gondolas then I’ll be looking closer at other resorts and end a near 20 year relationship as season pass holder

via Yahoo Finance board

Vail Resorts company reviews – Part-V

“Poor training. Poor pay.”

Everything is a cons! Senior Manager continually complains and backstabs the lower management, Condescending at best! Director always in the office on Teams meetings, never acknowledged one newer employee. Always tells you how busy they are, Absent of any empathy or culture. Bad company to work for.

Store Manager (Former Employee) – Park City, UT (via Indeed)

“Terrible company.”

Vail resorts is a horrible company to devote your creative outlet and energy to. No professional developmental assistance. Below average pay regardless of experience and production. No structure in management. Corporate entity notorious for the above and more. Ask anyone who’s ever worked for them and moved on.

Executive Chef (Former Employee) – Keystone, CO (via Indeed)

“Vail is a Horrible company.”

I don’t have much energy to write about this company because they have pretty much drained all of my will to live. I think about putting a 9mm in my head because this billion dollar company that can afford to pay people living wages (which in north metro colorado is about 19-20 dollars an hour) chooses to just not pay us what they should and hire people for 11 months out of the year calling them “seasonal” so they don’t have to give normal or even decent benefits. I had thanksgiving off but didn’t get paid, so now I have to work overtime just to get my “normal” pay which is very low to begin with, nowhere near the 19-20 dollars an hour that it should be. DO NOT WORK HERE, THEY DO NOT GIVE A F#$@ ABOUT ANYONE.

CSS/TA Coordinator (Current Employee) – Broomfield, CO (via Indeed)

“Suicide rate is extremely high for a reason.”

You will regret working for this company, they are cheap and don’t take care of employees at all. Do better, it’s not that hard you are a multi million $$company

Lift operator-attendant (Current Employee) – Breckenridge, CO (via Indeed)

“Maybe the worst company I have ever worked.”

The pay doesn’t even come close to covering the cost of living, direct management and upper management are completely untrustworthy, chronically understaffed and at the same time constantly reminding staff they’re replaceable, probably the worst company I have ever worked for.

Instructor (Former Employee) – Breckenridge, CO (via Indeed)

“A season pass.”

Cold early mornings long hours lots of responsibility and hardly any payment. Told I would get on the job training, never happened. Was Forced to quit. Exhausting work

Lift Electrician (Former Employee) – Park City, UT (via Indeed)

“A million dollar corporation that doesn’t care about its workers.”

Don’t know at all where to begin. I guess, be a ski instructor if you’re a 19 year old kid with complete financial backing from your parents and you’re on a gap year? Otherwise this job is worthless. Resorts are run by CEO’s in offices who have no clue the amount of work it takes to operate a ski resort / ski school on a daily basis. You’re expected to show up early, stay late (which you will not be paid for) , clock out for lunch. Vail is basically looking for bodies to fill roles and pay them minimum wage. Super corporate. They don’t care about you because they know they’ll find the next kid who wants to be a ski instructor in no time. Strongly urge you to work for a smaller, family owned and operated ski resort. They will care about you, maybe even know your name. Don’t work for Vail. Selling your soul to a money hungry corporation in turn for a ski pass.

Snowboard Instructor (Former Employee) – Breckenridge, CO (via Indeed)

“Terrible.”

The people you work with on a day to day basis are normally great. Lack of experienced middle management leads to a lot of power trips and a lack of support. Upper management has been there so long they are clueless and unwilling to change. Do yourself a favor and apply to a different company. Terrible management and lack of culture that the company promotes.

Customer Service Representative (Former Employee) – Keystone, CO (via Indeed)

Vail Resorts: 9 Things Bad Companies Say To Their Employees – Toxic Workplace Signs

  • We work hard play harder
  • We are a family
  • We’ll promote you later
  • You’re replaceable
  • We wear lots of hats
  • You’re gonna be wearing multiple hats
  • We are in startup mode
  • We only hire rockstars
  • We’re always hiring
  • We need someone who can hit the ground running
  • We have foosball
  • If you need help

Source: A Life After Layoff