Bulletin E-Edition:
more photosMt. Bachelor, in announcing its more expensive prices, said the resort is aiming for stronger customer service this season. “We’re confident that we’re going to have a great value product this year,” says Marketing Director Carly Carmichael.
Andy Tullis / The Bulletin
Mt. Bachelor raises its prices
An adult unlimited season pass will cost $929, an increase of $100. The resort defends its price increases, but skiers aren't too happy.
By Jeff McDonald / The Bulletin
Published: August 30. 2007 4:00AM PSTMt. Bachelor ski area announced Wednesday a 12 percent price increase for unlimited adult season passes and across-the-board increases for most of its prices.
The biggest increase is for the unlimited adult season pass, which jumps from $829 to $929. It was the second consecutive year that prices were raised at the mountain. Last year, the increase was 19 percent.
Daily lift-ticket prices during nonholiday periods also will increase from $52 to $56. During holiday periods, a daily lift ticket will cost $66.
The price increases come as Mt. Bachelor works to improve on all aspects of its operations, including smoother lift operations, improved customer service and the overall skiing and riding experience, according to Carly Carmichael, marketing director for Mt. Bachelor.
“We’re asking a little bit of faith from our customers,” Carmichael said. “We’re confident that we’re going to have a great value product this year. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we have the fifth-largest ski area in North America in our backyard.”
Cheaper passes are available for pass holders who renew their season passes this year and for pass holders who buy restricted season passes. Adult season pass holders who renew their passes this year will pay $909, Carmichael said.
Those with restricted passes, which cannot be used during holiday blackout dates, will pay $749 without a $20 renewal discount.
Skiers were disappointed about the increases, but not quite ready to give up their season passes.
Chris Prahl, 24, of Bend, logged 25 visits last season. But he might buy a cheaper five-day pass this year and ski the rest of the season on Mount Hood or other resorts in the state, he said.
“I love Bachelor to death — I learned to ski there,” Prahl said. “It’s my home mountain. But it would have been nice if they had a locals rate to offset the price increases.”
Other skiers were disappointed to see the price increases, considering some problems they encountered last year.
“The reliability of the lifts has not improved over the past three years enough to give skiers confidence,” said Brian Bell, of Eugene. “I am hopeful that the new leadership at the mountain can provide a big turnaround.”
In July, Matt Janney became president and general manager of Mt. Bachelor. Improved lift and grooming operations and customer service are his stated goals for the 2007-08 season.
The resort has worked closely with lift manufacturers to address several lift stoppages that occurred last year and has fixed its online ticketing system that “didn’t work” last year, Carmichael said.
More employee training will remedy some of the customer service issues, she said.
“We know things haven’t been quite right,” she said. “We’re working to address those things. They won’t be issues this year.”
Season passes go on sale Saturday. For a complete list of prices, go to www.mtbachelor.com.
Jeff McDonald can be reached at 383-0323 or at jmcdonald@bendbulletin.com.
ARTICLE ACCESS: This article is among those available to all readers. Many more articles are available only to E-Edition members. Sign up today!
blog comments powered by Disqus
