Vail Resorts reported a higher early season loss in its first-quarter earnings Tuesday, but said it remains confident in its winter outlook even after a slow start across the Intermountain West.  The fall quarter is typically the company’s weakest because most North American resorts have yet to open, but warm temperatures and limited snowfall this ski season placed additional pressure on early results. Park City Mountain, originally scheduled to open Nov. 21, did not begin operations until Dec. 5. Overall, season pass units fell about 2% compared to last year, but total pass revenue still rose about 3% due to a 7% price increase. The West was a clear weak spot in overall pass sales. Vail Resorts CEO Rob Katz said declines were centered in regions where skiers tend to watch early season weather before deciding whether to buy. “The decline in units is driven primarily by declines in our Colorado, Utah and Tahoe local drive-to markets, as units from destination markets were only down slightly,” Katz said. In all, Katz said more than 2.3 million people are locked in on an Epic Pass or similar advance commitment products, which the company expects will account for roughly 74% of all skier visits this year. “Changing weather and snowfall patterns are not new to us, but they reinforce the importance of the stability we create from our pass business, which remains a key long-term driver to our success,” Katz said. For the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, Vail Resorts posted a net loss of $186.8 million, compared to a loss of $173.3 million during the same period last year.  Still, resort net revenue increased 4% to $271 million, mostly driven by strong visitation in Australia during its winter season. Resort EBITDA, a measure of operating performance, remained flat at a loss of $139.7 million. Katz returned to the role of CEO in May after leading the company from 2006 to 2021. Upon his return, he told investors that Vail Resorts needed to focus on rebuilding trust with guests and improving the way it communicates across all of its resorts. Park City Mountain was a major part of that discussion, following months of public frustration over crowding, staffing shortages and the ripple effects of the ski patrol labor dispute. Last December, Park City Mountain operated with limited terrain and long lift lines during the ski patrol strike, with many guests saying they felt blindsided by the lack of updates or outreach surrounding the situation. That experience damaged goodwill locally and contributed to a broader debate about how Vail Resorts communicates with the public during operational challenges. Since then, Katz has described a shift toward broader, more visible marketing channels as part of the company’s efforts to engage guests differently, increasing investment in storytelling-style campaigns and social media outreach to reach a wider range of skiers and rebuild confidence in the brand. “While paid media drove positive results, snowfall was also down almost 60% versus the prior year at our western North American resorts, which likely impacted local pass sales near the end of the selling period,” CFO Angela Korch said. Katz acknowledged that single-day lift ticket sales have also declined across the company’s resorts. To address that, Vail introduced a new pricing tool earlier this month, offering 30% off of single-day lift tickets when purchased roughly a month before use.  Katz described the discount as a way to make skiing more affordable for people who do not buy season passes, while still encouraging guests to plan and give the company more certainty about expected visitation. The company also pointed to long-term investments it is making to improve the overall experience at its major resorts, including the Cabriolet Gondola at Park City Mountain, to improve skier access to Canyons Village from the lower parking areas. The post Vail Resorts early season loss widens amid warm weather, declining Utah pass sales appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less