MEADOWS BLOG

New Prices and Products for 06/07

Hi Folks,

The sheer amount of comments submitted to the Pricing and Product Development blog (posted June 16, 2006) says a lot about Mt. Hood Meadows customers – you are involved, thoughtful and creative – and most noticeably, different. The suggestions were wide ranging and often conflicted with each other, which just goes to prove that Meadows attracts a diverse group of people. The Pricing and Product Development Committee would like to thank everyone who submitted comments.  Members of the committee were required to review the blog comments and the discussion of your observations and suggestions dominated our meetings.

**scroll down** (Heavenly Heather Canyon)

We have over 25 pages of pricing and products so I have only listed a few main ones in this blog including our season pass prices and lift ticket prices. The website will be updated soon with all other prices and products.

Season passes and in particular the 4x4 was a hot topic on the Blog. We’re pleased to announce that the 4x4 price will drop from $425 to $400 (which is the introductory price from three seasons ago); and the 3x3 (for age 15 – 22) and the 2x2 (for ages 7 – 14) will remain the same price as last season at $300 each and $200 each respectively. We will still require the group requirements (four for a 4x4; three for a 3x3; two for a 2x2). The deadline for these products is November 5th and they must be purchased through Meadows website.

The individual unlimited adult (23 and older) season pass price will decrease from $599 to $550 – all other individual season passes will increase in price by just $1:
• Age 23 – 64 will be $550
• Age 15 – 22 will be $425
• Age 12 – 14 will be $275
• Age 7 – 11 will be $225
• Age 6 and Under will be $125 (free with parent or grandparent purchase of unlimited season pass)
• Age 65 and over $250
• Midweek will be $500
• Night will be $225

These individual pass prices are static for the whole season – they will not increase in price once we open which will make it more affordable for those who just couldn’t get a group together. Last year ages 6 and under received a FREE season pass when their parent purchased an unlimited season pass. This year we are extending that to include grandparents to make it easier for families to pass on the tradition of family skiing – proof of age and relationship will still be required.

Season pass holders will be able to “charge up” their pass by storing value on it in blocks of $20. This can be done at the ski resort or through our web site when you purchase your pass. We will also add a free $20 block for every $200 stored per pass, per transaction. Your pass can be used to purchase any products or services at the resort – lift tickets, lessons, demos, retail, food & beverages.

**scroll down** (another powder day: 54 feet of fresh last season)

We will be taking season pass pictures off-site this season, at the Portland sales office Wednesday through Saturday starting the first week in October until we open, and also arrange a special picture taking day in Hood River. The times and dates will be posted on our web site. Picture taking will also occur at the Portland Ski and Snowboard show November 3, 4, and 5. I highly recommend that you take advantage of these picture taking opportunities as opposed to getting your picture taken at the ski area after we open.

Ten Time pass pricing remains the same - $330 for an individual or $295 for a group of 10 or more submitted by November 5, 2006. We will still provide a free lift ticket with each group for the organizer, and a free 10 Time Pass for every 20 that the group purchases.

In an effort to provide incentive for more visits to midweek and off-peak days, Meadows will sell the non-peak adult shift lift ticket for $49 and sell the peak adult shift tickets for $59. Peak days include December 23 – January 1 plus Saturdays and Sundays in January and February.

Junior lift tickets will be $29, but we changed the age range for a Junior from 7 to 12 up to age 14, making a lift ticket more affordable for families with 13 and 14 year olds.

**scroll down** (first chair on Vista Express)

The night lift ticket price will increase to $25 but we will also be working with promotional partners to make nights affordable. The Shell 2-for-1 Wednesday night deal makes getting 10 gallons of gas at Shell stations worthwhile, and you’ll get $10 off a night ticket on Friday or Saturday nights when you show your Safeway Club Card.

College Students will receive $10 off of a shift ticket, simply by showing their valid College Student I.D. at our ticket window. We are also gearing up for “College Daze” – a week long celebration January 1 – 7, 2007 with entertainment, music, competitions and a special 7 day pass for just $99 (with valid college I.D.)

We will continue to offer deals through our eTicket web page. The eTicket provides a great way for us to offer some great discounts or value adds. This is the place that we can make adjustments or launch new products during the season, so you’ll want to make sure you sign up for the E-newsletter (formerly called the “Meadoweek”) as we use that list to alert subscribers to eTicket deals frequently.

**scroll down** (Shooting Star Express at sunrise)

We are excited about our new pricing and product offerings. I want to thank you again for your feedback and suggestions through the blog – much of what we have presented was based on your input. We will be updating our web site in late August to present all the new pricing, products, services and events for the upcoming season. The website will also begin selling season passes by September 1.

My recommendation: buy a season pass before November 5th. It’s clearly the best value and most convenient thing to do. Hook up with family and friends and purchase 4x4s, 3x3s, or 2x2s. It’s a lifestyle choice that you’ll not regret. We’re making it affordable for you to have a great winter – take advantage of it.

Please post a comment. We continue to enjoy your feedback and questions!

Winter’s coming soon…

- Dave

P.S. Pricing and products subject to change. – I hate the sound of that but I’ve got to cover my xxxx in case I’ve spaced something out.

(Freedom)

Summer Update from Mt. Hood Meadows

Hi Folks,

I’d like to take this opportunity to update you what’s going on at the ski area this summer.

First, the last blog titled “Products and Pricing Development Input” generated a great amount of useful feedback. We’ll be rolling out our new prices and launching an updated website in late August or early September. I’ll accompany that launch with another blog which will explain the rational for some of the changes at that time. It was an interesting opportunity to ask our customers for specific feedback on our products and pricing through the blog. The feedback (as you can read in the comments) tells us that there is little agreement and consensus within the community on pricing but there are definitely some good ideas that we will be able to act upon. Although most people would like to see the price of anything go down, I’m confident most people will be happy with the outcome. The deadline for the best season pass prices will be November 5, 2006 to coincide with the end of the Portland Ski Show. We’re bringing back the 2x2, 3x3, and 4x4 this year plus offering some other opportunities such as stored value on the passes with incentives. More to come on this later..

One of the big changes this year is that we have formed a new partnership with SALOMON. All our rental equipment and new outdoor uniform purchases will be SALOMON equipment and apparel. We will also have a very extensive offering of SALOMON demo equipment and retail products this year. Additionally, we’re also in the process of changing our Official Vehicle Partnership to SAAB. SALOMON and SAAB have a larger global partnership which Meadows will help activate on Mt. Hood. Several exciting events and on-going activities will also connect with this exciting new alliance this winter.

We call construction projects, large maintenance projects, and remodel projects “summer work projects” or “SWP’s” at Meadows. This year, we have 161 different SWP’s that total up to over $2,500,000. That is a pretty normal level in a year that we are not building something large like a new chairlift.

Some of the big SWP’s include:

• New Ticketing/Season Pass/Group Sales technology (hardware and software)
• An exciting new Children’s Learning Center in the former location of the South Lodge Rental Shop – this will be a great addition for kids
• The North and South Lodge Rental Shops are being merged into the North Lodge Rental Shop which is being upgraded with all new Salomon equipment, new carpeting and new point-of-sale (POS)  technology
• The rooms allocated previously to children’s programs (except for the Snowblaster room) on the second floor of the North Lodge will become a new overflow Food Service’s area with 300 additional seats, new furniture and new carpeting
• 3 new Prinoth 350 snowcats all with terrain master tillers and blades have been purchased. These are the finest snowcats money can buy. We traded in 2 older cats so the fleet has increased
• New outdoor furniture for the deck and other locations
• New furniture in the Alpenstube Loft (formerly the Sahallie Room)
• We are leveling and paving the snow storage “island” in front of the lodge to create a better bus / handicap / circulation area
• New Food and Beverage POS systems in the Alpenstube, Alpenstube Loft, and Finish Line Pizzeria
• 2 new outdoor electronic variable message signs – one at the bottom of Cascade Express and one at the bottom of Shooting Star Express (to communicate the status of Heather Canyon). These will all be helpful in communicating lift status information, grooming, lift maintenance, avalanche control work, and other important messages
• Another electronic variable message sign will be mounted on a pickup truck for highway and access road communication purposes
• 8 new snowmobiles which replace 7 older machines
• Lots of new special events equipment to accessorize the competitions - new rails and a replacement fun box also
• The new demo equipment is moving to where the SnowSports School was located last year to expand the Salomon presence
• The “Gear Box” retail store is being remodeled and renamed as “Altitude”
• The SnowSports School is moving to where the Group Sales / Season Pass Desk was located last year
• The Group Sales / Season Pass Desk is moving downstairs to a new counter outside of the Season Locker Room
• A new timing building is being constructed for snowboard events

Summer is going really fast. Our job fair is scheduled for October 27th and 28th. We’ll be hiring hundreds of local, national, and international employees. If you’re interested in working at the resort feel free to contact Human Resources now at hr@skihood.com or 503-337-2222 ext. 312 or fax a resume to 503-337-2218. Working at a ski area, even for a season, may be one of the most memorable and positive experiences you will ever have. Believe me - I can’t shake the memories from my first year as a ski resort employee back in 1986. That was a gooooood time.

Get your surfing, sailing, biking, hiking, and golf days in because skiing and riding is right around the corner. Start an exercise program now - you’ll want the feel the power back in Heather Canyon soon!

Please post a comment. We really like to hear from you!

Have a great summer, see you soon. - Dave