SAM Magazine-Broomfield, Colo., April 17, 2009-Vail Resorts today reported that visits to its five resorts were off by 6.2 percent and lift ticket revenue down by 8.7 percent for the season to date through April 12, compared to last year. Room nights booked through VR's central reservations and directly at the company's owned and managed properties were down 12.8 percent through March 31.

These figures show a slightly greater decline than VR had reported for its business through February. "This was attributable to a deterioration in our ski season metrics during the last two weeks of March 2009, where the close-in booking pattern, which had been strong throughout the winter ski season, did not materialize to the same degree," said VR CEO Rob Katz. Ski school, dining and retail/rental revenue alsol experienced slightly greater declines over this time period.

However, one key indicator for next season is positive. "On March 11, 2009, we announced the return of the Epic Season Pass for the 2009/2010 ski season," Katz said. "We are very pleased with the number of 2009/2010 Epic Season Passes sold to date, which is already significantly exceeding the number of Epic Season Passes sold in the entire prior year spring sales period through May 31, 2008." \