Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch commented on the Park City ski patrol union strike today, apologizing to a very specific group.
“We deeply regret the disruptions caused to our guests during the patrol union strike and are committed to delivering an exceptional and safe experience for our guests, and rebuilding their trust and loyalty,” Lynch wrote in a statement.
The 12-day strike upended Park City operations during the thick of holiday ski season. It ended when Vail agreed to union wage demands, including a $2 raise across the board, from $21 to $23 per hour.
“We are pleased to have reached an agreement with the Park City Mountain patrol union that is consistent with the wage structure across all of our mountain resorts,” Lynch wrote.
Just recently a letter from the midst of the strike has gone public. It was signed by ski patrol unions at Breckenridge, Keystone, Crested Butte and Park City, and warned the company of crumbling morale, when it sent Colorado patrollers to cross picket lines and keep Park City open.
“These patrol leaders are faced with a no-win situation,” the letter reads, as shared by Crested Butte ski patrol on Instagram. “In many cases it has been implied that their careers and livelihoods are at risk if they do not support the company’s demand.”
When the strike ended these Colorado patrol leads returned home, including ski patrol directors and assistants from Breckenridge and Vail Mountain.
Lynch’s apology came at the end of a season-to-date earnings report. It shows skier visits are down just slightly (0.3%) compared to last season, but lift ticket revenue is up (4.5%) and dining revenue is up the most (6.6%) at North American properties, including those in Colorado, Utah and British Columbia.