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Letter: With Vail Resorts, the devil is in the details

'[W]hy bother trying to make the public feel like you are being nice, when you are actually creating more hoops to jump through just for a hot chocolate to make us feel like you care?'
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The fine print on the hot chocolate coupons—or rather, coupons for a hot chocolate coupon—regularly distributed to inconvenienced Whistler Blackcomb only creates more inconvenience, says this disgruntled pass holder.

I have had a season pass to Whistler (prior to the Blackcomb days) for some 35 years or more. I’ve had a place on Creekside since 1988, and we do enjoy the winters and the summers in Whistler.

[On Friday, Feb. 18], while skiing with my wife and grandson, eight years old, we had the unfortunate timing to be on the Green Chair, sorry, the Emerald Chair for some 25 minutes between 10:30 and 11 a.m. While getting off the chair, there was a very nice young man handing out what he said was, “Hot Chocolate coupons, sorry for the inconvenience.” I want to thank Vail Resorts for the thought.

We did have a lunch reservation at that time, and as we were all cold and shivering, we went in. My wife went to purchase our lunch and one hot chocolate for my grandchild. Reaching the cashier, my wife was politely told that the coupon is no good—we need to exchange it for another coupon at guest relations. She purchased our lunch.

Just to let you know, as I am sure you do, there is no guest relations at the top of the mountain. (There used to be.) You have to go down to either Creekside or the village. That way, you have to stand in line again just to redeem a coupon for a coupon.

Coming down cold, we did not immediately go into guest relations as we all wanted to get home and warm up.

Then, we read the fine print, and I am sure that you know what it says. You have to redeem the coupon for a coupon on the day it is given, if not, it is worth nothing. No good will, no good intentions, nothing.

My question is: why bother trying to make the public feel like you are being nice, when you are actually creating more hoops to jump through just for a hot chocolate to make us feel like you care?

I would like your mailing address, please, so that I can mail these coupons back to you; you can use them as toilet paper, for that is all they are good for.

Another disgruntled season pass holder created by Vail Resorts.

Arthur Weinstein // Vancouver