Recently, I called Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations to purchase the $400-for-$500 gift card. This passholder perk had been removed by Vail Resorts in 2017 and was re-instated in 2018. I believe that the return of this benefit may have been the result of customer pushback.
In years past, the $400-for-$500 [card] could be used towards the purchase of season-long programs, i.e. Max Four, etc. This is no longer the case, effectively increasing the price of these programs by 20 per cent.
Guest Relations suggested that I contact Guest Communications via email to inquire about this change in policy, which I did. As a caveat, I was told that I was not the only one voicing concern with the change.
Guest Communications responded with the following:
"I'm very sorry to hear you are affected by the new rule change with the pass holder gift card and thank you for taking the time to send me your feedback. Hearing from our guests helps us assess what improvements we can make to achieve our goal of consistently providing an unmatched experience for our guests."
Since the purchase of Whistler Blackcomb by Vail Resorts, there has been a consistent erosion of passholder perks. The Parent Pass, while re-instated, has been grandfathered, available only to past holders of the pass; the Buddy Passes now are purchased at 50 per cent, etc.
As stated previously, Vail Resorts speaks to "making improvements to achieve our goal of consistently providing an unmatched experience for our guests."
May I suggest: "A thousand words will not leave so deep an impression as one deed," as Henrik Ibsen said.
Nancy Forrest // Whistler
