Steamboat Springs and Winter Park, CO – Intrawest Resort Holdings will implement RFID (radio-frequency identification) technology at its two Colorado ski resorts, Steamboat and Winter Park, for the upcoming winter season.

“Always looking to enhance the guest experience, we’re excited to roll out RFID technology at Steamboat and Winter Park this season,” said Sky Foulkes, Chief Operating Officer for Intrawest. “Industry-leading guest service is at the core of our resorts, and the RFID technology will improve the guest experience and enhance our operating efficiency.”

Intrawest has tapped Colorado-based SKIDATA USA to provide the RFID-enabled lift tickets and lift access gates this season.

“We are thrilled to work with Intrawest; and, in particular, Steamboat and Winter Park this winter,” said Laurent Vaucher, US Subsidiary Manager and General Manager for Mountains for SKIDATA. “As a global leader in ticketing solutions, SKIDATA’s RFID ticketing technology provides a seamless and enhanced guest experience at these two iconic North American resorts.”

All daily lift tickets, season passes and frequency products will be available on QuickTrax™ cards, which are embedded with an RFID chip to enable hands-free access to lifts. When a guest passes through the RFID gate, the gate will open automatically after registering the QuickTrax card. As in previous seasons, lift operators will be on hand to assist with the access gates and ensure a smooth and efficient guest experience.

“With RFID technology, the new system will move guests even faster and more efficiently, allowing more time for carving up the champagne powder snow in Steamboat or the bumps of Winter Park’s famous Mary Jane territory,” said Matt Bowers, Chief Marketing Officer for Intrawest.

The RFID system will be installed in Steamboat at the gondola, Christie Peak Express, Preview, and Thunderhead Express chairlifts. Installation at Winter Park includes the Zephyr Express, Arrow, Gemini Express, Challenger and Super Gauge Express chairlifts providing a simple, fast and hands-free guest experience at both resorts. The system also provides the resorts with key lift utilization data to assist with future planning, marketing and other purposes.

The new QuickTrax card will be reusable over multiple seasons and can be reloaded online or over the phone, allowing guests to bypass the ticket office. All guests will also have the option to sign up for Resort Charge, which eliminates the need to carry cash or a credit card on the mountain. Resort Charge allows guests to make purchases at any resort operated restaurant, rental and retail location, ski and ride school, and more by attaching a credit card to their QuickTrax card.

With the implementation of RFID, the resorts is issuing and mailing new RFID-enabled season pass and frequency products at no cost starting this month.