Yikes! New GM at Mt Bachelor

Since we're on the subject, here is the letter sent to the season pass holders in June:

Dear Mt. Bachelor Pass Holder:

As a Mt Bachelor passholder we understand your interest in matters concerning the management and operation of this great mountain. An article in the most recent Bend Business Review has cast Mt Bachelor in the spotlight amid unsubstantiated accusations of negligence, compromised safety and less-than-sound business practices. This story marks the second time in seven months that Kevin Max and Cutter Communications make allegations against Mt Bachelor. These allegations are contradicted by Kiki Cutter herself, who praised the efforts and accomplishments of Mt. Bachelor in a handwritten note this April, in which she stated, "I so enjoyed being back up on Bachelor. Thanks for all your hard work getting the mountain in such wonderful shape. You have done a great job!".

As a 50 year member of the community and one of the largest employers in Central Oregon we feel it is important for Mt. Bachelor to set the record straight with regard to a number of claims made by Mr. Max in his article. As a result we have prepared a detailed response to Mr. Max's specific allegations. Please click [HERE] to read Mt. Bachelor’s detailed response.

The staff and management of Mt Bachelor are well aware of the challenges we face in regaining the trust and respect of our community. While we take exception to many of the comments and accusations in Mr. Max’s articles, we are at the same time working diligently to find ways to improve the quality and value of the product we deliver to 500,000 riders annually.

While we understand and respect the media's right to fairly, accurately and objectively report on anything and everything they choose, we take exception to what we believe is an unjustified witch hunt being carried out by Kevin Max and Cutter Communications. The US Forest Service, together with our insurance provider, have repeatedly confirmed our safety and operations claims through a series of scheduled and unannounced inspections which have revealed nothing short of an operation that is safe, sound and reliable day in and day out.

Mt. Bachelor with the support of parent company POWDR Corp is committed to the long-term sustainability of the mountain and the long-term prosperity of our region’s economy.

We appreciate your continued support and look forward with great anticipation to our 50th anniversary season in 08-09, to the next 50 years and beyond. As always, we welcome your thoughts, suggestions and feedback at info@mtbachelor.com, and we look forward to welcoming you back to the mountain.




Sincerely,

The Staff and Management of Mt. Bachelor
 
Youth pricing cut up to 50 percent

From KTVZ.COM news sources

Mt. Bachelor, trying to regain lost favor with Central Oregon skiers and boarders - especially the younger crowd - announced big reductions in season pass prices for the coming winter, slashing youth passes by up to 50 percent.

Here's the full press release from the resort - we'll have more, including reaction to the new prices, Friday on NewsChannel 21 (and of course, in the comments section on this online article):

Mt. Bachelor president and general manager Dave Rathbun tonight announced significant reductions in Alpine season pass pricing for the 2008-2009 season. The new pricing was unveiled during a private reception at The Old Mill District, hosted by Bill and Trish Smith.

For the 08-09 season, unrestricted Adult season passes have been reduced from $929 to $799, while Adult Non-holiday passes, designed for the local rider, have been reduced from $749 to $669 making it the lowest priced adult pass, valid weekends, in 15 years. Most notably, Young Adult (ages 19-23) season passes have been reduced by 50 percent, from $699 to $349. For families, Teen passes are reduced from $399 to $249, and Youth (ages 6-12) reduced from $219 to $149. This pricing replaces and improves upon the previous multi-purchase family discount program, giving every family the opportunity to purchase exactly what they need at the lowest possible price.

I may have gotten this one completely wrong. Dave Rathbun was Killington marketing & sales when they jacked up prices last year and made the place very anti-family. Based on this action, it looks like it wasn't his call. In my opinion, this is how pricing is supposed to work. You're a heroin dealer. You want to hook them when they're young and worry about collecting the premium dollars when they're out in the working world. It looks like I wrongly attributed blame to Dave Rathbun that properly belonged to the guy who signed his paycheck at Killington. Time to stick another pin in my Chris Nyberg voodoo doll.
 
And wasn't Nyberg the one POWDR Corp put in charge at Mt. Bachelor in 2003 when they first started stripping assets?
 
Back
Top