Right when it seemed like Vail Resorts reached its worldwide skiing dominance capacity with the $1.1 billion acquisition of Whistler Blackcomb (coming to the Epic Pass for the 2017-18 season), the global mountain resort operator announced additions of French, Italian, Swiss and Austrian locations to the 2016-17 Epic Pass.
Les 3 Vallees, Paradiski and Tignes-Val d’Isere in France; Skirama Dolomiti Adamello Brenta in Italy; 4 Vallees in Switzlerand; and Arlberg in Austria will all be included according to an announcement released today. Each of these areas are comprised of various sub-mountains, as well, collectively offering a monstrous amount of skiing terrain across the continent. More specifically, 31 resorts—such as Verbier and Les Arcs—are included with these additions. (Refer to the graphic above for a full list of all 31.)
Vail Resorts does not own these European resorts, and limited days are offered at each addition, but the company’s ability to offer skiing all over the world is unprecedented—“the only multi-resort pass to offer significant access to European skiing and snowboarding”—according to recent a press release. The Epic Pass offers various other skiing locations from Australia to the United States to Canada, as well.
The lifts may not be turning yet for winter 2016-17, but Vail Resorts is sure acting like it with these momentous changes.
