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Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Michal Dalal Michal Dalal New York, United States Last Updated: March 2024 NAICS 71392

Revenue

$4.6bn

2024

$4.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

81,495

Businesses

337

Wages

$X.Xbn

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry analysis

The ski and snowboard resorts industry has benefited from favorable economic conditions over most of the five years to 2023. Improvements in household income enabled families to increase their spending on vacations. As the pandemic continues to subside, industry demand is expected to continue rebounding in 2023. The industry will also benefit from the return of incoming travelers from abroad, which hadn't recovered in the same way as domestic travel did following the pandemic. Overall, industry revenue increased at a CAGR of 3.7% to $4.6 billion over the five years to 2023, including an anticipated 3.4% increase in 2023. Profit has fallen to 10.2% of revenue in 2023, from 10.8% in 2018.Major players Vail Resorts and Alterra Mountain expanded their Epic Pass and Ikon Pass, enabling consumers to ski at multiple mountain locations of their choice. These packages helped these major players better contend with shorter snow days at selected locations under the company's umbrella.Winter tourism is not only sensitive to climate change, but it's also vulnerable to customer income and spending patterns. Consumer spending is expected to trend upward as the economy continues to recover from pandemic-induced lows, supporting demand for ski and snowboard resorts. Family trips and vacations are expected to follow suit, contributing to revenue growth. Operators have put more effort into sustaining winter tourism by initiating various programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and educating visitors on how to do the same. Larger companies are also expected to continue adding snowmaking capabilities to limit risk while operating. Revenue will rise at a CAGR of 1.3% to $4.9 billion over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry benefited from increased disposable income and an increase in domestic travel. But operators had to shut down resorts during the pandemic, as they were classified as nonessential.
  • Resorts sell and rent equipment for winter sports activities at their retail shops. Resorts that offer various equipment brands can generate higher profits compared to other retail products.
  • Resorts are centered geographically near mountainous areas that receive good snowfalls. Being located near large population centers is also beneficial, as transportation costs are low for customers.
  • Weather conditions can be a critical form of competition for operators. Resorts that experience a lot of snowfall can attract more consumers and limit snowmaking expenses.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $4.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The pandemic led to an avalanche of issues

  • In response to the pandemic, state governments imposed the closure of nonessential businesses in March 2020. The industry suffered as it was categorized as nonessential and had to temporarily shutter to comply with regulations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Improving economic factors and travel will be beneficial to the industry

  • Increasing household income will enable many Americans to spend on vacations and activities, like skiing and snowboarding.

Biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Vail Resorts, Inc.
1,325.9
223.9
16.9
Alterra Mountain Company
551.9
52.6
9.5
Boyne Resorts
275.9
18.9
6.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 7 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Skiing facilities, Food and beverages and Ski schools. Skiing facilities is the largest segment of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US.

Trends and Insights

Skiing facilities grow amid rising disposable incomes

  • Skiing facilities are the primary products offered by the industry.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Ski and Snowboard Resorts industry is composed of companies engaged in operating downhill, cross-country or similar skiing areas, or operating equipment, such as ski lifts and tows. These operators often provide food and beverage services, equipment rental services and ski instruction services. Four-season resorts without accommodations are also included in this industry, but companies that own and do not operate ski resorts are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Operating alpine skiing facilities without accommodations Operating cross-country skiing facilities without accommodations Operating downhill skiing facilities without accommodations Operating four-season ski resorts without accommodations Ski lift and tow operation Operating ski resorts without accommodations

Companies

Vail Resorts, Inc.Alterra Mountain CompanyBoyne Resorts

Purchase this report to view all 7 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

SUSTAINABLE SLOPES GRANT PROGRAMDESTINATION SKIERIN-STATE SKIER

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 71392 - Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry benefited from increased disposable income and an increase in domestic travel. But operators had to shut down resorts during the pandemic, as they were classifie...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Resorts sell and rent equipment for winter sports activities at their retail shops. Resorts that offer various equipment brands can generate higher profits compared to other ...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Resorts are centered geographically near mountainous areas that receive good snowfalls. Being located near large population centers is also beneficial, as transportation cost...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Weather conditions can be a critical form of competition for operators. Resorts that experience a lot of snowfall can attract more consumers and limit snowmaking expenses.

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Technological advances and rising infrastructure costs have made acquiring competitors more feasible for larger operators, compared to building a new resort which requires sig...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Vail Resorts, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Alterra Mountain Company's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Boyne Resorts's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 4 additional companies

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Vail Resorts, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Alterra Mountain Company, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Boyne Resorts, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for 4 additional companies

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Ski resorts are subject to various federal, state, regional and local laws and regulations. For example, companies must comply with the National Forest Management Act and the...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

The pandemic and investments to upgrade daily operations put pressure on profit. Companies also had to offer discounts following the pandemic to attract customers back to the...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States is $4.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in 2024?

There are 337 businesses in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 2.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts market in United States are Vail Resorts, Inc., Alterra Mountain Company and Boyne Resorts

What does the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US in United States include?

Operating alpine skiing facilities without accommodations and Operating cross-country skiing facilities without accommodations are part of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Vail Resorts, Inc..

How competitive is the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US industry in United States.

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Complementors

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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