how corporate consolidation is killing ski towns

[mrnyc]

this is niche recreation focused, but i had no idea it was going on and found it interesting. the video below describes the topic a bit too long, but it sounds like vail resorts the business entity is buying up ski resorts and ski town properties left and right and turning them all into corporate disneylands.

so it seems vail resorts (mtn on the nyse) is on to a good niche, but yet is also wrecking life in these places they take over.

you wouldn't think one big company owning everything is such a good idea (to be fair there are also a few vail resorts skitown competitors doing the same, like alterra, a privately held entity, for one).

or ... does it really even matter what's happening with the ruthless consolidation here? and is it happening elsewhere around the world? thoughts?


• Video Link

[mrnyc]

here is something about alterra ..



As a Copycat Competitor Emerges, Can Vail Resorts Still Catch Big Air?

By Jeremy Bowman – Oct 20, 2018

Vail has long been king of the mountain, but a new challenger poses a threat like never before.

Vail Resorts (MTN -1.04%) has been a hidden winner on the market in recent years. Shares of the ski-resort operator have more than tripled over the last five years, and jumped nearly 800% over the last decade.

Skiing and snowboarding haven't suddenly come into vogue, however. Instead, those gains can be attributed to two key pillars of Vail's strategy: First, the company has aggressively pursued acquisitions, including its $1 billion takeover of Whistler/Blackcomb in 2016, the most visited ski resort in North America. The second key to Vail's success has been its Epic Pass. Introduced in 2008, the all-encompassing pass gives skiers and riders access to all of the company's resorts for an entire season for one reasonable base rate.


more:
https://www.fool.com/investing/2018/...resorts-s.aspx