Mt Buller 2021 Season Passes On Sale Today With Early Bird Savings
Mountainwatch | Press Release
An interesting press release from Mt Buller today, not just because its 2021 season passes are now available at Early Bird prices, but also for the options available for credits or refunds on 2020 season passes. Buller closed on August 6 and has only operated lifts for 44 days this season and while it may re-open if the current Victorian lockdowns are lifted on September 16, refunds are available for season pass holders.
However, in an unusual move for a ski resort, Buller Ski lifts are allowing season pass holders to nominate the level of credit or refund they feel appropriate to their situation.
“What’s exciting about this decision is the choice is completely up to our members,” Rhylla Morgan, who heads up communications for the resort told Mountainwatch. “Some will request 0% back as they’ve spent more time than usual on the slopes during their weird COVID-19 season. Others might need to request credit or refunds due to their circumstances. A cookie-cutter approach just would not have been fair as there was such variance in people’s experiences this season.”
“We hope members, we’ve heard from many already who are blown away by this announcement, will embrace the spirit of what BSL has done and make a contribution if they are able to,” Rhylla said.
It is an interesting concept and effectively those season pass holders who choose not to ask for a full refund are making their own contribution towards the running costs of Mt Buller this season.
“We felt very strongly that this was an opportunity to demonstrate what loyalty and Season Membership means. It’s so much more than a lift ticket,” Rhylla added. “Membership is about being ‘invested’ personally, emotionally and financially in a mountain and a community that we love, just as BSL is. In a year when we’ve all had choices and options taken from us I hope this is a unexpected surprise.”
The Mt Buller and Mt Stirling Resort Management Board is also offering full refunds to everyone who purchased resort entry season passes and village access passes.
No doubt this loyalty to season membership holders show by Buller Ski Lifts and the management Board will be appreciated and reciprocated. It’s refreshing to see a big resort like Buller make a decision that’s not entirely based on commercial considerations.
Today’s Media Release:
Mt Buller, September 1, 2020: Spring is in the air at Mt Buller with the annual rollout of the Early Bird Season Memberships for 2021 on sale today. If you are ready to put this year behind you and start fresh, to look forward to the time when you can travel beyond your suburb or street, Mt Buller invites you to think about getting back on the slopes in 2021!
Lock in skiing and boarding with 2021 Season Memberships at Early Bird savings now.
2020 Buller Season Membership And Resort Entry Season Pass Update
Back in March, Buller Ski Lifts Pty Ltd (BSL) and the Mt Buller & Mt Stirling Resort Management Board (RMB) gave a clear commitment through their COVID-19 refund policy, to provide Season Members and guests with Resort Entry Season Passes or Village Access Permits the reassurance of credit and refund options if the pandemic prevented them from visiting the resort.
BSL and the RMB are proud that Mt Buller was the only Australian alpine resort that did not restrict access to its valued Season Members in 2020 and that the entire resort team worked tirelessly against a backdrop of a global pandemic to get open, stay open and deliver a positive and safe experience for 44 days.
Mt Buller and Mt Stirling temporarily closed on 6 August as part of public health measures to slow the spread of coronavirus aligned with stage 3 restrictions in regional Victoria.
The resorts remain hopeful of reopening to visitors if restrictions ease before the end of the 2020 snow season. Over 90cms of snow has fallen in recent weeks further raising hopes for spring skiing and boarding.
We are pleased to advise that BSL is providing options for credits or refunds to everyone who purchased a Season Membership and that the RMB is offering refunds to everyone who purchased a Resort Entry Season Pass or Village Access Permit for the 2020 Snow Season. Members and Pass-holders are being contacted directly with these offers.
Buller Ski Lifts considered carefully how to recover some of its costs in this extraordinarily challenging season and at the same time treat loyal Season Members fairly.
The options considered included a ‘day’s used’ and a pro-rata ‘days of lift operation’ approach, however neither of these felt completely fair for everybody. With no suitable ‘one-size-fits-all’ answer the lift company ultimately took the ground-breaking step of providing its loyal Season Members the choice to contribute what they felt was appropriate to their situation in 2020.
Buller Ski Lifts General Manager Laurie Blampied explained, “Coronavirus (COVID-19) has taken so many choices away from all of us this year. As BSL wrestled with how to fairly assess credit or refund options we realised calculating days available or days used was not appropriate, so we took the decision to give our Members the choice to elect what contribution they wish to make.”
“The approach we’ve taken is unusual but has a lot to do with the trusted relationship we hold with our Members; these are passionate individuals and families who share our commitment to this mountain.”
“We’ve been heartened to hear from some who see their Membership as a long term partnership that spans good seasons and bad, requesting to maintain their contribution and already looking ahead to 2021.”
These comments were echoed by RMB CEO Mark Bennetts, “Relationships are very important to us at Mt Buller & Mt Stirling, and we hope that everyone who shows their commitment by buying any of our season product wants to come back year after year. So in these tough times, we also decided to take a long term view by providing refunds to all season pass holders, and we look forward to seeing them all return to the resorts in 2021”.
For more information on options related to 2020 BSL Season Memberships click here
For further information and updates on operations head to https://www.mtbuller.com.au/Winter/
