INDY PASS LAUNCHES DESTINATION UPGRADE, ALLOWING UP TO FIVE DAYS AT SELECT RESORTS.

Indy Pass today introduced the Destination Upgrade, an add-on that gives passholders three extra ski/ride days at participating destination resorts in the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and the Alps. The upgrade makes a full family ski vacation possible without paying mega-pass prices.

Paired with the two days the Indy Pass already includes at each of its 300+ member resorts, the upgrade lets skiers and riders spend up to five days at one of the 13 destinations in the 26/27 pilot program, or spread their three days among them. Upgrade days can only be used at participating resorts. Indy Pass specific lodging deals are also being offered on a resort-by-resort basis.

The upgrade cost for adults starts at $199 and $129 for kids, depending on which Indy Pass was purchased and when. That means a family can now plan a full destination ski vacation and use their pass at independent ski areas all season long.

“We’re thrilled about what this means for passholders and for some of our largest resort partners,” said Indy Pass Director Erik Mogensen. “The Destination Upgrade gives families more time at some of the best destinations on our pass for far less than a mega pass costs. Skiers want to put their money behind independent mountains, and now they can do that while enjoying a longer trip.”

"Today we’re launching the Indy Pass Destination Upgrade, an optional add-on that lets active Indy Passholders add 3 more days of skiing/riding at or between select partners in this pilot program. "This pilot includes 13 resorts across the Rockies, the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and the Alps, including Big White, Brundage, and Tamarack, plus five resorts in the European Alps with more than 300 lifts between them.

"That means you can plan a five-day ski trip to Big White all on your Indy Pass, or visit Idaho to use 4 days at Brundage and 3 at Tamarack, and still have 2 days at 300+ more resorts up for grabs. The Indy Pass is meant to get people on snow at places they otherwise wouldn't go.

"As a kid who grew up skiing at a small East Coast hill, I know how transformative a ski trip to a big mountain can be. My parents saved most of their disposable income to make sure we could take a family ski trip to a big mountain out West every few seasons. They always told our school, “We will never look back and say we should have taken fewer family ski trips". They were right.

"We have been working on building a solution at Indy Pass that opens up big mountains and trips; one that does not require a mega pass or a $300 lift ticket. The Destination Upgrade will be priced starting at $199 for adults, and $129 for kids at launch and is only available as an add-on to current passholders. You must purchase it and assign the product to a valid Indy Pass guest in the E-store.

"If you don't yet have an Indy Pass, please make sure you are on the waitlist. We are announcing at least 10 more resorts for this season, next week. It will be newsworthy.

"We all have a role to play in keeping skiing and riding Independent."

“Independence is the key to our success,” said Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President of Big White Ski Resort in British Columbia. “We’ve been asked many times to join the big corporate ticket programs, but we’ve chosen to remain independent. Our hotels, restaurants and transportation services are run by local owner-operators and families who have been part of this community for years. That’s what makes the experience special. The people running the resort are the people you’ll meet over coffee, helping kids on the magic carpets or working in the rental shop. We look forward to hosting new and returning Indy Passholders to one of Canada's largest ski resorts.”

Current 26/27 passholders can buy the Destination Upgrade through the Indy Pass estore starting November 5, and the three extra days load automatically onto their existing pass. These days are not subject to blackouts, similar to the Indy+ Pass. Upgrade pricing depends on the core pass initially purchased: