RFiD for Ski Resorts: The RFid Lift Tickets

We recently consulted with a ticket manufacturer and ski resort on the pros and cons of using RFiD lift tickets. European ski resorts commonly use this type of system with great success. The pros definitely outweighed the cons. RFiD has helped resorts streamline operations with faster orderly lines with less manpower verifying daily tickets. Customers commented they found that lift line operaters invaded personal space by touching tickets and ski staff agreed that with RFiD tickets the skiers do not have to hunt for tickets with layering during weather changes. Season Ticket holders especially enjoy them because their RFiD ticket is encoded onto a plastic card that can just fit inside their pocket or on a lanyard. Verifiying photographs is often difficult with hoods, goggles and scarfs. Other than the cost increasing about 25 cents to 30 cents more per ticket, the only other downside was confirming tickets or passes could not be easily transferred to other users.

The most interesting development was on the operational and marketing aspects of RFiD. By placing fixed postion readers placed on the ski lifts and the lodges, operations could determine by usage on which lifts had high and low usages based on time, season and weather conditions. Engineering could determine when the best times to perform routine maintainance procedures and capital investment decisions in the off season from real usage results. Operations could use information for safety and construction issues on overly conjested areas

Marketing could gather the same usage information from results on which ski runs were most used to highlight those areas in marketing materials. Lodge information gathered can assist with vendor rental locations of high traffic areas and for advertisment placement.

RFiD ticketing can lead to increased revenue and better decision making based on client tracking.