# Social Winter Sports Promotions Vail Resorts Launches the Epic Friend Tickets Promotion By Kalin Ned | Published 2025-08-25 | Updated 2025-08-27 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/epic-friend-tickets References: [newswire](https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/vail-resorts-cuts-lift-ticket-prices-in-half-for-friends-of-epic-pass-holders-to-celebrate-the-social-side-of-skiing-804486259.html)  [Vail Resorts](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vail-resorts) has introduced a new initiative for the 2025/26 season — [Epic Friend](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/epic-games-store) Tickets. This program is designed to enhance the social aspect of skiing and snowboarding. As part of the Epic Friend Tickets promotion, holders of most [season-long Epic Pass products](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sailgp) will receive between six and ten vouchers. The exact quantity is dependent on how early they purchased their pass. Each voucher allows a friend to purchase a single-day lift ticket at a 50% discount across any of the company’s 37 North American ski areas. Furthermore, the program includes a forward-looking financial incentive as the entire amount a friend pays for that discounted lift ticket can later be applied as a credit toward purchasing their own eligible season pass for the 2026/27 winter season. Image Credit: Vail Resorts ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.8/10 - Popularity: 30% | Activity: 34% | Freshness: 49% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Branding](https://www.trendhunter.com/branding) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Social Skiing Adventures:** The rise of social-centric skiing promotions fosters community and encourages group participation, transforming solitary winter sports into shared group experiences. - **Incentive-based Loyalty Programs:** Incorporating financial incentives in promotions encourages further customer commitment by providing monetary benefits tied to future purchases. - **Dynamic Pricing Models:** Variable pricing based on purchase timing amplifies customer engagement and incentivizes early purchases, highlighting a shift towards personalized pricing strategies. ### Who This Affects Most - **Winter Sports Recreation:** Evolving social-oriented strategies in skiing and snowboarding attract new demographics to the winter sports industry, expanding market reach. - **Travel and Hospitality:** The promotion of group-oriented travel packages within ski resorts can spark innovations in hospitality services catering to social experiences. - **Consumer Goods and Retail:** Adaptive pricing systems influence the purchasing behavior of ski gear consumers, potentially revolutionizing retail strategies for seasonal sports equipment. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Ski Resort Hospitality Expansions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vail-resorts.md) - [Social Good Ski Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nordica-unleashed-outreach.md) - [Winter Sport Rideshare Services](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/uber-ski.md) - [Complimentary Snowmobile Rides](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/complimentary-snowmobile-ride.md) - [Affordable Golf Summer Passes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/summer-fun-pass.md) - [Paper-Saving Ski Resort Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ski-resort-app.md) - [Summertime Hotel Referral Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fairmont-mayakoba.md) - [Mountain-Ready Skincare Partnerships](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mountainready-skincare.md) - [Friend-Focused Restaurant Promotions](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bogo-with-your-bff.md)