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Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jared Ristoff Jared Ristoff New York, United States Last Updated: July 2024 NAICS 71392CA

Revenue

$1.5bn

2024

$1.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

16,121

Businesses

289

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada industry analysis

Ski and snowboard resorts in Canada have faced significant challenges and changes in recent years, mainly because of the impacts of climate change. Warmer winters and erratic snowfall have forced resorts to become more innovative in maintaining operations and ensuring visitor satisfaction. Committed to enhancing skiing and snowboarding experiences, the Canadian government has also invested in infrastructure improvements under the Investing in Canada plan. Despite these positive steps, the ongoing unpredictability of weather patterns continues to pose a significant challenge. Revenue contracted at a CAGR of 1.2% to $1.5 billion, including a rise of 3.4% in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Climate change is shortening ski seasons. Warmer winters and inconsistent snowfall have made it tough for ski resorts to predict operations. Resorts are doubling down on pricey snowmaking tech, which brings its own set of challenges.
  • Destination guests or international visitors generally travel from outside a resort's respective province. These customers typically plan trips in advance, making them less sensitive to weather conditions.
  • Canadian ski and snowboard resorts are primarily located near mountainous areas and within geographic regions that yield high amounts of yearly snowfall. Most establishments are located along major mountain chains, like the Appalachian Mountains.
  • Differentiation is crucial, with numerous ski resorts and brands competing for visitors' attention. This can involve offering specialized services or experiences, targeting specific market segments, focusing on sustainability initiatives or providing exceptional customer service.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.3 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $1.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Climate change impacts the length of ski seasons

  • Over the past few years, warmer winters and irregular snowfall patterns have shortened the ski season. This unpredictability has made it challenging for resorts to plan and maintain consistent operations.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Technology integration at resorts will become the norm

  • Technology integration has great potential to advance, enhancing the guest experience and operational efficiency at ski and snowboard resorts.

Biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Big White Ski Resort
53.5
N/A
N/A
Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc.
16.8
N/A
N/A

To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Skiing facilities, Food and beverages and Ski schools. Skiing facilities is the largest segment of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Skiing facilities expand amid rising disposable incomes

  • The ski and snowboarding facilities are the primary offering of the industry. Ski resorts earn more than half their revenue from lift tickets and season passes.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Ski and snowboard resorts operate downhill, cross-country or similar skiing areas, or operating equipment, like ski lifts and tows. These establishments often provide accommodations, food and beverage services, equipment rental services and ski instruction services. Four-season resorts without accommodations are also included in this industry, though companies that own but do not operate ski resorts are excluded from the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Operating skiing facilitiesSelling food and beveragesOperating ski schoolsEquipment rental and merchandise sales

Companies

Big White Ski ResortWhistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)DESTINATION GUESTLOCAL GUEST

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 713920 - Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Climate change is shortening ski seasons. Warmer winters and inconsistent snowfall have made it tough for ski resorts to predict operations. Resorts are doubling down on pric...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Destination guests or international visitors generally travel from outside a resort's respective province. These customers typically plan trips in advance, making them less s...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Canadian ski and snowboard resorts are primarily located near mountainous areas and within geographic regions that yield high amounts of yearly snowfall. Most establishments ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Differentiation is crucial, with numerous ski resorts and brands competing for visitors' attention. This can involve offering specialized services or experiences, targeting s...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Big White Ski Resort launched a new program that aims to identify energy conservation opportunities. Based on its current footprint, the company hopes to discover creative wa...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Big White Ski Resort's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Big White Ski Resort, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The industry doesn’t receive any significant government subsidies or grants, but several organizations provide support to the industry. A form of support supplied by these or...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wage expenses are high and employment is seasonal. Most workers are students and holidaymakers and tend to be hired for the entire season.

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada is $1.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 289 businesses in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada has been declining at a CAGR of 1.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts market in Canada are Big White Ski Resort and Whistler Blackcomb Holdings Inc.

What does the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada include?

Operating skiing facilities and Selling food and beverages are part of the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Big White Ski Resort.

How competitive is the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Ski & Snowboard Resorts industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Amusement Parks & Arcades in Canada
  • Golf Courses & Country Clubs in Canada

Complementors

  • Gym, Health & Fitness Clubs in Canada
  • Campgrounds & Recreational Vehicle Parks in Canada

International industries

  • Ski & Snowboard Resorts in the US
  • Hotels and Resorts in Australia
  • Hotels and Resorts in New Zealand

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.