What SkiBig3 does

SkiBig3 (legally Banff Ski School Ltd., operating as Ski Big 3) is the central reservations and booking platform jointly owned by the three ski resorts operating in Banff National Park — Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay. Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Banff, Alberta, the platform aggregates multi-resort lift access, lodging, equipment rentals, snow school instruction, and ancillary adventure experiences into a single direct-to-consumer commerce flow accessible via skibig3.com, a phone-based inside-sales team, and two physical Adventure Hub retail locations in Banff and Canmore. Its core product, the SkiBig3 Lift Ticket, is the sole multi-resort pass granting access to all three resorts' 7,948+ acres of skiable terrain and is bundled with free inter-resort shuttles, lift-ticket hotel delivery, and grace days.

The platform is built on Spotlio's commerce and content technology stack and supports lift tickets (1-13+ days), season passes (SkiBig3 Pass, Rocky Mountain Passport, plus pass-holder integration with Ikon Pass and Mountain Collective), vacation packages with up to 40% Early Bird savings, tiered Snow School lessons, equipment rentals across demo and standard tiers, and merchandise. Revenue is generated transactionally on lift tickets, packages, rentals, lessons, and retail merchandise, plus subscription-style revenue from season passes; pricing is in Canadian dollars with age-based tiering (Tiger/Child/Teen/Adult/Senior), flexible change and cancellation policies, and family-oriented promotions (kids 12 and under ski and rent free with 5+ day adult package). Distribution combines DTC e-commerce, a 1-844-754-2443 reservations desk, two Adventure Hubs (Banff year-round, Canmore winter-seasonal), a Travel Trade Toolkit serving tour operators, and influencer/earned-media programs.

The company operates with 11-50 employees, no disclosed VC/PE funding, and is privately held under resort-ownership, with marketing reach into tier-one travel media (National Geographic, Vogue, Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveller, BBC) and recent major capital investments including 2024/25 heated bubble chairlifts at Banff Sunshine (Super Angel Express, with Leitner-Poma) and Lake Louise (Pipestone Express, with Doppelmayr), Lake Louise's Richardson's Ridge terrain expansion, and Mt. Norquay's 100th-anniversary 25/26 season.

Name

SkiBig3

Legal name

Banff Ski School Ltd.

Website

https://skibig3.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SkiBig3 is the jointly-owned booking platform for Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay, selling multi-resort lift tickets, season passes, and bundled Ski & Stay vacation packages to destination skiers in Banff National Park.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ski Resort Services

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (713920), Skiing Facilities (71392), Recreational Goods Rental (532284), Tour Operators (561520), Tour Operators (56152)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)

akta.pro primary industry

Integrated Ski & Mountain Resorts (Lift-Served Skiing/Riding) (THAAAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Mountain & Ski Luxury Resorts (THAGACAB), Ski Areas & Lift Operations (Independent Mountains) (THAAAJAB), Mountain & Ski Homes (THAMAAAG), Winter & Mountain Guides (Ski, Snowshoe, Avalanche, Ice Climbing) (THAAALAF)

Keywords

• Ski vacation packages
• Multi-resort lift tickets
• Ski equipment rentals
• Snow school lessons
• Season passes

Headquarters

HQ city

Banff

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lift Tickets & Multi-Day Passes: SkiBig3 sells multi-day lift tickets that grant access to all three resorts (Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, Mt. Norquay). Pricing varies by day count, age category, and season. Revenue is generated per ticket sold with pricing typically quoted in Canadian dollars.
2. Season Passes: Season passes (SkiBig3 Pass, Rocky Mountain Passport) provide unlimited access to participating resorts for the entire winter season. Extended Refund Options are sold as add-ons ($129 individual / $199 family).
3. Ski & Stay Vacation Packages: Bundled vacation packages combining lodging (in Banff, Lake Louise, or Canmore), lift tickets, equipment rentals, snow school lessons, and optional airport shuttles. Revenue collected from package bookings with deposits starting at 25% down.
4. Equipment Rentals: Ski and snowboard equipment rentals available online or at Adventure Hub locations. Pricing tiers include demo, high-performance, and standard equipment. Revenue from rental fees per day or multi-day.
5. Snow School / Lessons: Ski and snowboard instruction including private lessons, group lessons, and guided tours, offered through the Snow School program. Full payment collected at booking.
6. Retail Merchandise & Gear: Year-round retail at Adventure Hub locations: merchandise, bear spray, hiking poles, ice cleats in summer; lift tickets, passes, and rental equipment in winter. Stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, and related gear rented in summer season.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

SkiBig3 is a direct-to-consumer vacation booking platform jointly owned by three ski resorts in Banff National Park (Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay). The company sells multi-resort lift tickets, season passes, equipment rentals, snow school lessons, and bundled Ski & Stay vacation packages combining lodging, lift access, and activities through its e-commerce website, call center, and two physical Adventure Hub retail locations.

Product overview

SkiBig3 is a vacation booking platform jointly owned by Banff Sunshine Village, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay — the three ski resorts within Banff National Park. The core offering is a unified multi-resort pass (SkiBig3 Lift Ticket and Season Passes) that provides access to all three resorts covering over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain. The platform bundles this with vacation packages (Ski & Stay) that incorporate lodging, equipment rentals, snow school lessons, and adventure experiences. Physical retail and rental services are delivered through the SkiBig3 Adventure Hub locations in Banff and Canmore. The portfolio also includes season passes, Rocky Mountain Passport for regional resort access, and the Trifecta Challenge loyalty program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ski & Stay Vacation Packages Bundled vacation packages combining lodging in Banff, Lake Louise, or Canmore, SkiBig3 Lift Tickets, optional lessons, rentals, and airport shuttles, with up to 40% savings when booked early for destination ski vacationers.
• SkiBig3 Lift Ticket Multi-day lift ticket providing access to all three SkiBig3 resorts (Banff Sunshine, Lake Louise Ski Resort, and Mt. Norquay) with over 8,000 acres of skiable terrain, free ski shuttles, grace days, and hotel delivery for multi-day skiers.
• Season Passes (SkiBig3 Pass & Rocky Mountain Passport) Unlimited access passes to all three SkiBig3 resorts including Youth, Child, Tiger, Senior, Student, and Family options, plus the Rocky Mountain Passport for additional regional resort access for repeat and seasonal skiers.
• Equipment Rentals Ski and snowboard equipment rentals available for the winter season with demo, high-performance, and standard tiers, plus summer gear such as stand-up paddle boards, kayaks, hiking poles, bear spray, and ice cleats for vacationers.
• Snow School (Lessons) Ski and snowboard instruction programs for all ability levels, including private guides, group lessons, and instructional sessions for vacationers and beginners.
• Lodging Accommodation booking service covering Banff, Lake Louise, and Canmore, including partner hotels and Fairmont Banff Springs and Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise for ski vacationers.
• SkiBig3 Adventure Hub (Retail) Physical retail and rental locations in Banff and Canmore offering equipment rentals, lift ticket and pass sales, merchandise, and guest services year-round (Banff) and seasonally (Canmore).
• Experiences Adventure activities beyond skiing including dog sledding, snowmobiling, and other Canadian Rockies experiences for ski vacationers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 40% savings on 26/27 Ski & Stay packages when booked by July 30
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Leitner-PomacoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Leitner-Poma developed the Super Angel Express heated bubble chairlift at Banff Sunshine for the 2024/25 season. The lift features EVO premium technology eliminating traditional gearboxes. Banff Sunshine now has two of the three available heated bubble chairlifts in Canada.
• DoppelmayrcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2024Doppelmayr collaborated with Lake Louise Ski Resort to develop the Pipestone Express heated bubble chairlift, a 6-person high-speed lift with a 7-minute ride time. This is the third heated bubble chairlift in Canada.
• Castle Mountain ResortminorOthers · 1 January 2024The decommissioned Angel Express chairlift from Banff Sunshine (built in 1988) was transported to Castle Mountain Resort in southern Alberta, where it will serve as the resort's first high-speed chairlift, in line with Banff Sunshine's sustainability commitment.
• Ikon PasscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSkiBig3 is an official partner of Ikon Pass, offering exclusive lodging deals for Ikon Pass holders booking Ski & Stay packages in Banff and Lake Louise. Ikon Pass provides SkiBig3 access to a large base of multi-destination ski travelers.
• Mountain CollectivecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerSkiBig3 is an official partner of Mountain Collective, offering exclusive lodging discounts for Mountain Collective pass holders. Mountain Collective provides SkiBig3 with distribution to its global pass holder network.
• Banff Lake Louise TourismminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBanff Lake Louise Tourism is referenced as a partner on SkiBig3's website. The partnership supports destination marketing and provides resources for travel trade partners promoting skiing in the Canadian Rockies.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Whistler Blackcomb: Canada's largest destination ski resort, jointly marketed with multi-day lift tickets, vacation packages, lodging, and lessons targeting fly-to international skiers. Highly comparable to SkiBig3 as a multi-mountain destination booking and package business in Western Canada.
• Sun Peaks Resort: British Columbia destination ski resort operating lift tickets, season passes, lodging, lessons, and rentals through an integrated booking platform. Comparable in scale, Canadian geography, and bundled vacation offering.
• Mont-Tremblant Resort: Major Eastern Canadian destination ski resort with integrated lodging, lift tickets, lessons, and rentals sold via a unified platform. Comparable to SkiBig3 as a Canadian destination resort with vertical bundling.
• Ski.com: Specialist online ski vacation package broker bundling lodging, lift tickets, rentals, and lessons at multiple North American resorts. Closely comparable to SkiBig3's vacation specialist and bundling GTM, though multi-resort rather than co-owned.

Broad incumbents

• Alterra Mountain Company: Owner of the Ikon Pass network (50+ destinations) and operator of multiple ski resorts. Directly comparable through SkiBig3's Ikon Pass partnership and similar destination package and pass model.
• Aspen Snowmass: Luxury four-mountain destination resort in Colorado with integrated lift tickets, lodging, lessons, and high-touch vacation services. Comparable to SkiBig3's premium integrated resort model and high-end package positioning.
• Vail Resorts: Largest North American ski resort operator running destination resorts (Vail, Park City, Whistler) with integrated lodging, lift tickets, season passes (Epic Pass), and lessons. Comparable to SkiBig3 in bundled ski vacation model but at far greater scale and breadth.

Others

• Spotlio: Digital experience platform powering SkiBig3's e-commerce, lift ticketing, and booking engine. Comparable as an enabling technology partner and as a digital infrastructure provider for destination ski resorts broadly.
• Banff Lake Louise Tourism: Destination marketing organization for Banff National Park, partnering with SkiBig3 on regional promotion. Comparable as a destination funnel for international ski travelers visiting the same geography.

Regional players

• Park City Mountain: Largest U.S. ski resort operated by Vail Resorts, integrated with Epic Pass and bundled lodging/tickets via direct channels. Comparable in destination ski + pass + bundled booking model but US-based.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLr83Cjr8vEJjMUmFiFGLBTnIAoDfh9PDE
• Xx.com/skibig3
• Facebookfacebook.com/SkiBig3GuidedAdv
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ski-banff-lake-louise-sunshine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SkiBig3