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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | 12 Months Ended
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Jul. 31, 2020
Accounting Policies [Abstract] |
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Principles of Consolidation — The accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for which the Company has a controlling financial interest. Investments in which the Company does not have a controlling financial interest, but has significant influence, are accounted for under the equity method. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. Cash and Cash Equivalents — The Company considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. Restricted Cash — The Company considers cash to be restricted when withdrawal or general use is legally restricted. During peak operations of the North American ski season, the Company’s restricted cash balance is primarily associated with customer reservations deposits that are required to be held in a trust pursuant to statutory requirements until such reservations are fulfilled. Accounts receivable — The Company records trade accounts receivable in the normal course of business related to the sale of products or services. The allowance for doubtful accounts is based on a specific reserve analysis and on a percentage of accounts receivable and takes into consideration such factors as historical write-offs, the economic climate and other factors that could affect collectability. Write-offs are evaluated on a case by case basis. Inventories — The Company’s inventories consist primarily of purchased retail goods, food and beverage items and spare parts. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value, determined using primarily an average weighted cost method. The Company records a reserve for estimated shrinkage and obsolete or unusable inventory. Property, Plant and Equipment — Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost net of accumulated depreciation. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Expenditures that improve the functionality of the related asset or extend the useful life are capitalized. When property, plant and equipment is retired or otherwise disposed of, the related gain or loss is included in income from operations. Leasehold improvements are amortized on the straight-line method over the shorter of the remaining lease term or estimated useful life of the asset. Depreciation is calculated on the straight-line method, including property, plant and equipment under capital leases, generally based on the following useful lives:
| Estimated Life in Years
Land improvements | 10-35
Buildings and building improvements | 7-30
Machinery and equipment | 2-30
Furniture and fixtures | 3-10
Software | 3
Vehicles | 3-10
Real Estate Held for Sale and Investment — The Company capitalizes as real estate held for sale and investment the original land acquisition cost, direct construction and development costs, property taxes, interest recorded on costs related to real estate under development and other related costs. Sales and marketing expenses are charged against income in the period incurred. Additionally, sales commission expenses are charged against income in the period that the related revenue from real estate sales is recorded. Deferred Financing Costs — Certain costs incurred with the issuance of debt and debt securities are capitalized and included as a reduction in the net carrying value of long-term debt, net of accumulated amortization, with the exception of costs incurred related to line-of-credit arrangements, which are included in deferred charges and other assets, net of accumulated amortization. Amortization of such deferred financing costs are recorded to interest expense, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations over the respective term of the applicable debt instruments. When debt is extinguished prior to its maturity date, the amortization of the remaining unamortized deferred financing costs, or pro-rata portion thereof, is charged to loss on extinguishment of debt. Goodwill and Intangible Assets — The Company has classified as goodwill the cost in excess of estimated fair value of the net assets of businesses acquired in purchase transactions. The Company’s major intangible asset classes are trademarks, water rights, customer lists, property management contracts and Forest Service permits. Goodwill and various indefinite-lived intangible assets, including certain trademarks, water rights and certain property management contracts, are not amortized but are subject to at least annual impairment testing. The Company tests these non-amortizing assets annually (or more often, if necessary) for impairment as of May 1. Amortizable intangible assets are amortized over the shorter of their contractual terms or estimated useful lives. The testing for impairment consists of a comparison of the estimated fair value of the assets with their net carrying values. If the net carrying amount of the assets exceed its estimated fair value, an impairment will be recognized for indefinite-lived intangibles, including goodwill, in an amount equal to that excess. If the net carrying amount of the assets does not exceed the estimated fair value, no impairment loss is recognized. For the testing of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment, the Company performs a qualitative analysis to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset exceeds the carrying amount, which includes an evaluation as to whether there have been significant changes to macro-economic factors related to the reporting unit or intangible asset that could materially impact fair value. If it is determined, based on qualitative factors, that the fair value of the reporting unit or indefinite-lived intangible asset is more likely than not less than carrying amount, a quantitative impairment test would be required, in which the Company would determine the estimated fair value of its reporting units using discounted cash flow analyses and determine the estimated fair value of its indefinite-lived intangible assets using an income approach. As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the impact it has had on the Company’s operations during the year ended July 31, 2020, and the expected continuing impact of the pandemic on future operations, the Company determined that the estimated fair value of its Colorado resort ground transportation company reporting unit within its Lodging segment no longer exceeded its carrying value. As further discussed in Note 8, the Company recognized an impairment of approximately $28.4 million related to its Colorado resort ground transportation company during the year ended July 31, 2020, which was recorded within asset impairments on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations, with a corresponding reduction to goodwill, net of $25.7 million and to intangible assets, net and property, plant and equipment, net of $2.7 million. See Note 8, Supplementary Balance Sheet Information, for additional information. The Company determined that there were no other impairments of goodwill, definite and indefinite-lived assets for the years ended July 31, 2020, and that there was no impairment to goodwill and no material impairment to definite or indefinite-lived intangible assets for the years ended July 31, 2019 and 2018. Long-lived Assets — The Company evaluates potential impairment of long-lived assets and long-lived assets to be disposed of whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the net carrying amount of an asset may not be fully recoverable. If the sum of the expected cash flows, on an undiscounted basis, is less than the net carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the net carrying amount of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value. As discussed above, the Company recorded an impairment to long-lived assets related to its Colorado resort ground transportation company during the year ended July 31, 2020. The Company determined that there were no other impairments of long-lived assets for the year ended July 31, 2020, and determined there was no impairment of the net carrying amount of a long-lived asset occurred during the years ended July 31, 2019 and 2018. Revenue Recognition — The Company’s significant accounting policies with regard to revenue recognition are discussed in Note 3, Revenues. Real Estate Cost of Sales — Costs of real estate transactions include direct project costs, common cost allocations (primarily determined on relative sales value) and sales commission expense. The Company utilizes the relative sales value method to determine cost of sales for condominium units sold within a project when specific identification of costs cannot be reasonably determined. Foreign Currency Translation — The functional currency of the Company’s entities operating outside of the United States is the principal currency of the economic environment in which the entity primarily generates and expends cash, which is generally the local currency. The assets and liabilities of these foreign operations are translated at the exchange rate in effect as of the balance sheet dates. Income and expense items are translated using the weighted average exchange rate for the period. Translation adjustments from currency exchange, including intercompany transactions of a long-term nature, are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss as a separate component of stockholders’ equity. Intercompany transactions that are not of a long-term nature are reported as gains and losses within “segment operating expense” and for intercompany loans within foreign currency loss on intercompany loans on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Reserve Estimates — The Company uses estimates to record reserves for certain liabilities, including medical claims, workers’ compensation claims, third-party loss contingencies and property taxes, among other items. The Company estimates the probable costs related to these liabilities that will be incurred and records that amount as a liability in its Consolidated Financial Statements. Additionally, the Company records, as applicable, receivables related to insurance recoveries for loss contingencies if deemed probable of recovery. These estimates are reviewed and adjusted as the facts and circumstances change. The Company records legal costs related to defending claims as incurred. Advertising Costs — Advertising costs are expensed at the time such advertising commences. Advertising expense for the years ended July 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 was $41.6 million, $44.6 million and $39.8 million, respectively, and was recorded within Mountain and Lodging operating expenses on the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations. Income Taxes — Income tax expense includes U.S. tax (federal and state) and foreign income taxes. The Company’s provision for income taxes is based on pre-tax income, changes in deferred tax assets and liabilities and changes in estimates with regard to uncertain tax positions. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recorded for the estimated future tax effects of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and amounts reported in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets and for operating loss and tax credit carrybacks or carryforwards. The change in deferred tax assets and liabilities for the period measures the deferred tax provision or benefit for the period. Effects of changes in enacted tax laws on deferred tax assets and liabilities are reflected as adjustments to the tax provision or benefit in the period of enactment. The Company’s deferred tax assets have been reduced by a valuation allowance to the extent it is deemed to be more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. The Company recognizes liabilities for uncertain tax positions based on a two-step process. The first step is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of available evidence indicates that it is “more-likely-than-not” to be sustained, on audit, including resolution of related appeals or litigation processes, if any. The second step requires the Company to estimate and measure the largest tax benefit that is cumulatively greater than 50% likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. Interest and penalties accrued in connection with uncertain tax positions are recognized as a component of income tax expense. See Note 11 “Income Taxes” for more information. Fair Value of Financial Instruments — The recorded amounts for cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, other current assets and accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The fair value of amounts outstanding under the Company’s credit agreements and the Employee Housing Bonds (as defined in Note 6, Long-Term Debt) approximate book value due to the variable nature of the interest rate, which is a market rate, associated with the debt. The estimated fair value of the 6.25% Notes (as defined in Note 6, Long-Term Debt) is based on quoted market prices (a Level 2 input). The estimated fair value of the EPR Secured Notes and EB-5 Development Notes (each as defined in Note 6, Long-Term Debt), have been estimated using analyses based on current borrowing rates for debt with similar remaining maturities and ratings (a Level 2 input). The carrying values, including any unamortized premium or discount, and estimated fair values of the 6.25% Notes, EPR Secured Notes and EB-5 Development Notes as of July 31, 2020 are presented below (in thousands):
| July 31, 2020
| Carrying Value | Estimated Fair Value
6.25% Notes | $ | 600,000 |  | $ | 643,500 |
EPR Secured Notes | $ | 137,314 |  | $ | 150,628 |
EB-5 Development Notes | $ | 47,833 |  | $ | 47,212 |
Stock-Based Compensation — Stock-based compensation expense is measured at the grant date based upon the estimated fair value of the award and is recognized as expense over the applicable vesting period of the award generally using the straight-line method (see Note 17 “Stock Compensation Plan” for more information), less the amount of forfeited awards which are recorded as they occur. The following table shows total net stock-based compensation expense for the years ended July 31, 2020, 2019 and 2018 included in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (in thousands):
| Year Ended July 31,
| 2020 | 2019 | 2018
Mountain stock-based compensation expense | $ | 17,410 |  | $ | 16,474 |  | $ | 15,716 |
Lodging stock-based compensation expense | 3,399 |  | 3,219 |  | 3,215 |
Real Estate stock-based compensation expense | 212 |  | 163 |  | 109 |
Pre-tax stock-based compensation expense | 21,021 |  | 19,856 |  | 19,040 |
Less: benefit from income taxes | 5,027 |  | 4,589 |  | 5,406 |
Net stock-based compensation expense | $ | 15,994 |  | $ | 15,267 |  | $ | 13,634 |
Concentration of Credit Risk — The Company’s financial instruments that are exposed to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash. The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments in high- quality credit institutions. The Company does not enter into financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. Concentration of credit risk with respect to accounts and notes receivables is limited due to the wide variety of customers and markets in which the Company transacts business, as well as their dispersion across many geographical areas. The Company performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral, but does require advance deposits on certain transactions. Accounting for Hedging Instruments — From time to time, the Company enters into interest rate swaps (the “Interest Rate Swaps”) to hedge the variability in cash flows associated with variable-rate borrowings by converting the floating interest rate to a fixed interest rate. As of July 31, 2020, the Company hedged the future cash flows associated with $400.0 million of the principal amount outstanding of its Vail Holdings Credit Agreement (as defined in Note 6 “Long-Term Debt”), which were designated as cash flow hedges. The accounting for changes in fair value of hedging instruments depends on the effectiveness of the hedge. In order to qualify for hedge accounting, the underlying hedged item must expose the Company to risks associated with market fluctuations and the financial instrument used must reduce the Company’s exposure to market fluctuation throughout the hedge period. Changes in estimated fair value of the Interest Rate Swaps are recorded within change in estimated fair value of hedging instruments on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, and such change was recorded as a loss of $22.5 million during the year ended July 31, 2020. Such amounts are reclassified into interest expense, net from other comprehensive income during the period in which the hedged item affects earnings. As of July 31, 2020, the estimated fair value of the Interest Rate Swaps was a liability of approximately $22.5 million and was recorded within other long-term liabilities on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet, and the impact of the underlying cash flows associated with the Interest Rate Swaps are recorded within interest expense, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 10 “Fair Value Measurements” for more information. Leases — The Company determines if an arrangement is or contains a lease at inception or modification of the arrangement. An arrangement is or contains a lease if there is one or more assets identified and the right to control the use of any identified asset is conveyed to the Company for a period of time in exchange for consideration. Control over the use of an identified asset means the lessee has both the right to obtain substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the asset and the right to direct the use of the asset. Generally, the Company classifies a lease as a finance lease if the terms of the agreement effectively transfer control of the underlying asset; otherwise, it is classified as an operating lease. For contracts that contain lease and non-lease components, the Company accounts for these components separately. For leases with terms greater than twelve months, the associated lease right-of-use (“ROU”) assets and lease liabilities are recognized at the estimated present value of future lease payments over the lease term at commencement date. The Company’s leases do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate; therefore, the Company uses an estimated incremental borrowing rate to discount the future minimum lease payments. For leases containing fixed rental escalation clauses, the escalators are factored into the determination of future minimum lease payments. The Company includes options to extend a lease when it is reasonably certain that such options will be exercised. Lease expense for minimum lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. See Note 4 “Leases” for more information. Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the balance sheet date and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Recently Issued Accounting Standards Adopted Standards In February 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842),” which supersedes “Leases (Topic 840).” The standard requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities arising from all leases on the balance sheet, including those classified as operating leases under previous accounting guidance, and to disclose key information about leasing arrangements. The standard also allows for an accounting policy election not to recognize on the balance sheet lease assets and liabilities for leases with a term of twelve months or less. Under the new guidance, lessees are required to recognize a lease liability and an ROU asset on their balance sheets, while lessor accounting is largely unchanged. In July 2018, the FASB released ASU No. 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements” which, among other items, provided an additional and optional transition method. Under this method, an entity initially applies the standard at the adoption date, including the election of certain transition reliefs, and recognizes a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-02 on August 1, 2019 using the modified retrospective transition method as provided by the standard. In accordance with this transition method, results for reporting periods beginning on August 1, 2019 are presented under the new standard, while prior periods were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the previously applicable accounting guidance. The Company has elected the package of practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance which allowed the Company to not reassess: (i) whether any existing or expired contracts are or contain leases; (ii) lease classification of any expired or existing leases; or (iii) initial direct costs for any existing leases. The Company has made an accounting policy election to not record leases on the balance sheet with an initial term of twelve months or less. The Company will recognize those lease payments in the Consolidated Statements of Operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Additionally, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not evaluate existing or expired land easements that were not previously accounted for as leases. At adoption, the Company was not able to determine the interest rate implicit in its leases; therefore, for existing operating leases, the lease liability was measured using the Company’s estimated incremental borrowing rate. For existing leases, the incremental borrowing rate used was based on the remaining lease term at the adoption date. For leases with minimum lease payments adjusted periodically for inflation, the lease liability was measured using the minimum lease payments adjusted by the inflation index at the adoption date. On August 1, 2019, as a result of adopting the standard, the Company recorded $221.8 million of operating ROU assets and $254.2 million of related total operating lease liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet (of which $219.3 million was included in operating lease liabilities and $34.9 million was included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities). As a result of the adoption, the Company reclassified $32.4 million of unfavorable lease obligations, deferred rent credits and other related amounts to the operating ROU assets balance, primarily from other long-term liabilities, which reduced the amount recognized as operating ROU assets to $221.8 million. The adoption of the new lease standard did not result in a cumulative effect adjustment to beginning retained earnings, and did not materially affect the Company’s Consolidated Statement of Operations or Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended July 31, 2020. The Company’s Canyons finance lease was not affected by the implementation of this standard as the arrangement is classified and recorded as a finance lease arrangement under both the previous and new accounting guidance. In April 2020, the FASB issued clarifying guidance on accounting for certain lease concessions related to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic under ASC Topic 842, allowing companies to make an election to either account for such lease concessions (i) in the period that they occur as though enforceable rights and obligations for those concessions existed (regardless of whether those enforceable rights and obligations for the concessions explicitly exist in the contract) or (ii) ratably over the remainder of the lease term as modifications to the contract. The Company made a policy election to account for such lease concessions as though enforceable rights and obligations to make those concessions existed in the contracts and as a result, will account for concessions in the period in which they occur. This election did not have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended July 31, 2020. Standards Being Evaluated In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, “Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting.” The ASU provides optional transition guidance, for a limited time, to companies that have contracts, hedging relationships or other transactions that reference the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”) or another reference rate which is expected to be discontinued because of reference rate reform. The amendments provide optional expedients and exceptions for applying GAAP to contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions if certain criteria are met. The amendments in this update are effective as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The amendments in this update may be applied as of any date from the beginning of an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, or prospectively from a date within an interim period that includes or is subsequent to March 12, 2020, up to the date that the financial statements are available to be issued. All other amendments should be applied on a prospective basis. The Company is in the process of evaluating the effect that the adoption of this standard will have on its Consolidated Financial Statements.

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- Definition The entire disclosure for all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 235 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122369 + Details
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