Ski Resort Equipment Cost Optimization: McKinsey-Style Operations Case Interview
Ski Resort Equipment Cost Optimization is a hard-difficulty McKinsey-style operations case interview with 9 interviewer questions and 4 exhibits; candidates finish it in a median 34 minutes. Your first full case is free with an account: run it step by step with AI grading.
| Case type | Operations |
|---|---|
| Industry | Tourism / Recreation |
| Firm style | McKinsey |
| Difficulty | Hard |
| Interviewer questions | 9: context, clarifying, structure, 3 analysis, 2 math, synthesis |
| Math questions | 2 |
| Exhibits | 4 |
| Modes | Guided |
| Completed runs | 61 |
| Median time | 34 minutes |
| Source | Written by Road to Offer |
Runs, times and ratings are from Road to Offer practice data as of 6 November 2026.
The case
Our client is a ski resort operator in the Austrian Alps that offers equipment rentals. Their rental division has recently suffered declines in profit, so they are thinking of cutting costs. What can our client do to cut costs without affecting service quality?
The client is an Austrian ski resort with a large equipment rental operation. They've experienced profit decline and want our help identifying cost-cutting opportunities.
The interviewer's first question
Can you summarize what this case is about and what the client needs?
Exhibits you will read
- Exhibit 1: Costs per Equipment Set by Size Category (EUR)
- Exhibit 2: Annual Rental Volume and Profit Margin by Size Category
- Exhibit 3: Proposed Cost Reductions by Size Category
- Exhibit 4: New Per-Set Costs After Proposed Reductions
What this case tests
Two math steps, four exhibits and three analysis questions: this case is mostly about reading data under time pressure.