Summer tourism metrics continue to exceed 2015 with double digit lodging occupancy increases throughout the valley; special events such as the Colorado Cup soccer program, Pacific Rim Cultural Exchange baseball tournament, and World Fly Fishing Championships in addition to our annual staple events (GoPro Mountain Games, Lacrosse Shootout, Bravo Vail, etc) are helping drive mid-week business throughout the non-ski months. Occupancy growth is up even more significantly in Beaver Creek and Avon. One positive for our restaurant, retail, and activity provider members: lodging rates are not growing at the same rate as occupancy; lodging deals are prevalent, and while overall occupancy is up 20% throughout the valley, rate is essentially flat to 2015.

Winter 2016-17 occupancy is starting to be reported; we currently have data for November and December. It it too early to read too much into the numbers (it’s still only mid-July, after all), but we’re seeing strong occupancy growth and no rate growth for these months as well. This is a good sign following last season where we collectively did not see lodging occupancy increases, and did see rate increases. Of special note, thanks to the efforts of the EGE Air Alliance and other partners, we are adding two new flight markets to the Eagle County Regional Airport for winter 2016-17: Phoenix and Washington DC. This new air service add to our available seats, open service to new metropolitan areas, and increase connectivity to Southern California and other southwestern US markets.

It’s not too early to plan for your participation in the Merchant Ski Pass program for your employees; details are available at https://www.vailvalleypartnership.com/signature-programs/merchant-pass-program.

Links of Interest

• Vail Lodging Heading for Another Record
• Western Ski Visits Soared, up 50%
• Skier Visits Jump at Colorado Resorts
• Tourism Spending in Utah Grew to Over $8 Billion

Data compiled by DestiMetrics