Colorado Ski Country USA (CSCUSA) reported that skier visits at its 21 members resorts were up by 8.6 percent during the second period of the 2013/14 season, defined as January 1, 2014 through February 28, 2014, compared to the same period of the prior year.
“Following a strong start to the season, momentum carried through the first of the year as skiers and riders took advantage of our snowy conditions here in Colorado,” explained Melanie Mills, president and CEO, Colorado Ski Country USA. “In January and February, encouraged by consistent and wide spread snow storms, visitors took to the resorts and popular ski weekends during second period, such as Martin Luther King and President’s Day, were bustling with guests.”
CSCUSA's membership does not include resorts owned and operated by Vail Resorts Inc., which reported last week that visitation at its four Colorado resorts climbed 11.9 percent in the second fiscal quarter ended Jan. 31.
CSCUSA said that for the 2013/14 season to date, defined as opening day through Feb. 28, 2014, visitation at CSCUSA resorts was up by 13 percent compared to the same time last season.
“Several factors contributed to the season-to-date bump including incredible conditions, consistent snowfall, enjoyable winter temperatures, and positive economic news. Also, an Olympic year always tends to generate excitement around skiing and snowboarding, Colorado’s signature sports,” continued Mills.
Occupancy at a sample of Colorado mountain resort lodging properties saw a slight boost during mid-season, according to certain Colorado lodging figures provided to CSCUSA in partnership with DestiMetrics. Occupancy at Colorado resort lodging properties increased 2.9 percent during January and February compared to the same time last season.
As Colorado’s ski season turns toward spring and what are typically the state’s two snowiest months, March and April, cautious optimism continues. “Spring break business is encouraging, a late Easter helps to stretch out destination visits into April and we’re hoping the consistent snow storms continue,” said Mills.
Skier visits are the metric used to track participation in skiing and snowboarding. A skier visit represents a person participating in the sport of skiing or snowboarding for any part of one day at a mountain resort.
Occupancy at a sample of Colorado mountain resort lodging properties saw a slight boost during mid-season, according to certain Colorado lodging figures provided to CSCUSA in partnership with DestiMetrics. Occupancy at Colorado resort lodging properties increased 2.9 percent during January and February compared to the same time last season.
As Colorado’s ski season turns toward spring and what are typically the state’s two snowiest months, March and April, cautious optimism continues. “Spring break business is encouraging, a late Easter helps to stretch out destination visits into April and we’re hoping the consistent snow storms continue,” said Mills.
Skier visits are the metric used to track participation in skiing and snowboarding. A skier visit represents a person participating in the sport of skiing or snowboarding for any part of one day at a mountain resort.
