Actual occupancy in March at western destination mountain resorts was up 7.9 percent compared to March 2010, according to Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP). The research firm is now projecting lodging occupancy at the resorts it monitors will be up six percent for the November through April period compared to the same period in 2009-10. MTRiP is projecting the average daily lodging rate rose one percent during the period.


“As we close the third season of tough economic times, we are pleased to report continued resiliency among destination mountain travelers,” said Ralf Garrison, director of MTRiP.  “A slowly improving economy and excellent snow conditions across much of the country made a significant contribution to the uptick in business for mountain lodging properties.”

 

Garrison added that there were significant variances between participating MTRiP properties and destinations. Those in the eastern, central and Rocky Mountain destinations generally were running ahead of last year, while results from the far west and Canada were generally softer.

 

MTRiP's research is based on data collected from a sample of 265 property management companies in 15 mountain destination communities, representing 24,000 rooms across Colorado, Utah, California, and Oregon and may not reflect the entire mountain destination travel industry.

With only a handful of destination resorts still open, mountain properties are now turning their focus to summer business.  As of March 31, bookings for April 2011 were down 4.2 percent compared to April 2010 while bookings for the next six months (April-September) are slightly better-currently up 3.1 percent. The report also noted that the average daily rate for the next six months is currently down 3.5 percent.


“While we are not back to ‘the good old days’ of pre-recession bookings and pricing, there has certainly been an uptick in sophistication and reaction among both consumers and resort operators and that bodes well for the future,” observed Garrison. “Like the old adage, we saw quite a bit of ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’ this season. Now as we start looking towards summer, we anticipate that mountain resorts will target their marketing efforts toward regional drive markets since current economic and travel related fuel costs will have less impact on local visitors than long distance travelers.”