Economic uncertainty is not keeping travelers away from western mountain resorts, according to the latest survey from the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP), which samples occupancy data from 265 property management companies representing 24,000 rooms across Colorado, Utah, California, and Oregon.
MTRiP reports that lodging occupancy at the 15 western mountain destination communities it surveys continues to rebound toward pre-recession levels, albeit at room rates that remain essentially flat with last year. Actual lodging occupancy in June 2011 was up 10.5 percent compared to June 2010, while the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was up only 1.6 percent. For the six months ending June 30, occupancy was up 4.7 percent, while ADR was up 1.4 percent.
The remainder of the summer also shows occupancy growth outpacing last year, with on the books occupancy for the month of July as of June 30 up a strong 9.5 percent compared to the same period in 2010 although ADR is up a scant 0.4 percent.
Whether the gains will boost sales at specialty outdoor retail shops in the resorts is less certain. In several surveys taken this spring and summer, travelers said they planned to compensate for higher gasoline and airfare prices by crimping on shopping during their summer vacations. On the other hand, many western mountain resorts cater to upper income customers who are less vulnerable to fuel costs.
