Actual occupancy in the month of March among western mountain resort destinations participating in the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP) was up 9.5 percent compared to the same time last year and the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was up 3.2 percent compared to March 2012.
As of March 31, on-the-books occupancy for April was down a sharp 9.8 percent compared to last April but was attributed to the timing of the Easter holiday that moved back from April to March this year. Looking back over the past six months including five of the ski season months (all except April), mountain lodging was up 7.2 percent for the period compared to the same time last year.
The 2012-13 winter season is finishing up solidly ahead of last year with continued momentum delivering a strong March aided by Easter week moving into March but at the expense of Aprils business which is down despite plentiful snow and some 11th hour bookings-primarily from in-state visitors, said Ralf Garrison, MTRiPs director. The winter season will end with increases in both occupancy and rate as well as continued modest growth toward pre-recession levels at most destinations although there was considerable fluctuation among and between individual resorts.
As mud season approaches at mountain resort communities, the focus turns to summer reservations and as of March 31, on-the books occupancy for the next six months, April through September, is up 6.8 percent with gains being posted in every month except April. May and September are posting the largest increases at 22.1 and 18.2 percent respectively. However these percentages are based on relatively small numbers.
Looking forward to the summer months, bookings are trending in a positive direction in all summer months but we are advising our subscribers to keep an eye on the economic storm clouds that keep popping up in our otherwise sunny skies, Garrison concluded.
