Data available at the end of May indicate occupancy at western U.S. mountain resorts are poised to grow 16.2 percent this month and continue at that pace deep into the fall, according to the most recent bulletin from the Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP).
MTRiP, which monitors occupancy trends at 16 mountain resorts in Colorado, Utah, California and Oregon, said its data indicate resorts participating in its survey are on track to experience occupancy increases in five of the next six months. Average Daily Rate (ADR) is also trending up slightly with an aggregate increase of 2.9 percent across all MTRiP destinations for the month of June and up 3.4 percent for the six-month period. The data also revealed that actual occupancy for the month of May, typically a “soft” month for mountain destinations, was up a strong 11.7 percent.
“Special events occurring in early summer are already proving their value as both attraction and momentum builder at destinations,” says Ralf Garrison, director of MTRiP. “Destinations that have established lively summer calendars are attracting guests and very solid early bookings.”
The numbers also demonstrate how dedicated outdoor enthusiasts are, said Tom Foley, operations director for MTRiP.
“It seems those devotees of mountain recreation who love the outdoor lifestyle are remaining loyal to mountain destinations,” notes Tom Foley, operations director for MTRiP. “In most of the destinations that we are tracking, the latest rumbles in the recovering economy don’t seem to be deterring this summer’s visitors in the least.”
