Aspen bookings trended down in March 

The Aspen Chamber Resort Association’s latest report on bookings data, which compiles tourist demand for hotel rooms in Aspen, showed a decline in booking demand in March.

According to the data, March experienced a 15% decline in bookings compared to the year before.

“It is clear that snow is an important factor for those considering Aspen for a ski vacation, which in turn has an impact on our local businesses,” Eliza Voss, senior vice president destination marketing at ACRA, said of what could be driving the decline.

ACRA’s past reports have also pointed to a general decline in the perception of the United States as a tourist destination for international tourists, which The Aspen Times previously reported on. International inbound travel typically has typically contributed to 10% of total tourist traffic in Aspen. 

The average daily rate, or cost of a hotel room per night, also decreased in March — an anomaly this winter — resulting in a loss of revenue across hotels in the Aspen area. In the preceding month of February, the average daily rate had increased almost 15%, resulting in a net increase in revenue despite the decline in bookings. 

The more chronic marginal declines began around November — in the four months since then, each month has seen around 4% to 9% declines in occupancy compared to the previous year. 

In February, the ACRA report showed a roughly 5% decline in bookings, despite relatively strong snowfall — around 30% of the total snowpack in the Roaring Fork watershed fell that month. March was a tougher month for snow and bookings, where the first 10 days of the month contributed the most snowfall, which was still only around 7% of the total precipitation in the Roaring Fork watershed. 

Abnormally high temperatures later in March also caused an early melt of the meager snowpack, ultimately leading to an early closure of Buttermilk. 

But the warm temperatures could be driving an early rise in bookings looking forward. 

ACRA’s Retail Report, which looks into future booking numbers, appears to show growth ahead for the first time since the winter decline began in November. 

Portions of late April and early May are currently pacing ahead of the 2025 numbers — sometimes as little as a few percentage points to as much as more than 10%. Mid to late May 2026 also looks to be pacing ahead of May 2025 by similar margins. 

Booking metrics looking beyond May are not yet available. 

“Generally speaking, summer looks to be pacing ahead at this time,” Voss said, “but as we know, there are a number of factors outside of our control that can impact how those actualize.”