Lodging industries set records for January in Aspen and Snowmass Village

The hotel and lodging industries of Aspen and Snowmass Village set records for paid occupancy in January, according to a report released Monday by Stay Aspen Snowmass, a central reservations agency.

Aspen’s paid occupancy was 75.3 percent. The previous high mark was 75 percent in 2015.

Paid occupancy at Snowmass’ tourist accommodations was 75.4 percent, the report said. The prior record was 68.9 percent set last January.

Bill Tomcich, president of Stay Aspen Snowmass, said the record was based on research by a firm called DestiMetrics, which looks at occupancy and bookings data at destination resorts throughout the West. DestiMetrics started tracking the data in 2007.

“January started off strong with residual bookings from the holidays combined with a continuing education conference for attorneys in Snowmass,” Tomcich wrote in his report. “That strength continued through the entire month aided by MLK weekend, Gay Ski Week and strong international business, and the month was punctuated with a valleywide sellout for the Winter X Games on the final weekend.”

Higher occupancies also brought higher average daily room rates and total revenue per available room night. Aspen’s average daily room rate soared 8.4 percent higher than last year to $562.

The rate at Snowmass climbed a more modest 4.6 percent to $426.

But after the big January, the hotel and lodging industry is taking what Tomcich labeled “a breather” in February.

“The first half of February has undeniably been slower than last year,” he wrote.

Reservations on the books as of Feb. 1 were down 2.9 percent in Aspen and 4.1 percent in Snowmass Village.

“But starting this Friday, the 17th, things will suddenly get mighty busy as occupancies are expected to be 10 to 20 percent higher than last year through the end of the month and frankly through the conclusion of the World Cup Finals the third week of March,” Tomcich said.