Inntopia-Destimetrics: Winter’s Woes Melt Into Summer Surge At Western Mountain Destinations

As the winter season dragged across the finish line, it managed to cling to a modest seasonal increase in rates but a notable drop in occupancy resulted in a significant decline in revenue. In sharp contrast, pent-up demand for summer lodging at mountain destinations continued to drive considerable strength in a reversal from winter patterns. According to DestiMetrics in their most recent monthly Market Briefing released by Inntopia,* as of April 30, summer bookings, occupancy, rates, and revenue are all on a steady upward trajectory for almost the entire summer season from May through October.

“As we expected a month ago, the winter season ended with a whimper but the level of resiliency the industry did show is due in large part to the expertise and diligence of rate managers on the business side and operationally, credit goes to slope groomers across the West who kept hundreds of trails in decent to good condition in an undeniably challenging season,” lauded Tom Foley, director of Business Intelligence for Inntopia. “And what we have been tracking since late February is compelling data that suggests that if people didn’t get their mountain ‘fix’ this winter, they intend to get it this summer—if the economy, geo-politics, and the weather behave as hoped.”

April results

Compared to April 2025, actual occupancy across the entire region was down a dramatic 18.3 percent while the Average Daily Rate (ADR) was down 4.3 percent. With declines in both metrics, aggregated monthly revenue was down a considerable 21.9 percent.

Full winter wrap

When the books closed on Winter 2025-26 from November through April, occupancy finished down seven percent, while ADR (despite marginal snow conditions across sub regions of the West), managed to capture a 1.2 percent year-over-year increase with growth in November through February but declines in March and April. As a result of the sluggish occupancy, despite the higher rates, year-over-year revenues were down 5.9 percent.

A mini boom in occupancy booking pace for the summer months as all that booking activity is delivering a promising and strong foundation for the summer season. As of April 30, occupancy for the full summer is up 4.9 percent with gains in every month but October. And, although bookings made in April for arrival in April plunged 18.8 percent, the other five months posted notable gains ranging from a modest 7.5 percent uptick in September arrivals to a substantial 25.8 percent gain for August arrivals. Daily rates are also showing strength, up 5.9 percent for the summer with increases in all six months. The combination of solid occupancy and rates is currently delivering a healthy 11.1 percent increase in seasonal revenue.

The ups and downs of the economy

After a sharp decline last month, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) changed course and soared up a dramatic 7.1 percent to finish the month with an all-time high monthly close of 49,652.1 points which was driven primarily by rising oil costs due to global fuel shortages resulting from the US-Iran war. “Despite no improvement in the volume of fuel moving through the region, investors were optimistic based on talk of a ceasefire,” noted Foley. “At the same time, first quarter earnings reports were also very positive with more than 80 percent of reporting companies beating expectations—providing another reason to push prices higher,” he added.

Once again, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) released by the Conference Board and the Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) from the University of Michigan went in opposite directions from last month as the CCI edged up 0.6 points marking the third monthly consecutive gain, albeit small, while the CSI dropped again in April to a near-record low of 49.8 points. “Results between age and income groups as well as political affiliation were widely mixed with little clear direction, suggesting uncertainty in the market,” offered Foley.

Job creation and the National Unemployment Rate beat expectations for a second consecutive month with employers adding 115,000 new jobs marking the third time in the past four months for new job creation while the unemployment rate remained unchanged. Wages increased slightly year-over-year with pay up 3.6 percent compared to last year, but they are now under-performing inflation.

The National Inflation Rate and the Consumer Price Index (CPI) once again rose dramatically for the second consecutive month as consumer prices increased 0.9 percentage points, and the national inflation rate is now at 3.8 percent and its highest level since September 2023. Increases were driven by the war in the Middle East dragging on and causing fuel prices to continue rising.

Keeping an eye on

The dollars and cents for summer are on the upswing as 181,681 nights were booked in April for arrivals from May through October which is 23,592 more nights booked for that period compared to last year—a 14.9 percent year-over-year gain. The growth in ADR is also boosting the bottom line as there was a 20.3 percent gain in summer revenue booked in April for the summer months—an aggregated 12.5 million more than last April.

International bookings improve for summer but remain down sharply from 2024. Overall bookings for the four primary international markets are up a slight 4.1 percent compared to last summer—but that compares to last year’s stunning 52.4 percent decline in international visitors from the summer of 2024. Canada is up 12.6 percent from last year at this time but down 42.6 percent from 2024. Mexico is down 21.9 percent, Western Europe is down 9.2 percent, and Oceania is down seven percent.

Lead-times stretched out during April as warm and dry conditions resulted in a sharp decline in booking pace for arrivals in that month and pushed booking lead-times from the date of reservation to the date of arrival out to 56.4 days—15.5 percent longer than last year. This marks the longest lead-time on record for this time of year since the start of the pandemic in April 2020. “While this was bad for April arrivals, it established a very strong foundation for the summer months,” explained Foley.

Daily rates retreated slightly during April but remained strong and ahead of year-over-year comparisons. While summer ADR was up 7.9 percent at the end of February and 7.5 percent at the end of March, it slipped down to 5.9 percent in April with softening in four of the months, most notably in August which dipped 3.2 percentage points, but all months remain up compared to last summer.

Pricing terciles shifted as Luxury properties priced higher than $401/night dominated occupancy and rate for the summer while Moderate properties between $251 and $450/night experienced moderate and balanced gains. Economy properties priced at $250/night and below are seeing solid occupancy figures, but they are pulling back on rates to capture occupancy and are the only category currently easing summer rates.

In summarizing the monthly data, Foley pointed out that “while some destinations in the northern Rockies and periodically in the Sierras did better than others, most western mountain destinations are relieved to be seeing this winter in their rearview mirror. But winter’s struggles are clearly morphing into summer’s strength at this point as all the metrics are pacing comfortably ahead of last year driven by pent-up demand,” he continued. “However, the volatility of the economy, the uncertainty that comes with war, and concerns about the potential for wildfire following a very dry winter could all factor into how this summer plays out,” acknowledged Foley. “For now, we are enjoying a much more positive vibe than even 30 days ago and remaining cautiously optimistic about the summer ahead.