Utah tourism off 10% in 2009, $700 million lost

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Utah isn’t quite the tourist destination it used to be. Last year, the number of visitors to the state fell by a million, and spending declined 10 percent. The recession kept people from rushing to the slopes, according to the state’s 2010 Economic Report to the Governor. Hotel occupancy rates plunged to their lowest level in six years. The number of skiers checking into the state’s 13 resorts fell by 300,000, and more visitors took cars instead of planes.

Tourist spending fell by $700 million in Utah, amounting to $6.2 billion last year, after several consecutive years of growth for the tourism and travel industry, which is one of the state’s major money-makers. Nathan Rafferty, president of Ski Utah, an industry group, told The Associated Press, “People who came out here spent their money differently. The same family of five might have come out – they’ve gotta have that ski vacation and do whatever it takes to get it. Instead of renting three hotel rooms, they squeeze into one or stay at their aunt’s house.”

Even though the green wasn’t flowing as easily, 2009 was still the third best year on record for Utah, but it’s likely to be bumped to #4 by 2010, since a modest increase is expected this year. Rafferty believes the number of skiers coming to Utah will increase by 3 percent, to 4.1 million.

[Photo by Mat_the_W via Flickr]

Call the hotel – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

In the Internet age, it’s easy to assume big travel websites are the place to go to get the best deal, but often time some good old fashioned haggling on the phone is all you need.

A travel website recommended a stay at the Holiday Inn in Aurora Colorado for $139 a night. By just calling the Hilton Garden Inn, I was able to secure a room for less money — with more amenities, a free shuttle, long term parking for $10 a month, and large rooms with luxurious bedding.

All I had to do was call and ask.

Ask about TV hookups – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Before venturing to a hotel, call ahead and ask about their televisions and what can and can not be hooked up to them.

In a pinch — or during horrid weather — having a DVD player or gaming system with you can be a life-saver. If you have the youngsters along, pack up their favorite DVDs. While you may never need them, they’re nice to have in case there’s inclement weather that makes venturing outside impossible.

Alternatively, in the unfortunate situation someone becomes ill, this could be a money-saving alternative to paying for expensive hotel movies.

Use a map, find out what’s nearby – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When trying to find a nice hotel in an area you’re not familiar with, go back to the basics and find the address on an online mapping service, like Google Maps.

Their satellite view will tell you a lot about where your hotel is located, what’s around it, and — potentially — what to watch out for.

You may find a hotel that looks great on their website is actually in an area surrounded by warehouses or in an abandoned area of town.

Read the fine print – Hotel tip

by Gadling Staff on

When making reservations for a hotel stay, don’t assume all booking companies (i.e., Expedia vs. Travelocity) are created equal.

If you book a hotel one month with one agency and then book the same hotel again the next month with a different agency, don’t assume the terms and conditions for refunds or changes will be the same. Oftentimes, cancellation fees and refund policies differ from company to company.

Always verify any important conditions such as deposits, refunds, service fees, and fees for changing a reservation. This will ensure that when you do travel, your hotel stay will be smooth and you will limit the unexpected surprises that could possibly ruin your stay.