The Vail Valley’s holiday lodging picture is a tale of two seasons
Mid-week holidays have affected how people travel
Vail Daily archive
If it seems like Christmas has snuck up on you this year, it has. That’s kind of happened with lodging, too.
Thanksgiving this year was Nov. 28, just about as late as it could fall. That left a short pre-Christmas season. In addition, Christmas falling on Wednesday meant most public school holiday breaks didn’t start until this week.
The Vail Valley Partnership, the valley’s chamber of commerce, tracks lodging reservations. Chris Romer, the president and CEO of the Vail Valley Partnership, said before Christmas, lodging reservations were down from 2023 by between 12% and 15%. However, the period between Dec. 26 and Jan. 9 reflects the valley’s usual holiday business, meaning most lodging properties are virtually full.
That largely reflects two-week school breaks, Romer said.
Jonathan Reap, the director of sales and marketing at the Four Seasons Vail, said the property reflects that trend.
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People started to arrive Dec. 19 and 20, Reap said. With a couple of exceptions, “overall, we’re very pleased” with occupancy during what those in the lodging business call the “festive season.”
And, while there hasn’t been much snowfall over the past few weeks, Reap, an avid skier, said Vail Mountain is still skiing very well. Reap noted that Blue Sky Basin recently opened.
The mountain’s snowpack as of Dec. 23 was at 85% of normal. In comparison, Reap noted that Deer Valley is sitting at about 50% of the average. Reap said he skied 20,000 vertical feet on Dec. 20, and “it was dreamy.”
Local lodging consultant Mark Herron said when holidays fall is a crucial component of lodging. Herron noted that Easter in 2025 falls three weeks later than it did in 2024. That’s having a positive impact on April reservations, he said.
If Christmas is on a Monday, Thursday or Friday, that has a positive impact, he said. But this year, the mid-week holiday has resulted in a busier lodging picture for the New Year’s holiday and the week or so following.
Still, he said, “When you look at the cumulative, we’ll be fine.”
While that’s true for lodging, the story is different for other businesses. While restaurants are full, retailers may not be quite as busy this week, he said.
For the season so far, Herron said reservations are down a bit for November, December and January. But reservations are showing strength from February through April.
Romer said the valley’s reservations are up 3% for the winter, helped in part by new flights into the Eagle County Regional Airport.
And, while occupancy may be a little soft this week, the valley is about to take on its usual holiday bustle.
“If you need a restaurant reservation, make it now,” Herron said.
