OCR Text |
Show Sat/Sun/Mon/Tues, August 24-27, 2019 Park City tourism rises in contrast to competing towns BUBBA BROWN The Park Record Home: Gardner Group Luxury Home Creations. Interior Design: Felicity Gardner. Summertime radness grows Bill Malone, president and CEO of the Park City Chamber/Bureau, has some information for Parkites under the impression it’s been a particularly busy summer in town: Their eyes do not deceive them. After a banner ski season, summer visitation is also trending upward, with occupancy rates from May through July this year besting numbers from 2018, according to data from the Chamber/Bureau. Occupancy was up 7% in May, 2% in June and 4% in July, the busiest month of the summer in Park City. Malone said the steady increase was encouraging, attributing it to the town’s diverse summertime offerings, which draw visitors from within Utah as well as from other states. “We’ve been able to do that just because of the product,” he said. “When I say product, I mean both the accommodations that are offered, as well as the activities that are offered here. And that ranges from everything from golf and fly fishing and mountain biking to events.” With the occupancy boost, Park City’s summer has contrasted with many other resort towns in the West that have experienced a decline in tourism in recent months after years of summer gains. According to Inntopia, a firm that tracks lodging performance at 18 resort destinations, including Park City, summer occupancy among all the locations was down 2.3% as of July 31. Tom Foley, senior vice president of business operations and analytics for Inntopia, said in a press release last month that the declines are slight but symptomatic of lodging rate increases that stemmed from high demand for summer mountain recreation. A-5 The Park Record PARK RECORD FILE PHOTO Crowds packed Park City last month for the annual Fourth of July festivities on Main Street. Occupancy rates have climbed this summer, even as those of other mountain resort towns in the West fall. “Those rising rates are starting to lower demand,” he said, “and while properties have been able to maintain and raise rates thus far, occupancy is continuing to slide and it will be interesting to see how properties strike the balance between maintaining visitors and revenues for the remaining summer months.” Malone notes that lodging rates have increased here, as well — by 5.8% this summer. But a major factor that sets Park City apart from several of the other destinations Inntopia tracks is its strong business tourism market. In recent years, roughly half of overnight visitors in the summer have been group and business travelers in town for meetings or conventions. Having properties capable of hosting conventions and retreats is a big advantage, Malone said, and one many resort towns, such as Jackson in Wyoming and Breckenridge and Steamboat Springs in Colorado, lack. “When 50% of your business in the summer is meetingand corporate group-related, you’re booking that stuff two years in advance,” Malone said. “Not like a leisure guest that says, ‘Oh, the forecast doesn’t look good for this weekend.’” Lodging properties aren’t the only ones reaping the benefits from the business travelers, though. Those visitors typ- ically do not pay for their own airfare or accommodations, meaning they have plenty of money to spend at shops and restaurants. “They may have a propensity to order larger when they’re out or buy gifts or buy art, things like that, while they’re here,” Malone said. New slogan, same message This year will be the last for the Chamber/Bureau’s “Yes. All That” summer digital marketing campaign that seeks to highlight the diversity of Park City’s offerings in the warm months. Targeting coastal markets such as California and New York as well as large, fast-growing metro areas like Denver, Phoenix, Dallas and Chicago, the campaign has been a success since it was introduced in 2016, clearing up misconceptions some wouldbe visitors held about what, exactly, there is to do in Park City, Malone said. Next summer, a new slogan will accompany the Chamber/ Bureau’s marketing efforts: “You’re on the right trail.” The tagline is meant to highlight the fact visitors can find whatever kind of experience they’re after in Park City, Malone said. “It’s in many respects the same message that we’ve had with the “Yes. All That,” Malone said. “It’s just freshening up the message.” A $1 BILLION CONTRACT NEGOTIATOR FOCUSED ON GETTING YOU THE BEST DEAL? YES, PLEASE. Why do some deals turn out so very well, and others not so much? 30% of homes fall out of contract, often to great disappointment. How to avoid disappointment and get what you want? Negotiating is a skill developed over time and trial, with an extensive knowledge of contract law gained along the way. MURRAY GARDNER For 25 years, Murray Gardner has served as a major international airlines’ pilots rep, negotiating $1 billion labor contracts annually. Little did he imagine this skillset would serve his real estate clients’ interests so successfully. GET MORE It’s just one of the happy confluence of life experiences that allows Murray to deliver a rich array of knowledge and know-how to your next transaction. That’s what we mean by Get More. 435-640-5184 murray@gardnergroupparkcity.com gardnergrouprealtors.com Visit GardnerGroupRealtors.com to discover what else you get. MORE THAN A REALTOR® MEET DUGGIE! We are pleased to partner with Nuzzles & Co. to find homes for these great pups. MALE | CROSSBREED | 1 YR 8 MO He is very high energy and will need an active owner to help him burn his energy. He prefers to be an only pet so that he can have all of your attention to himself. He learns quickly and just needs a home that can show him the ropes! Come and meet this sweet boy today! Call 435.649.5441 to learn more! Call 435.649.5441 to learn more! Op e o nH us a eS t1 m -5p e Op nH o e us Sa t1 p 2-3 m /S 1 un -5p m 3320 Mountain Lane | Murray Gardner 3865 Lariat Road | Lisa McEntire 1733 S Cottonwood Court | Christie Wilson 5 bd | 5 ba | 5,888 sf | $2,395,000 5 bd | 4 ba | 4,176 sf | $960,000 5 bd | 4 ba | 2,437 sf | $589,900 Murray@GardnerGroupParkCity.com | 435.640.5184 Lisa.McEntire@kw.com | 512.423.5131 Christie@MtnValleyRealEstate.com | 801.891.4938 2 bd | 2 ba | 1,500 sf | $449,900 1568 Spur Wood Drive | Christie Wilson 6 bd | 3 ba | 5,332 sf | $998,800 Christie@MtnValleyRealEstate.com | 801.891.4938 Christie@MtnValleyRealEstate.com | 801.891.4938 3220 Rockcress Drive | Christie Wilson 1195 W Black Rock Trail | Kathy Opolski 1 bd | 1 ba | 846 sf | $319,000 Kathyo@kw.com | 801.518.4599 |