Winter lodging demand in Park City is outpacing the Western market

Historic Main Street at night in the winter. Photo: Park City Chamber/ Bureau

PARK CITY, Utah — A recent lodging report commissioned by the Park City Chamber of Commerce and conducted by Blue Room Research offers a cautious outlook for lodging in the Western U.S. during the 2024-25 winter season. Despite concerns highlighted in the report, Park City’s winter lodging Occupancy Rates and Average Daily Rate (ADR) are currently pacing ahead of last year’s levels.

Across the West, summer bookings wrapped up on a strong note, with increases in Demand, Occupancy, and ADR. However, early indicators for winter reveal mixed expectations. Forward-looking data from DestiMetrics shows that winter occupancy rates across the region are lagging behind last year, coupled with a modest rise in ADR. Analysts suggest this combination may lead to relatively flat revenue compared to the previous season. In contrast, Park City is bucking the trend, with gains in both forward looking occupancy and ADR potentially leading to a revenue boost if demand remains strong.

Consumer sentiment and travel intent saw slight improvements in October, which could indicate reduced booking hesitancy. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain—such as fluctuating school break schedules and the lingering impact of the presidential election, which often dampens short-term bookings.

Despite these headwinds, analysts remain cautiously optimistic. They cite steady recovery in advance bookings for the holiday season and strong economic fundamentals as potential drivers of late-season performance—assuming conditions stabilize.

Ultimately, the great equalizer for winter tourism in Park City will be the snow. When and where it falls remains to be seen.