Friday’s snowfall in the mountains helped the customer experience at various businesses and regions in Colorado’s mountain communities.
ROUTT COUNTY, Colorado – The Christmas Eve snowstorm that hit the mountains of Colorado may be a headache for some who need to clean their driveways, but it’s an early gift for those who love the outdoors and for some business owners.
“It’s been a slow start to the season. We struggled a bit with snow for a long time. So now that it’s finally arrived, it’s definitely changed the mood and made people happy,” Kris said. Allen, the owner of the longtime Allen’s Clothing store in Steamboat Springs.
The store has been around for over 70 years and Allen is the fourth generation of the family to own it. And he notices what the snow does to customers when they visit the city.
“Oh, that’s huge, yeah. Give people a good experience when they’re skiing and sledding – everything Steamboat has to offer keeps them coming back to Steamboat,” he said. “It’s our busiest time of the year. It’s kind of when we really turn the crank, so it’s a good way to end the year.”
Some businesses may not have welcomed the heavy snow any better than ski resorts like Winter Park Resort.
“Yes, we’ve had about a foot of snow in the last 24 hours, and we’re thrilled and all of our guests are thrilled. It’s a really nice early Christmas present,” the station’s communications manager said. , Jen Miller. “We’ve been waiting. We’ve been very patient, so it’s really nice to have some new snow and to have so much. And I think again, it’s a welcome sight for the holidays.”
She says so far this season they’ve had decent crowds, but when it comes to seeing people see the heavy snowfall, it’s impacting some last-second bookings.
“There’s a subtle message that comes through when people see snow. People want to get away and go on winter vacations and go skiing or other adventures in the snow. So that has an impact on getting people to book when they see it,” she said.
She added that there was still a long season ahead.
“I think people forget that winter doesn’t really kick into high gear, until around Christmas anyway. So I always say, you know, come back in the thick of winter, which goes from mid-December through March,” Miller said.
Vail Valley Partnership CEO Chris Romer said snowfall has always impacted businesses due to last-minute bookings.
“Snowfall is our biggest indicator for bookings in the two weeks leading up to arrival. Our booking volume has been looking very, very strong over the holidays and throughout the ski season, and this last snowfall minute will and does make a big difference in the customer experience and makes a big difference in the quality of the product that we are able to make,” he said.
In November, the state shared findings from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’ 2020 annual report. He revealed that several traditional outdoor activities, including snow activities, saw a $410 million decrease in value added to the state’s economy.
Meanwhile, other outdoor recreation activities have increased their impact on Colorado’s GDP.
2021 has at least seen some snowfall just in time for the holidays, leaving business owners optimistic for 2022.
Meanwhile, Romer asks those visiting the mountains to continue to be patient with businesses.
Romer said, “Understand that there are customer service issues with labor availability, and everyone needs to be patient and kind to each other.”
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