Denver, CO – As early snowstorms and cold weather fronts moved across the California, Utah and Colorado mountains, bookings among 17 western ski resort communities participating in the Denver-based DestiMetrics survey continued their upward trend in pacing and revenues.

In the most recent data released by DestiMetrics, formerly known as Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP), on-the-books occupancy for October is up 7.4 percent compared to last October and revenues are up 13.9 percent. That same optimism is apparent in the booking pace for the coming winter with reservations taken in September for arrivals in September through February up 9.7 percent compared to the same time last year.

Looking more closely at the busiest lodging months of the ski season, as of Sept. 30, on-the-books occupancy for October 2013 through March 2014 is up 11.3 percent. Results are through Sept. 30 and the forward-looking data is aggregated from mountain lodging properties in five western states to track the impact of destination visitors on tourism economies.

The positive reservation news for the upcoming season is a continuation of strong summer results with actual occupancy in September finishing up 3.4 percent compared to last September. During the previous six months (April-September), actual occupancy was up 4.6 percent for the period and revenues were up 3.4 percent.

“All of the reservation metrics are continuing in a positive direction as we go into the prime winter booking season,” explains Ralf Garrison, director of DestiMetrics. “We’ve seen consistent increases in both occupancy and revenue in 11 of the past 12 months and we haven’t seen this kind of sustained strength in the mountain lodging industry since pre-2008.”

Economic indicators tracked and reported by DestiMetrics focused on the generally positive news but was tempered by concerns over action surrounding the budget and debt ceiling issues in Washington. The highly visible Dow Jones Industrial Average up 2.2 percent in September after reaching a new all time record on Sept. 18 of 15,677 points. However a modest 2.6 percent dip in the Consumer Confidence Index for the second time in four months was attributed to increasing concerns over job stability and earnings. The Unemployment Rate for September was unavailable due to the government shutdown at the time the Briefing was written but an estimated 166,000 new jobs were added, a figure described as lackluster. However, claims for unemployment in September were down to 1.22 million, the lowest level of 2013. The Travel Price Index posted its sharpest decline since 2008 during August (most current data available) to 280.5 points. The decrease was attributed to a reduction in gasoline and transportation fuel prices as well as a softening of room rates in some segments of the industry although a decline in daily rates was not seen in mountain destinations.

“The destination mountain travel industry is on a remarkable roll, seemingly impervious to the monthly gyrations of the economy, consumerism and national or global politics,” observes Tom Foley, operations director for DestiMetrics. “The variances in our data that are related to the larger economy are important to monitor, but for the most part when these monthly economic hiccups pop up, mountain travelers takes it in stride. That said, these booking numbers through Sept. 30 precede the current government shutdown and the looming threat of default that is now only 48 hours away—both of which are going to be a litmus test for just how resilient the mountain traveler really is.”

Although still early in the booking season, 28 percent of winter bookings have already been made and the DestiMetrics team is optimistic about how the coming season is shaping up.

“November is now pacing ahead of last year and the Thanksgiving holiday has shifted forward one week from 2012, moving the business forward accordingly,” notes Garrison. “This strong booking pace leads us to believe resorts are benefitting from what we call positive snow equity among prospective mountain travelers based on the abundance of late season snow in most destinations at the end of last winter. That positive impression from last year seems to be driving the pace of reservations strongly higher than in the 2012-13 season.”