Warren County Sees Flat Hotel Revenue Despite Growth in Short Term Rentals

Warren County's tourism landscape is showing signs of stability, with visitor trends remaining consistent as the region heads into the summer season. During a recent committee meeting, officials revealed that two-thirds of visitors in the first quarter of 2024 accessed information via mobile devices, highlighting the importance of digital outreach in attracting tourists.

The data indicates that the share of out-of-state versus in-state visitors has remained steady between 2024 and 2025. Notably, half of the in-state visitors originated from Albany, while one-third came from New York City and its metro area. This influx is significant, as half of these visitors opted for overnight stays, a slight increase from the previous year.

Despite a modest rise in hotel revenues—up about 2% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to 2024—officials noted that the growth is minimal and reflects a flat trend overall. Hotel occupancy rates also saw a slight uptick, but the performance of short-term rentals has outpaced hotels across nearly all metrics this year.

The committee acknowledged that while hotel revenues accounted for approximately 85% of total occupancy in 2024, the shift towards short-term rentals is becoming increasingly evident. However, the recent acquisition of STR by CoStar has limited the ability to analyze data at a more granular level, such as by ZIP code, forcing officials to assess performance on a broader regional scale.

As the summer approaches, the committee plans to delve deeper into these metrics, aiming to enhance Warren County's appeal as a tourist destination while addressing the challenges posed by evolving visitor preferences.