Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Tourism And Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Lake County tourism panel cites lodging losses, seeks winter visitation gains and stronger visitor services
Summary
Tourism and economic development staff described a shrunken lodging supply, work to convert the visitor center into a community hub, efforts to boost off‑peak winter visitation and stewardship messaging for responsible tourism.
County tourism and economic development staff told the Lake County Board of County Commissioners on Jan. 27 that the county’s tourism program is refocusing on off‑peak visitation, local business support and stewardship messaging after sharp changes in lodging supply and pandemic‑era demand.
The tourism speaker (role: Tourism & Economic Development director) said Lake County saw a 46 percent increase in direct visitor spending during the pandemic surge and that short‑term rental listings tracked by AirDNA have declined from about 500–550 listings in 2020–2022 to roughly 320 listings today. “We experienced a 46 percent increase in direct spend,” the director said. The speaker added that the county has lost about 30 percent of its lodging capacity in two years, citing closures including the Silver King Inn and Suites.
Why it matters: Lodging supply drives lodging‑tax revenue, visitor stays and local direct spending. Fewer rooms and fewer short‑term rentals reduce overnight stays and compress county lodging‑tax receipts, complicating marketing and service budgets that the tourism panel uses to support businesses and events.
Key initiatives: staff described three near‑term priorities: (1) operating the new visitor center as a public‑facing hub (the county moved operations into renovated space under a public‑private partnership with Climax and pays $1,000 per month rent), (2) expanding winter visitation (nordic skiing, groomed winter biking and partnering with local ski areas) and (3) running stewardship and “Leadville/Twin Lakes Right” messaging to encourage responsible visitor behavior (waste, human waste management, campfires and trail stewardship). Staff said the visitor center carries educational gear and supplies (WAG bags, trail maps, trash bags) and runs a trail‑head ambassador program.
Funding and organization: the tourism panel is funded from lodging/accommodations taxes: panel staff described a 1.9 percent lodging tax and an additional 1.92 percent accommodations tax flowback from the City of Leadville; the panel’s operating budget was presented in the $300,000–$400,000 range with revenue targets dependent on lodging availability and new commercial lodging development. Staff reported a small marketing budget and said much work relies on earned media, partnerships and “sweat equity.”
Housing, lodging and business support: staff said they are prioritizing training and capacity building for small businesses, coordination with economic development partners and pursuing lodging projects the feasibility study identified (flagged/brand‑name hotels that could capture brand loyalty). The tourism presenter noted that brand loyalty drives booking behavior and that a flagged hotel brand would likely push occupancy rates above current mid‑40 percent annual averages.
Ending: tourism staff invited commissioners to partner on transit and marketing strategies and to promote upcoming community events at the new visitor center, which hosts volunteer and outreach programs and has capacity for about 35 seated attendees (50–60 standing for reception‑style events).
