Telluride Tourism Board presents 2026 budget proposal; central reservations revenue and lodging metrics grow while winter occupancy lags

Kira Skinner, representing the Telluride Tourism Board, reviewed 2025 initiatives and presented a proposed 2026 budget for county-funded activities. She told the lodging-tax panel that San Miguel County’s 2025 contribution was budgeted at $60,000 but is tracking higher; the Tourism Board proposed a county contribution of about $95,000 for 2026 based on recent trends.

Skinner highlighted growth in central reservations and lodging metrics: central reservations revenue increased about 9% over the past year and lodging revenues increased about 8%. She credited improved analytics and a publicly available economic dashboard that aggregates lodging, gondola ridership and air data to better inform planning and budgeting.

On occupancy, Skinner said total occupancy for the winter season was pacing down overall (about 4% down), with paid occupancy down about 7%. "December is currently down 8%, January down 4%... February is the strongest at 44% currently," she said, and noted that weather and a platform outage had affected bookings. Panel members praised the data and analytics and said the metrics help align marketing and commission-based referrals through telluride.com.

The board approved the Telluride Tourism Board’s 2026 agreement by voice vote; members agreed to pursue the previously discussed request to the county commissioners for reimbursement of the treasurer’s administrative fee should the county choose to grant it.

What happens next: the Tourism Board will proceed under the approved agreement; staff will provide contract paperwork and updated metrics at the next panel meeting.