NH Ski Area Business Levels Off 3% from Record Year

[St. Bear]

From First Tracks Online:

N. Woodstock, NH - New Hampshire's ski resorts have visits for the 2008-09 winter and on Tuesday announced a total of 2,289,426 alpine skier and snowboarder visits, a slight decline of 3% from the winter of 2007-08, which set the state's all-time record for skier visits.

New Hampshire's 2008-09 ski and snowboard season was the third best year since statewide skier visits were first tabulated in 1983-84. That number was also 7.3% above the average of the past five seasons and up 8.9% over the past ten-year average.

Cross country areas in the state also had a moderately successful winter, hosting 144,711 visits, a decline of 12% from the 2007-08 winter, but still the second best winter in the past six years. Areas with snowtubing parks reported 108,720 snowtubing visits.

A strong ski season lifts other businesses in the state as well. An economic impact study conducted during the record 2007-08 winter showed a total of $940 million dollars spent by guests visiting New Hampshire ski areas. Of that total, only 12 percent was spent directly at ski areas with the remaining 88 percent spent on ski visit-related expenses such as lodging, restaurants, gas, tolls, retail, and other. This year's numbers are expected to be comparable to the 2007-08 study, says Ski NH, the state's ski area marketing organization, due to the minor decrease in business levels and slight price increases due to inflation.

The 2007-08 season set the all-time mark due to historic snowfall throughout the winter, a welcome relief from several prior winters of relatively low snowfall.

"There were obviously concerns going into this past winter given the state of the economy and fuel prices at that time," noted Karl Stone, Ski NH's marketing director. "While many other areas of the country did feel the impact, we were able to capitalize on good snowfall and weather, the value we offer, and our close proximity to several major New England cities."

"The ski industry is fortunate to have guests that are passionate about the special experience they enjoy with family and friends on our slopes and cross country trails. Business levels may have been able to equal last year's record, but a lack of natural snowfall in March brought the season to an earlier close than usual," summarized Alice Pearce, Ski NH's president.​

So I guess there's some truth to the belief that people where still skiing last year, just maybe staying local instead of taking destination trips out west.

 

[thetrailboss]

Pretty much on par with Vermont's data. No big surprises. I think this season will be telling though as to if people will continue skiing or cut back due to the economy.

 

[billski]

Resorts will be feeling much more confident about lowering discounts and incentives this year
We are already seeing it in the clubs.

 

[Geoff]

Pretty much on par with Vermont's data. No big surprises. I think this season will be telling though as to if people will continue skiing or cut back due to the economy.

The Vermont data is a little different. Meals & lodging were down more than skier visits. People showed up. They just didn't spend as much. Killington led the way with lodging down 25% and meals down 20%. Ironically, alcohol sales were up at Killington though bars raised their prices enough that the actual alcohol poured was probably down a bit. Just about everybody else was down but not that much. Stowe, with the new hotel, didn't drop at all.

I'm not aware that New Hampshire makes their meals, rooms, and alcohol sales numbers available online the way Vermont does. I'll bet they show similar results where people spent less.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Unemployment continues to rise so I see things worse for the next ski season..among us diehards..we'll always find a way to ski but we can all save a few bucks on lodging and meals..plus it looks as though gas prices will be higher than last season in the $3 a gallon range..

 

[MommaBear]

Pretty much on par with Vermont's data. No big surprises. I think this season will be telling though as to if people will continue skiing or cut back due to the economy.

We've already started the cutting. Thought long and hard before pulling the trigger on season passes (finally did) and only purchased 1/2 of what we purchased for 2008/2009 ski club tickets this year. We've always kept our other ski spending to a minimum to get as much skiing in for this family of 5 as possible (brown bag lunch, eat dinner in, day trip to other mountains, etc) but we would typically splurge a few times with overnight stays further north and dinners out. Probably won't be doing that this year. And we are still both gainfully employed!

Time will tell.

 

[bigbob]

Unemployment continues to rise so I see things worse for the next ski season..among us diehards..we'll always find a way to ski but we can all save a few bucks on lodging and meals..plus it looks as though gas prices will be higher than last season in the $3 a gallon range..

Gas prices on the way down, saw $2.34 today. Hope the oil speculators take a bath!

 

[ski_resort_observer]

One diference is while NH's best season was 2007/08, Vermont's 4.3m for that season was 20% below the gravy years of the late 80's.

 

[deadheadskier]

Gas prices on the way down, saw $2.34 today. Hope the oil speculators take a bath!

prices have dropped about 25 cents around here in the past ten days. I'd imagine prices and demand for gas will be equal to last year.

Savings are eroding for many families still out of work. Unless it's a BIG snow year and we start seeing some positive movement on the drop front (flat would be great at this point) I wouldn't be surprised to see next years winter off 10% or more from this year.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Gas prices on the way down, saw $2.34 today. Hope the oil speculators take a bath!

yeah but by winter the price of oil is supposed to spike..we'll see..anything below $4 a gallon to me seems gravy as gas was even higher than that last year at this time..

 

[riverc0il]

One diference is while NH's best season was 2007/08, Vermont's 4.3m for that season was 20% below the gravy years of the late 80's.

07-08 was a record year for NH but merely average for VT.

It will be interesting to see how season pass sales fare this year. The economy dive bombed last year after most people had made their season pass purchases. But continued trends of people staying local instead of flying may off set decreased up front season pass sales.

 

[thetrailboss]

It will be interesting to see how season pass sales fare this year. The economy dive bombed last year after most people had made their season pass purchases. But continued trends of people staying local instead of flying may off set decreased up front season pass sales.

+ 1. What I've been saying all along....

The ski areas crowing about how the weather and ski conditions trumps the economy is really BS IMHO. As Riv and I have said, folks were locked into passes before the worst of the crash took place and had no choice. They had no choice. What will be telling is if folks buy season passes now that the economy is what it is.

 

[Masskier]

A few years ago there was a paper published by a MIT professor that tracked over many years skier visits, economic conditions and snow fall. It was clear that the single biggest factor was, how much snow was on the ground in Boston.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Last year was a record season for Blue mountain..I think it snowed 25 inches but it was cold..alot of my ski buddies only skied Blue and didn't travel anywhere..

 

[eastcoastpowderhound]

A few years ago there was a paper published by a MIT professor that tracked over many years skier visits, economic conditions and snow fall. It was clear that the single biggest factor was, how much snow was on the ground in Boston.

SIA - Snowsports Industry of America, which represents the wholesalers and suppliers and puts on the annual national trade show, used to sing this song every year...until this one. Snowfall helped skier visits, but the ecomony beat the hell out of retail sales, margins, and even more severely, preseason orders for 09/10 product. So our little industry finally found out that its not recession proof...the hard way.

 

[deadheadskier]

I know due the economy and how it's affecting my business, I'm trying to spend at least 50% less this winter than last while still maintaining the same amount of days on snow. Just means smaller areas closer to home.

Not that I ski anywhere near as much as most members here, but I'd rather have 20-25 days out on inferior terrain than only ski 10-15 days at a bigger mountain.

 

[midd]

was traveling the last two weeks of May and missed the deadline to renew our Attitash passes by a day. Called on June 2nd and had to fight to get the June 1 discount. I realize I had plenty of time from March-middle of May to take care of it, but with the economic climate as it is, I didn't want to commit until as late as possible. (reasonable take on my end, I think)

what I couldn't figure out was whether I was dealing with a grumpy employee, or if the mtn was hard up enough to want to gouge my finacee and I out of a 120 bucks each.

 

[deadheadskier]

was traveling the last two weeks of May and missed the deadline to renew our Attitash passes by a day. Called on June 2nd and had to fight to get the June 1 discount. I realize I had plenty of time from March-middle of May to take care of it, but with the economic climate as it is, I didn't want to commit until as late as possible. (reasonable take on my end, I think)

what I couldn't figure out was whether I was dealing with a grumpy employee, or if the mtn was hard up enough to want to gouge my finacee and I out of a 120 bucks each.

probably just a situation where if you make an exception for one, then you have to make an exception for anyone who asks.

If it were me working there, I certainly wouldn't hassle you.

 

[St. Bear]

what I couldn't figure out was whether I was dealing with a grumpy employee, or if the mtn was hard up enough to want to gouge my finacee and I out of a 120 bucks each.

Probably a little bit of both.

I picked up a second job to justify my spending to the Mrs. I'd like to ski more, as well as buy a telemark set-up.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I know due the economy and how it's affecting my business, I'm trying to spend at least 50% less this winter than last while still maintaining the same amount of days on snow. Just means smaller areas closer to home.

Not that I ski anywhere near as much as most members here, but I'd rather have 20-25 days out on inferior terrain than only ski 10-15 days at a bigger mountain.

Wow so even for DINKS...Double Income No Kids..who typically have the most disposable income..spending is going to be down..wow. For me personally I'd like to spend less on bars/eating out and more on skiing..I just feel like I'll only have the 2009-10 ski season once so I have to make the best of it..