The early end to the ski season, beset by warm, dry weather, clearly impacted sales-tax collections in Park City. But the Park City Chamber/Bureau said this week there were other factors that led to the economic struggles during the winter, as detailed in a Park City municipal government report that was drafted in anticipation of a Park City Council meeting scheduled on Thursday. In prepared responses to a Park Record inquiry about the economic numbers during the ski season, Jennifer Wesselhoff, the president and CEO of the Chamber/Bureau, described there were a variety of reasons for the softness, with the early end to the season being the top one. “It was a combination of factors, but I believe the timing of resort closures was the biggest driver. Our mountain resorts closed earlier this season compared to last year, which compressed the spring shoulder season more sharply — that’s what you’re seeing in the April occupancy numbers. When lifts stop turning, the primary demand engine for tourism goes with them,” she said. But Wesselhoff also cited the economy and global affairs. “That said, we’d be understating the picture if we didn’t acknowledge that broader headwinds played a role. Consumer confidence nationally has been choppy, and we’ve heard from members in retail and hospitality that some travelers are making more conservative choices about discretionary spending. We don’t have a way to precisely isolate that effect in our data, but it’s consistent with what mountain destinations across the region are reporting,” she said. “Geopolitical uncertainty and the general economic noise — particularly around gas prices, war, tariffs, and cost pressures — have been part of the conversation with our members. None of it is unique to Park City, but it layered on top of a shoulder season that was already compressing.” The summer-tourism season has started and typically is busiest from Independence Day until Labor Day. Wesselhoff said a turnaround is expected. “We are cautiously optimistic moving into summer. The market is stabilizing, forward indicators are pointing the right direction, and Park City’s summer value proposition is as strong as it’s been,” she said. Wesselhoff added: “May is already running 21% ahead of last year in occupancy. That’s a meaningful reversal from April’s 24% decline, and it suggests the market is responding positively as we move into summer demand season. Forward bookings for the next six months show occupancy down only 3.4% compared to a year ago — a much narrower gap than recent actuals — and (average daily rate) for that same forward window is actually up 1.4% to $398. Rates are moving in the right direction.” She also described the differences between tourism in the summer and the winter. “Summer in Park City has a demand profile that’s structurally different from ski season. It’s driven by festivals, outdoor recreation, and mountain biking — assets that aren’t weather-dependent in the same way and that attract a broad visitor base. We have a strong events calendar, and our Mountainkind brand positioning is resonating with the kind of active, values-aligned traveler who plans ahead,” she said. The post Park City Chamber/Bureau cites early end to ski season, ‘broader headwinds’ for economic softness appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less