Memorial Day travel is beating the odds, and mountain towns are anxiously awaiting more good news to come.
AAA predicts a record 45 million people in the U.S. will hit the roads and skies over the next four days, May 21-25. That is barely more than last year, at 44.8 million, but still good for the busiest Memorial Day in history, beating the pre-COVID highs of 2019 by 3.2 million travelers.
The majority, 39.1 million, will travel by car. The rest are flying, and some even managed to lock in cheap airfare by booking earlier this spring.
“Travel demand remains strong, and despite higher fuel prices, many people are prioritizing leisure travel during holiday breaks,” AAA voice president Stacey Barber says in a statement.
Against all odds
Barber seems to realize this prediction sounds crazy. Gas watchdogs say your price at the pump could hit $5 a gallon in the next few weeks. A new CBS poll shows nearly half the U.S. is struggling financially, and most of us blame the White House. All signs point to people staying home and saving a buck.
And yet, another batch of numbers shows we are still excited to get out and play this summer, despite higher prices making up for a weak ski season in the mountains.
Resort analytics firm Destrimetrics claims hotel books are trending up across the West. The only month that isn’t up over last year is October. Rates are higher and people are paying them, especially in August, when bookings went soaring nearly 26% in the slushy dregs of April.
Swapping summer for winter
One expert suggests the same people who canceled winter ski trips are not ready to give up yet.
“Most western mountain destinations are relieved to be seeing this winter in their rearview mirror,” says Tom Foley, director of Business Intelligence for Inntopia, a branch of Destimetrics. “Winter’s struggles are clearly morphing into summer’s strength at this point as all the metrics are pacing comfortably ahead of last year driven by pent-up demand.”
Foley believes Summit County and other mountain towns will enjoy a big summer. Luxury rentals over $401 per night are doing better than cheaper rentals, but even rooms less than $250 per night could fill up soon. Why? Because the data shows mountain lodges are cutting rates to entice people still on the fence.
Foley ends his prediction with a warning, saying, “The volatility of the economy, the uncertainty that comes with war, and concerns about the potential for wildfire following a very dry winter could all factor into how this summer plays out. For now, we are enjoying a much more positive vibe than even 30 days ago and remaining cautiously optimistic about the summer ahead.”