Denver, Colorado, Jan. 22, 2009-A combination of factors including timely snowfall, discounted lodging, incentive packages, and aggressive marketing campaigns helped destination resort minimize their losses over the holidays, according Mountain Travel Research Program (MTRiP) data. As a result, "While the results are not as good as previous years, it was considerably 'less bad' than expected," reported MtriP's Ralf Garrision. With December economic indicators very weak, including the Consumer Confidence Index at a record-tyine low of 38.0 and unemployment rates up to 7.2 percent, projections for good holiday business were low.

According to data released in the Mountain Travel Monitor, produced MTRiP, the occupancy rate for destination resorts was down 8.5 percent from last year, while the average daily rate for accommodations dropped 4.8 percent. The drop in revenue was primarily due to significant last-minute discounts offered by lodging properties.

Reservation activity in early December was slow, but mid-month snowfall and promotions led to an upswing in reservations, particularly at destination resorts closest to urban population centers. Last minute bookings this December for arrivals in December were up 64 percent over last year.

"The bookings came at the eleventh hour and the length of stays were much shorter than for traditional holiday guests, because most visitors came shorter distances and could react to the last-minute offers more effectively than long-distance travelers," observed Garrison. "Ultimately, lodging properties and resorts managed to fill many of their vacancies and most resorts filled their slopes as well."

Overall, December reservations were down 7.1 percent compared to last December, but compared favorably to November business-which was down 25.1 percent.

Despite the holiday boost, figures for occupancy in mountain resorts are still down 18.1 percent overall for the entire season. And the advanced reservation outlook for the remainder of the season remains weak, with bookings for January through April running 20 percent behind last year's pace.

"Although this may not be a banner year, at the moment, the situation is looking 'less bad,' which is rapidly becoming the new 'good,'" Garrison concluded. \