Page 8 - Summer 2014

RESEARCH Kottke Preliminary Results Show Positive 2013–14 Season Overall BY DAVE BELIN, DIRECTOR OF CONSULTING SERVICES, RRC ASSOCIATES he preliminary results from the 2013-14 Kottke End of Season Survey are in, and the numbers show a largely positive season, despite some challenges in certain regions of the country. Overall snowsports Tvisits were down slightly, but lessons, season pass sales, ticket yields, average number of days open, and average snowfall were all up nationally. No one who works in the resort industry will be surprised to hear that these figures varied significantly by geographic area of the country, and even at specific destina- tions within the broader regions. The topline number from the Kottke both experienced extremely low snow- seasons in the 36 years of available report—downhill snowsports visits— fall deep into the season. The weather records. The Northeast and Midwest each declined 1.3 percent to 56.2 million vis- impacts across the two regions combined had their 12th-best seasons on record. its in 2013-14. The numbers largely were severe enough to drive a 27.7 percent By contrast, the Pacific Southwest had its reflected “a tale of two seasons:” while decline in visits, reducing visitation to the most difficult season in at least 19 years, most of the country experienced a posi- second-lowest level in 36 years. and the Pacific Northwest had its fourth tive season, the two Pacific West regions With widespread visitation gains lowest season in 19 years (history for each struggled with lack of snowfall early and across most of the country offset by deep of the two Pacific regions is only available consequently saw large declines in visits. losses in the far west, the 2013-14 sea- for 19 seasons). The four resort regions from the son thus presented a very mixed picture. Average inches of ski area snowfall Rockies to the Atlantic each posted gains Nationally, visitation fell short of the 60 increased by 3.9 percent nationally from relative to last season and 10-season aver- million-plus levels the industry has been 2012-13, with significant gains in the ages. Aided by improved snowfall, these able to achieve when conditions are opti- Midwest (up 24 percent), the Southeast four regions collectively had a 5.3 percent mal, but significantly exceeded the low-50 (up 23 percent), and the Rocky Mountains increase in visits over last season, and million levels indicative of an overall poor (up 22 percent). Cumulative snowfall was enjoyed their third-best season in 36 years season (figure 1). flat in the Northeast, and down sharply in of available estimates. By contrast, the Both the Southeast and Rocky the Pacific Northwest (-20 percent) and Pacific Southwest and Pacific Northwest Mountains enjoyed their second-best Pacific Southwest (-33 percent). Figure 1. Total Visits by Region ! ' # "#% $% "&% $% ( $% " ) * * "&!% ! "&% ( $% "#% ( $% 6 | NSAA Journal | SUMMER 2014 w w w.nsaa. org NSAA Summer 2014 prepressed v6a.indd 6 7/3/14 4:18 PM