Isn’t it odd that the average occupancy rate in all of Colorado hotel/motels is 59.9% and well under 48% here in Estes Park? That would be an 18% drop in revenues for those who are counting. No matter how one spins it, we’ve got a long way to go to make our businesses viable and valuable. The easy measure is to see the occupancy rate, the hidden measure is the lack of sales in the retail and restaurant sectors because there is no one here.
Will the new visitor center bring more visitors? The answer to that is assuredly no. It will give visitors a warm place to stand, but it won’t increase the number of visitors. What it will do, in effect, is reduce retail sales. How? With the new visitor center comes more parking and a shuttle service to take people away from town and into the Park. A better solution for the community is to build a large parking structure in the heart of town so that people will stay in town and shop and spend money. Make it easy for them!
What a shame that study after study has shown parking to be the biggest problem this town has for both residents and visitors, and nothing gets done. This Town listens only to staff recommendations and, for whatever reason, the staff doesn’t want it.
We have a new study by the Economic Development team that will make similar recommendations that will also be turned down. The shame is that the people on the committee really feel that they can make a difference and will be forever soured on the Town and local politics when they are totally ignored. This is the continuation of the sad saga of Estes Park.
