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Aspen 'busting at the seams'

Carolyn Sackariason

 

   Aspen and Snowmass Village are in the middle of the busiest week of the of the year. And as Aspen Public Radio’s Carolyn Sackariason reports, there is barely any room left around the resort.

Traffic jams, chairlift lines, planes stacked up on the runway and standing-room only in the airport, indicate the estimated 98 or 99 percent occupancy this week at hotels. This is what full feels like.

Bill Tomcich is president of central reservations firm Stay Aspen Snowmass. He says occupancy is at least above 90 percent from last Saturday to this Saturday, and closer to 100 through New Year’s Eve.

That’s 4 points higher than last year. Tomcich attributes the spike to more demand, solid snow conditions and this year’s calendar has the Saturdays following Christmas and New Year’s falling on Dec. 26 and Jan. 2.

”I was anticipating what I call a double compression. We are full, probably more than ever. We are bulging at the seams. No doubt,” he says.

A new hotel in Basalt has served as overflow and is at 100 percent capacity. Skier day visits will climb into the 20,000s across the ski company’s four mountains as the next holiday approaches. That’s typical for this time of the season.

 

Carolyn Sackariason, Aspen Public Radio news.