JACKSON, Wyo. — The Town of Jackson and Teton County recently released the 2021 Indicator Report, which tracks various aspects of the community and how the goals of the Comprehensive Plan are being met.
One goal outlined in the Comprehensive Plan is increasing the “shoulder season” occupancy levels in Jackson.
The Indicator Report tracks the lodging occupancy by season, measuring the percentage of lodging units that are occupied in Teton County. The report compiled data from 2011 through 2020, tracking the percentage of lodging units occupied in January and July, peak winter and summer, and October and April, fall and spring “shoulder season” months.
In Teton County, 2% tax is added to all hotel, motel or visitation rental property. The tax is known as the Lodging Tax and is spent by the Town of Jackson, Teton County and the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board. 30% of the funds are used to offset visitor impacts, 10% is added to the general fund, and 60% is used for promotional purposes for local tourism.
A portion of the Lodging Tax revenue is used to drive tourism during the shoulder season. According to the data in the Indicator Report, efforts to increase shoulder season tourism have been successful.
The 2o2o data reflects occupancy units from lodging facilities that were open, it does not include facilities that did not open due to COVID-19.
From October of 2019 to October of 2020 lodging unit occupancy increased significantly from just under 50% of units occupied to about 65% of units occupied. In 2013 occupancy rates were just over 30%.
Lodging units occupied in the month of October in Jackson Hole have been increasing steadily over the past ten years. From 2012 to 2019, October lodging occupancy averaged 41%.
April of 2020, just a few months into the pandemic, reported 4% of lodging units occupied. 2019 reported nearly 20% occupancy. Lodging units occupied in April usually hover between 10% and 20%.
Last summer, July of 2020 saw the lowest occupancy levels in recent history at 70%, but that is only about 10%-15% down from previous years. July usually hovers around 80%-90% of lodging units occupied.
A 2% tax is added to all hotel, motel or visitation rental property in Teton County. The tax is known as the Lodging Tax and is spent by the Town of Jackson, Teton County and the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board. 30% of the funds are used to offset visitor impacts, 10% is added to the general fund, and 60% is used for promotional purposes for local tourism.
