Photo by Liz Copan / Studio Copan
A letter opposing recent actions and discussions of the Breckenridge Town Council stirred the pot at Tuesday’s council meeting. Mayor Eric Mamula responded to the letter, and community members chimed in during the public comment period asking the council to work with them to address the lack of attainable workforce housing in town.
The 71 signatures on the letter included both individuals as well as people who signed for their business, including Breckenridge Grand Vacations CEO and co-owner Mike Dudick, Breckenridge Resort Managers President Toby Babich and Breckenridge Associates Real Estate founding partner Rob Neyland. The letter was labeled “One Voice” in an email that was sent to the Town Council and forwarded to the Summit Daily News.
When the nation’s hospitality industry began reopening its doors in late May, Centennial Staters hit the road. But many chose to stay close to home, which has been good news for Colorado businesses that rely on income from tourism.
Statistics suggesting we were happy to exchange exotic locales for nearby adventures abound. Visitation at Colorado’s 42 state parks increased by an average of 30 percent this summer, and 391,018 resident fishing licenses were issued in 2020, up 102,213 from 2019, according to the Colorado Tourism Office (CTO). From June 1 to September 7, colorado.com the CTO’s official marketing website also experienced 18 percent more traffic from in-state visitors compared to the same period in 2019, indicating that more locals were planning trips within state lines.