Financial and industry data for the first quarter of 2020 aren’t exactly a portrayal of a thriving local retail economy, but they also show that a recovery is in motion.
A report issued Monday by the city of Aspen’s finance department was a mixed bag. It showed the hardest hit retail sectors January-through-March were restaurants and accommodations, with their respective sales totals respectively down 27.1% and 27% from the same three months in 2020. On the brighter side, of the 12 other industries tracked by city, 10 saw sales increases in this year’s first quarter over January through March 2020, the report showed.
“While sales are pacing even with quarter 1 of 2020 in total, the city’s two largest industries accommodations and restaurants continue to lag behind, each down about 27% to date, and are being offset by the recoveries experienced in other industries,” wrote Anthony Lewin, who is the city of Aspen’s senior financial tax auditor, in the report.
Tourists excited, anxious about 2021 summertime travel
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Pitkin County commissioners on Tuesday supported a hefty increase in the fee taxis and limos pay to pickup and drop off visitors at the Aspen airport.
Ground transportation companies currently pay $1 per passenger for normal sized taxis and cars and $1.25 per passenger for vehicles with seven passengers or more to pick up people at the airport. On Tuesday, commissioners unanimously threw their support behind charging those companies $2.50 per passenger to both pick up and drop-off travelers to Aspen.
“I’ve had calls from some (ground transportation) providers and they’re just going to pass (the increase) on (to travelers),” said Commissioner Patti Clapper. “I’m supportive of (the highest increase).”
By Ellen Shapiro
Opposing forces. On one side of the big game board of life: COVID-19, ever spreading with new surges and variants. On the other side: countries, cities, hotels, airlines and cruise lines, hoping to fit themselves into postpandemic travel plans or trying to entice us to make reservations and book now. Open a newspaper and read that Florida has nearly 20,000 new cases. Turn the page, and there’s an ad offering “a warm winter welcome” at the Breakers resort in Palm Beach, asking us to “take comfort in knowing that the highest standards of comprehensive health and safety precautions are in place to protect our team, guests and community.” Which message is more enticing, or less scary?
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