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Colorado - Fri. 03/13/26 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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AIRFARES HAVE DOUBLED ON SOME FLIGHTS AS SPRING TRAVEL STICKER SHOCK SETS IN
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Airline ticket prices are surging as the U.S. war with Iran and a rapid rise in oil prices push carriers to raise fares, testing how much higher costs travelers will tolerate. Average ticket prices were already climbing before the conflict, but airlines have since accelerated increases, with the sharpest jumps appearing on transcontinental, trans Atlantic and Caribbean routes, as well as last minute bookings. Among nine U.S. carriers, Spirit Airlines recorded the steepest week over week increase for domestic flights booked 21 days in advance, with the lowest one way fares more than doubling to $193. Prices for advance domestic bookings at major airlines including United and Delta rose between 15 percent and 57 percent. Jet fuel costs are a major driver, though demand, route mix and economic conditions also influence pricing. Despite higher fares, some airlines report resilient demand, with United posting its biggest single day booking revenue ever.
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MAJOR FIRE MITIGATION, TRAIL WORK COMING TO POPULAR ‘BACKYARD’ AREA OF COLORADO
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The U.S. Forest Service has approved a long-term fire mitigation and recreation management plan for 3,026 acres of White River National Forest surrounding Frisco, an area commonly known as the Backyard. The plan is intended to reduce wildfire risk in a heavily used forest that serves as a buffer for the town, nearby infrastructure, and water resources, while also reorganizing trail access for growing recreational demand. Of the total acreage, 1,576 acres are slated for timber thinning and removal, a proposal that drew public concern over forest character, wildlife habitat, and erosion.
Forest officials say treatments were adjusted in high use areas to limit visual impacts and that the work is designed to improve long term forest health. The plan also authorizes extensive trail changes, including new construction, reroutes, closures, and restoration, along with trailhead improvements and limited winter grooming. Work is expected to begin this summer and continue in phases over several years.
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DENVER’S DOMINANT CARRIER UNITED AIRLINES EXPECTS RECORD SPRING BREAK TRAVEL
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United Airlines expects to carry a record number of passengers during the spring break travel window from March 6 through April 27, driving a major surge at Denver International Airport, where the carrier holds roughly half of all passenger traffic. United anticipates more than 27 million travelers systemwide during the period, averaging about 520,000 passengers a day across roughly 4,900 daily flights. At DIA, more than 1.3 million passengers are forecast to pass through security checkpoints between March 11 and March 29, marking the airport’s first major travel rush of the year, with Fridays and Sundays projected to be the busiest days.
United’s booking data shows strong demand for beach destinations, with 52 percent of spring break travelers heading to coastal locations. Florida bookings are up sharply, including increases of 25 percent to Tampa and Fort Myers and 15 percent to Fort Lauderdale compared with last year. United’s top spring break destinations from Denver include Orlando, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego and Honolulu.
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DIA ASKS PUBLIC FOR DONATIONS TO PAY TSA WORKERS AS SHUTDOWN CONTINUES
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Denver International Airport officials are asking the public to donate grocery store and gas gift cards to help support Transportation Security Administration officers who are working without pay during a partial federal government shutdown affecting the Dept. of Homeland Security. The shutdown stems from a political dispute over immigration restrictions and began Feb. 14, airport officials said. TSA employees recently missed their first paycheck, prompting DIA leaders to launch the donation campaign as the busy spring break travel period approaches. Airport CEO Phil Washington said the effort is intended to ease financial stress for federal workers required to remain on the job to keep the airport operating safely. DIA officials said they are seeking $10 or $20 gift cards from major retailers that sell food and fuel, with collection bins placed in the main terminal and at the airport’s cell phone lot. The campaign will continue until the shutdown ends.
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GEN Z IS HANGING OUT AT THE MALL, RE ENERGIZING THE INDUSTRY
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Gen Z’s growing enthusiasm for shopping at malls is emerging as a bright spot for an industry that has struggled for years with store closures and declining foot traffic. Unlike millennials, who largely bypassed malls, younger shoppers are helping drive a recovery as demand for mall space rises again, according to reporting cited in The Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate newsletter. Gen Z shoppers say they prefer in person retail for its immediacy and social experience, a shift that is translating into stronger leasing activity. Data from NielsenIQ shows Gen Z’s retail spending growth is outpacing all other generations, with global annual spending expected to exceed $12 trillion by 2030. The cohort also allocates a larger share of discretionary spending to physical stores than older generations, according to Circana. The renewed interest is helping stabilize malls after years of disruption from e commerce and changing consumer habits.
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RMNP BEGINS FIRE RESTRICTIONS IN MARCH
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Rocky Mountain National Park has implemented Stage 2 fire restrictions effective March 12 due to extremely high winds, elevated fire danger and the extended weather forecast, park officials said. The restrictions prohibit all campfires anywhere in the park, including charcoal briquette fires, and will remain in effect until further notice. Petroleum fueled stoves and grills are still allowed in Moraine Park Campground, designated picnic areas and designated wilderness campsites, provided they can be turned on and off. During the winter season, Moraine Park Campground on the park’s east side is the only developed campground open inside the park. Smoking is prohibited throughout the park except inside enclosed vehicles or in paved areas cleared of vegetation for at least three feet, and fireworks are always prohibited. Park officials said this is the earliest Stage 2 fire restriction implementation in recent memory.
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COLORADO SKI TOWNS SEE STRONG DECLINE IN SPRING BREAK BOOKINGS AMID LOW SNOW SEASON
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Colorado ski towns are experiencing a significant drop in spring break lodging bookings as a historically dry winter dampens late season ski travel, according to a market study and local tourism officials. March bookings are down sharply across many Western Slope resort communities, with Steamboat Springs reporting a 10 percent year over year decline for the month, a trend local officials describe as the most anomalous visitation year since the pandemic. Data from booking platform Inntopia shows February bookings for arrivals between February and July are down nearly 20 percent across Colorado and Utah, while March arrivals booked in February fell nearly 25 percent.
Although spring break remains the least affected period of the month, overall revenue is expected to be lower than in previous years. In response, ski towns are promoting off mountain activities such as biking, hiking, hot springs and indoor attractions to offset reduced ski demand, while some destinations like Glenwood Springs are seeing steadier tourism due to less reliance on snowfall. Officials said early indicators point to a stronger summer tourism outlook.
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USA TODAY CONTEST NAMES PALISADE AMONG BEST SMALL TOWNS IN THE WEST
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Palisade has been selected as one of 20 finalists in USA Today’s 2026 Readers Choice Awards for Best Small Town in the West, placing the Western Slope community alongside destinations such as Moab, Utah; Jackson, Wyoming; Sedona, Arizona; and Solvang, California. The towns, all with populations under 25,000, were nominated by a USA Today expert panel, with public voting open through March 30 and the winner set to be announced April 8.
Palisade Mayor Greg Mikolai said the recognition reflects the town’s ongoing efforts to promote tourism and quality of life, highlighting attractions such as the farmers market and the Colorado Mountain Winefest. Mikolai said the town actively uses national nominations in its marketing strategy and has seen visitors arrive from across Colorado and neighboring states. He encouraged residents and supporters to vote daily to help Palisade earn the top spot. Anyone can vote once a day through March 30 at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/best-small-town-in-the-west.
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STATE GRANT ALLOWS NORTH FORK VALLEY CREATIVE COALITION TO EXPAND
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The North Fork Valley Creative Coalition is expanding its support for local artists and creative businesses after receiving a $75,000 grant from Colorado’s Office of Just Transition, funding that will allow the organization to transition its executive director role to a full-time position for the first time. Executive Director Jess Dervin Ackerman said the grant marks a shift from a largely volunteer run organization to a professionally led nonprofit and will support entrepreneurial education, free community events, and opportunities for local makers to reach broader markets. The funding will also help advance plans for a coworking space and entrepreneurial support center in downtown Paonia, while building on existing events such as the Mountain Harvest Festival and Paonia Holiday Festival. State officials said the investment reflects the economic importance of arts and culture in rural Colorado and supports communities transitioning away from coal-based economies.
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911 TECHNOLOGY IN DURANGO IS GOING DIGITAL
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Durango’s Emergency Communications Center is transitioning to Next Generation 911 technology as part of a nationwide shift from analog to digital emergency communications infrastructure. Emergency Communications Director Kati Fox told City Council the internet protocol-based system will allow for enhanced capabilities such as real time location tracking, smarter call routing, stronger security, interoperability between agencies and the potential for multimedia sharing, including live video from callers.
Fox said the center is updating its phone system, working with the Durango Fire Protection District on an automated dispatch alerting system to reduce response times, and using artificial intelligence tools for training and system integration. She emphasized that AI will not replace human dispatchers for emergency calls, citing the complexity and urgency of 911 work and the importance of human judgment during crises. Any new technology, including live video, will be implemented only after policies, training, legal review and safeguards are in place, Fox said.
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MID-MARCH HEAT COULD ACCELERATE SNOWMELT IN COLORADO’S MOUNTAINS, METEOROLOGISTS SAY
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Colorado’s mountain towns are forecast to experience unseasonably warm temperatures next week — as much as 20 to 25 degrees above normal — raising concerns about accelerated snowmelt and further damage to the state’s historically low snowpack, meteorologists said. After a modest weekend storm expected to bring 2 to 6 inches of snow to northern mountains, a ridge of high pressure is forecast to move in by March 17, bringing hot and dry conditions across the Western Slope. High temperatures could reach the 50s in higher elevations and climb into the 60s and 70s in resort towns such as Steamboat Springs, Vail, Breckenridge and Aspen, with Glenwood Springs potentially seeing highs in the low 80s.
Meteorologists warned that the warmth could speed snowmelt, particularly at lower elevations and on sun exposed slopes, at a time when Colorado’s snowpack is already tracking near record low levels. While cooler temperatures and possible snow could return later in March, longer range outlooks suggest above normal temperatures and below normal precipitation may persist into April and May.
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THESE COLORADO BILLIONAIRES MADE FORBES’ 2026 RICHEST LIST
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Colorado has a strong showing on Forbes’ 2026 ranking of the world’s richest people, led by longtime business figures and joined this year by new entrants tied to the state’s food, technology and investment sectors. The list highlights sharp net worth gains for several Coloradans since 2021, while also underscoring how wealth tied to Colorado increasingly extends beyond the Denver metro area.
Colorado Billionaires on Forbes’ 2026 list:
- Philip Anschutz, 86, Denver — $19.4 billion; ranked No. 141; net worth nearly doubled since 2021.
- Charlie Ergen, 73, Denver — $16.1 billion; ranked No. 178; EchoStar chairman and CEO.
- John Malone, 85 — $11.2 billion; ranked No. 284; Liberty Media founder.
- Terry Leprino, 65, Denver — $1.3 billion; ranked No. 2858; Leprino Foods heir.
- Gina Vecchiarelli, 64, Indian Hills — $1.3 billion; ranked No. 2858; Leprino Foods heir.
- Mark Stevens, 66, Steamboat Springs — $10.6 billion; ranked No. 304; former Sequoia Capital partner. • Pat Stryker, 69, Fort Collins — $4.1 billion; ranked No. 1044; Stryker Corp. heir.
- Stan Kroenke, 78 — $22.2 billion; ranked No. 114; sports and real estate owner with Colorado ties.
- Alex Karp, 58 — $13.1 billion; ranked No. 228; Palantir CEO with Aspen property.
- Robert F. Smith, 63 — $10 billion; ranked No. 341; Denver born Vista Equity Partners founder.
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MARKET UPDATE - 03/12/2026 Close
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(Courtesy of Alpine Bank Wealth Management*)
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Canadian dollar (per U.S. dollar)
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Mexican peso (per U.S. dollar)
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30-year fixed mortgage rate (Freddie Mac 03/12/2026)
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*Not FDIC insured. May lose value. Not guaranteed by the bank.
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Alpine Bank is an independent, employee-owned organization with headquarters in Glenwood Springs and banking offices across Colorado's Western Slope, mountains and Front Range. Alpine Bank serves customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Learn more at alpinebank.com.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
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