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Colorado - Tue. 05/13/25 |
A Free Business Publication from Alpine Bank
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61.5 MILLION SKIER VISITS RECORDED IN U.S. DURING WINTER 2024-25
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Preliminary data released Monday from the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) indicates the 2024-25 season marked the second-highest visitation on record to U.S. ski areas, with a total of 61.5 million skier visits. This was a 1.7 percent increase over the previous season. The 2024-25 numbers trail the record-setting 2022-23 season by 3.9 million visits, or just under 6 percent. NSAA said factors contributing to this season’s growth include increased visits at small- and medium-sized ski areas, a record-setting year in the Pacific Northwest, a rebound in the Midwest following a dip last season, and continued growth in season passes and frequency-based products. The number of operating ski areas rose from 484 last season to 492 this season, marking another positive indicator.
- The Pacific Northwest recorded its best season on record, with 4.7 million skier visits — a 10.9 percent increase over the previous year.
- The Midwest also experienced a strong rebound, with a 21.8 percent increase in skier visits after a 26.7 percent decline the prior season due to unseasonably warm weather.
- The Rocky Mountain region, which accounted for 42.9 percent of all national visits in 2024-25, also had a strong showing, ranking third out of 47 seasons on record.
- Capital investment by U.S. ski areas totaled $624.4 million during the 2024-25 season (based on reported investment by 135 responding areas).
- In 2024-25, the average ski area reinvested approximately $21.11 per skier visit back into operations, continuing a trend that exceeds the five-season average of $20.37. With an average ticket yield of $75 per visit, roughly 28 percent of every lift ticket or pass sale was reinvested into ski area infrastructure and improvements.
- Season passholders made up 49 percent of visits nationally, with standard day lift tickets collecting 32 percent of visits. The balance is claimed by frequency products, off-duty employees, complimentary products, and other non-paying activities.
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BOULDER'S LANDMARK CLIMATE LAWSUIT AGAINST SUNCOR & EXXON CAN CONTINUE
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The Colorado Supreme Court ruled Monday that a landmark municipal lawsuit seeking to hold two of the state’s largest oil and gas companies financially responsible for climate-change harms to Boulder County can move forward. Boulder’s city and county governments filed the lawsuit seven years ago in an effort to hold Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil accountable for knowingly driving climate change and the damage the companies’ pollution has caused. The case wound its way through state and federal courts before the state Supreme Court heard arguments in February over whether Boulder and Boulder County can sue in state court over air emissions that may not originate in Colorado or may drift somewhere else.
On Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that Boulder’s legal claims are not preempted by federal law and that a lower court didn’t err in declining to dismiss the case. The state Supreme Court ruling sends the case back to district court.
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ASPEN HOSPITAL CHANGES NAME
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Aspen Valley Hospital is reintroducing itself as Aspen Valley Health, officials announced Monday. The new brand includes a redesigned logo and updated visual identity, created to unify Aspen Valley Health’s expanding network of services — from a single hospital to a comprehensive regional health system — under one umbrella. “Essentially, all we’re doing is now identifying our brand more accurately with what we already do,” said Dave Ressler, Aspen Valley Health chief executive officer. “It won’t change how we provide services, bill, and collect for those services, but it does more accurately describe what we’re trying to accomplish with our services, which is improving the overall health and well-being in the community.”
One goal of the rebrand, which has been part of the hospital system’s facilities expansion and modernization project started in 2023, is to strengthen its recruitment and retention. “The biggest issue we’re facing is the wave of retirement from our industry and all industries,” Ressler said. Aspen Valley Health has 450 full-time employees and currently manages and leases over 100 employee housing units. It aims to allocate $40 million to create 50 more units using a modular housing approach.
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ART FAIR AT HOTEL JEROME
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The Aspen Art Fair will transform Hotel Jerome into an art gallery from July 29 to Aug. 2 as part of Aspen ArtWeek. The event is building upon the success of the 2024 inaugural art fair co-founded by Becca Hoffman, who also serves as the fair’s director, and Bob Chase, owner of Aspen’s Hexton Gallery. The 2024 fair drew more than 3,000 attendees over its four-day run. More than 90 artists from 12 countries were presented in different categories, including painting, sculpture, photography, installation and functional design. For this year’s art fair, 40 international art and design dealers will showcase works by more than 125 artists from 15 countries.
Among the 20 new exhibitors: Marianne Boesky (New York and Aspen), Sean Kelly (New York and Los Angeles), The Sunday Painter (London), Vielmetter (Los Angeles), and 193 Gallery (Paris, Venice, Saint-Tropez). They join 19 returning exhibitors and specially commissioned curatorial projects with representation across more than 15 countries in North America, Europe, Africa and Asia. AAF works with two local arts programs as cultural partners — Buckhorn Public Arts and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Each of these organizations offers a prize to an artist who is showing at the fair.
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SNOWBOARDER-TURNED-FOODIE NOMINATED FOR JAMES BEARD AWARD
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Colorado is undoubtedly a mecca for outdoor adventure. But as former pro snowboarder Josh Rosen has learned, the state is also a “utopia” for food. Rosen is the host of “DIRT,” an episodic web series about food, travel and adventure made by apparel company Huckberry and Outside TV. Each episode ventures to a new place, and for its 11th installment, Rosen and his crew visited the Centennial State, where they surfed rivers, snowboarded and, of course, ate plenty of local cuisine. On May 7, the episode was named a finalist for a James Beard Media Award, and it’s not hard to see why. Rosen’s journey takes him on a loop through the Western Slope, down to the San Luis Valley and back to Denver. Along the way, he meets a colorful cast of characters and showcases some of the state’s bespoke producers as he collects local ingredients.
Each “DIRT” episode ends with a one-of-a-kind, homegrown meal. Rosen forages with chef Barclay Dodge of Michelin-starred restaurant Bosq in Aspen, milks cows at a dairy farm in Carbondale, butchers a pig in Paonia, chases UFOs in the San Luis Valley, and drinks Stranahan’s whiskey in Denver, among other adventures. The show highlights farmers and ranchers using sustainable, regenerative and biodynamic practices that give back to the land, including Jones Farms Organics, which grows potatoes and rye in Hooper; Sustainable Settings dairy ranch in Carbondale; and Aquila Cellars winery in Paonia. Denver comedian Eeland Stribling also takes Rosen fishing for carp in the Mile High City. The final meal, cooked at Bosq in Aspen, is a true testament to the bounty of Colorado.
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NEW MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL OPENS IN EDWARDS
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Colorado once again has psychiatric beds available west of the Front Range after Vail Health opened a new inpatient facility last week. Until recently, West Springs Hospital in Grand Junction was the only option for inpatient psychiatric treatment between metro Denver and Salt Lake City. The hospital closed in early March because of financial difficulties, though its detoxification facility and outpatient clinic remained open. Precourt Healing Center, which sits on a campus in Edwards that also houses outpatient mental health providers and community organizations working with youth, accepted its first patients on May 5. As of Friday afternoon, three people from across the western half of the state had started care there.
Precourt differs from West Springs in a few ways. It isn’t set up to provide detoxification care, so people who are struggling with addiction as well as a mental health condition will need to stabilize elsewhere before starting their care at Precourt. The facility also can’t treat as many patients at the same time, with 28 beds, rather than 48 at West Springs.
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COLORADO ROCKIES FIRE MANAGER BUD BLACK IN MIDST OF 7-33 START TO SEASON
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The Colorado Rockies have relieved manager Bud Black and bench coach Mike Redmond of their duties. Now at 7-33 through the team’s first 40 games and on track for not only a third consecutive 100-loss season but also projecting at their current pace to log the most losses of any MLB team in history, general manager Bill Schmidt said the team needed “a different voice.” That voice will be Warren Schaeffer, who was named interim manager after serving on Colorado’s coaching staff for the past three seasons, focusing on third base coaching, and working with the team’s infielders. He managed at three levels in the Rockies organization from 2015-2022, compiling a 464-505 record. Schaeffer was the manager for Triple-A Albuquerque for three seasons from 2020 to 2022, logging a 120-158 record.
The Rockies have had three different eight-game losing streaks this season, marking the first time in franchise history that has happened. Those losses contributed to 33 defeats in Colorado’s first 39 games, tying the Rockies with the 1988 Baltimore Orioles for the most in MLB’s modern era. The final loss under Black’s regime was a 21-0 defeat on Saturday night where the Padres established several franchise records, including the first time eight players had multiple hits in the same game.
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73RD ANNUAL RALLYE GLENWOOD SPRINGS, JUNE 6-8
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The MG Car Club – Rocky Mountain Centre has announced the 73rd running of the Rallye Glenwood Springs in Glenwood Springs, June 6-8. The Rallye Glenwood Springs is the nation’s longest-running continually held car rallye. This three-day event is fun for beginners and experts alike, and everyone from dyed-in-the-wool car nuts to those new to the hobby are welcome. Events include our signature time-speed-distance rallye, a scavenger hunt driving tour, car show, and our funkhana precision car control competition. The Friday Rallye Glenwood Springs departs from a new location this year: Great Scotts Eatery, 1295 Cortez St., in Denver. This is on the north side of Denver and benefits our participants coming in from that direction. Registration opens at 7 a.m. and the first car leaves at 8:01 am. Register for RGS at mgccrmc.regfox.com/2025-rallye-glenwood-springs. For more information, call 303-827-6226 or email keith.kerr.2025RGS@gmail.com.
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11th ANNUAL GOLF FOR THE TROOPS AT COBBLE CREEK MAY 31
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Enjoy an unforgettable day of golf at the 11th Annual Golf for the Troops Tournament, proudly hosted by Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans. This year's event, which includes an awards lunch, takes place Saturday, May 31 at Cobble Creek Golf Course in Montrose. Check in begins at 7:30 a.m., and the shotgun start is at 9 a.m. This event benefits local veterans and their families in Montrose, Delta, Ouray and San Miguel counties. Sponsorships are available. To register or to become a sponsor, e-mail April.heard@whafv.org, call 970-765-2210 or visit the link below.
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VOLUNTEERS FOR OUTDOOR COLORADO’S CAIRN PROGRAM ACCEPTING MENTOR APPLICATIONS
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Are you passionate about the outdoors and looking for a meaningful way to give back? Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado is seeking adult mentors for its Cairn Program—a year-long leadership and outdoor education experience for high school students (ages 14–18) along the Front Range. As a mentor, you'll guide a small group of students through monthly outdoor adventures, help foster their leadership skills and play a key role in shaping the next generation of environmental stewards. It's also a great opportunity to grow your own leadership experience in a collaborative, impact-driven setting. Applications are due July 31, 2025. Apply now online at voc.org/cairn-applications-mentors.
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SOLEMN VIGIL HONORS FALLEN OFFICERS, STARTS NATIONAL POLICE WEEK
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Local law enforcement kicked off National Police Week, May 11 through May 17, with a poignant tribute Monday. Agencies, including the Grand Junction Police Dept., Mesa County Sheriff’s Office and Colorado State Patrol, gathered outside the local sheriff’s office to honor fallen officers and their families. The flag ceremony and vigil opened with remarks from local law enforcement leaders on the significance of their agencies’ sacrifices; afterwards, the U.S. and Colorado flags flying in front of the office were lowered to half-mast. Nationwide, 147 law enforcement officers lost their lives in the line of duty last year.
According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, the report on law enforcement fatalities indicates a 25 percent rise from 2023, when 118 officers died in the line of duty. A press release from the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office reported that 24,000 law enforcement personnel have perished on the job since 1786, the first recorded death nationwide. The City of Fruita will pay tribute today by reading an official proclamation at 7 p.m., and the Grand Junction City Council will follow suit at their next regular meeting. Similarly, the Mesa County Board of Commissioners will make a proclamation today, at 9 a.m., to recognize the importance of local law enforcement and the sacrifices they make.
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YAMPATIKA TO HOST WILD EDIBLE FEAST, FORAGING WALK
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The 25th anniversary Wild Edible Feast fundraiser, hosted by nonprofit Yampatika, takes place on May 22. The evening of sampling and judging wild edible fare will start at 5:30 p.m. at The Commons Food Hall at 56 Seventh St. in Steamboat Springs and feature a new competition between five chefs. Chefs from restaurants at The Commons will be given a bundle of foraged plants and game meat and tasked with making their best dish. Feast guests will judge the dishes in categories including Most Creative, Most Unique, Best Flavor, Best Use of Ingredients and Best Overall.
Before the feast begins, an educational panel will discuss “A 25-Year Retrospective of the Changing Flora and Habitat of the Yampa Valley.” The panel will discuss the region’s edible landscape and examine the effects of increased development, climate change and population growth on harvestable plants and game. Tickets to the feast are $150 on sale online at Yampatika.org, where a fundraiser silent auction also is underway. Yampatika also will offer a foraging educational walk with experienced naturalists Karen Vail and Mary O’Brien as they forage for ingredients for the feast starting at 11:15 a.m., May 19.
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U.S., CHINA AGREE TO LARGE TARIFF CUTS; STOCKS SURGE
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U.S. stocks surged, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite entering a new bull market, after the U.S. and China agreed to slash high tariffs on each other's goods. The decision by the world’s two largest economies represents a major thaw in trade relations that resets the tone between the countries from outright conflict to constructive engagement.
After two days of weekend talks in Geneva:
- President Trump's "reciprocal" tariff on China will fall to 10 percent from 125 percent.
- A separate 20 percent tariff the president imposed over what he described as China's role in the fentanyl trade will remain.
- Beijing will cut its retaliatory levies on U.S. goods to 10 percent from 125 percent.
- The U.S. said reductions will last 90 days while talks continue.
The agreement lowered tariff levels far more than Wall Street expected, with one analyst, Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities, calling the deal a "best-case scenario” for investors. Goldman Sachs cut its U.S. recession odds to 35 percent from 45 percent and boosted its growth forecast. U.S. stocks rallied, with the Nasdaq Composite climbing 4.3 percent and entering a new bull market by closing more than 20 percent above its April low. The Dow industrials jumped above where they closed on April 2, before Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs sent markets into a tailspin. The blue-chip index ended the day more than 1,100 points higher.
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AIRLINE PASSENGER SATISFACTION IMPROVES SLIGHTLY
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With domestic air passenger volume down through the first quarter of 2025, consumer confidence sinking to its lowest level since the pandemic, airlines introducing new fees on everything from baggage to seat selection, North American air travel is going through some changes. According to the recent J.D. Power 2025 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, airlines are heading into this new era from a position of relative strength, with overall passenger satisfaction up 6 points (on a 1,000-point scale) from 2024.
Following are some key findings of the 2025 study:
- Overall passenger satisfaction for North American airlines is up 6 points from 2024. That improvement is driven by an 8-point increase in satisfaction among passengers flying in the economy/basic economy class, which represents the majority of airline passengers. Passenger satisfaction declined 7 points in the premium economy class and just 1 point in first/business class.
- Positive passenger experiences with airline staff were responsible for a 9-point increase in customer satisfaction in the economy/basic economy segment, underscoring the importance of frontline personnel to the overall passenger experience.
- Fewer than 10 percent of North American airline passengers experienced problems in this year’s study. Of those who did experience problems, flight delays were the most common across all passenger segments. Customers who did not cite a problem had satisfaction scores that were 125 points higher on overall level of trust with the airline than those who experienced a problem.
- Among passengers who describe their overall air travel experience as “perfect,” 81 percent say they “definitely will” fly that airline again. That level of brand loyalty falls to just 4 percent among passengers who describe their experience as “poor.”
Study Rankings:
- JetBlue Airways ranks highest in customer satisfaction in the first/business segment with a score of 738. Delta Air Lines (724) ranks second and Alaska Airlines (709) ranks third.
- Delta Air Lines ranks highest in customer satisfaction in the premium economy segment for a third consecutive year, with a score of 717. JetBlue Airways (699) ranks second and Alaska Airlines (691) ranks third.
- Southwest Airlines ranks highest in customer satisfaction in the economy/basic economy segment for a fourth consecutive year, with a score of 694. JetBlue Airways (663) ranks second and Delta Air Lines (662) ranks third.
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MARKET UPDATE - 05/12/2025 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 05/08/2025)
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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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