Mammoth Lakes Tourism press release

Mammoth Lakes, Calif. (September 12, 2016) — The 2015/16 fiscal year for the Town of Mammoth Lakes ended with another record-breaking month for Transient Occupancy Tax collections. June 2016 collections ended up exceeding $1 million for the first time on record. The previous TOT record for June was $772,950.

June numbers put the Town of Mammoth Lakes more than $4.4 million ahead of budget, at more than $15.7 million, for the 2015/16 fiscal year. This is a 39 percent increase from the 2014/15 year-end actual. The additional $4.4 million plus means there was more than $34 million in additional direct spending at lodging properties in Mammoth Lakes during the fiscal year.

“The growth Mammoth Lakes saw in fiscal 2015/16 was nothing short of incredible,” said Mammoth Lakes Tourism’s Executive Director John Urdi. “In any business, to break a record by 3-5 percent is a big deal so our TOT surpassing the previous record year by more than 34 percent is a testament to our town’s ability to reinvent itself and focus on driving business during need periods.”

Additionally, collections for the Tourism Business Improvement District (TBID) assessment added up to more than $200,000 for June, putting the total for the fiscal year at more than $5 million, or 29% over budget.

While other destinations across the country have also seen an increase in visitors this year due to many different factors, such as the National Parks Centennial and an improved economy, it is important to note that Mammoth Lakes is not just experiencing a trickle of growth in visitation; it is growing by leaps and bounds.

“This past winter we had early snow, which set us up with great momentum and even with below average snowfall for the season, our businesses prospered,” Urdi added. “Many mountain towns in the west have reported increases in summer business, but Mammoth Lakes’ growth has been well above most.”

For example, according to a press release from Placer County, North Lake Tahoe’s TOT collections were also up for the 2015/16 fiscal year. “Overall, TOT collections in the Tahoe area increased by more than $3 million in the county’s previous fiscal year, from July 2015 through June 2016,” the release stated. This is an 18 percent increase from the previous year, and while strong, still well below Mammoth Lakes’ 39 percent growth.

Fiscal year 2016/17 is off to a good start in Mammoth Lakes for both TOT and TBID with July TOT collections coming in at more than $1.7 million, which is up from the previous record by 21 percent. TBID numbers are up nearly 10 percent at more than $327,000.

By comparison, Aspen’s July lodging tax collections were up 7 percent over the previous year.

“And with 25 percent of our placement budgets focused on fall, look for business to stay steady through fall colors and bridge the gap between summer and winter,” “Urdi said.