Press Kit

Mt Washington Valley businesses report strong February Vacation Week in 2021



News from Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce – March 2, 2021

Contact:  Marti Mayne, 207-846-6331, PR@mtwashingtonvalley.org

FEBRUARY VACATION WEEKS FILLED WITH STAYCATIONERS & CLOSE TO HOME WINTER ADVENTURERS

Mt Washington Valley, NH businesses report decent traffic, sales and even some surprise records for the two vacation weeks in February

North Conway, NH – In the midst of continued adherence to Covid protocols, including limited ticket sales, restaurant seating and limits on customers, Mt Washington Valley businesses still reported optimism when asked about sales for the Presidents Week and New Hampshire vacation weeks (last two weeks in February).  Most of those reporting to an informal survey of Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce members described the vacation weeks as busy with increased traffic, sales and bookings, especially during the New Hampshire vacation week.

Last year at this time, nervousness about the brand new COVID-19 illness was just beginning to flare, with the first deaths in the U.S. reported in February and cases mounting in Seattle.  While the word “pandemic” was not on the tip of every tongue, trepidation toward the new mystery illness impacted travel.  Yet, the February vacation weeks were still strong last year.  Fast forward to 2021, and as vaccines roll out, and Covid-weary would-be travelers are ready to slowly and carefully escape the four walls of home serving as office and classroom, they are venturing toward outdoor recreation and Mt Washington Valley, NH offering just the variety they crave.  This has increasingly been the trend as more and more travelers are vaccinated, travel confidence grows.  This sentiment was just what beleaguered businesses in the Valley needed for the two school vacation weeks in February.  While many businesses expressed that the vacation weeks exceeded their expectations, with Covid protocols still in place many – although not all - did not report numbers exceeding earlier record years for the President’s Week, but reported stronger than past year’s sales for the New Hampshire Vacation Week.

Lodging members of the Mt Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce weighed into the survey with mostly positive comments.  Christopher Bellis, co-owner of the Cranmore Inn in North Conway was featured in a story on WMUR about what a strong vacation week the Valley had. “Bookings for the vacation weeks were up this year compared to last year (and every year before),” he told the chamber.  “2020 was our busiest February to date and 2021 overshot that by 10%.  Advance reservations for the vacation weeks suggested we would not be exceeding last year’s numbers and then boom! guests started to reserve left and right...” he added.  Bellis suggested that with the vaccines being distributed and Covid case numbers on the decline, more people were feeling they can travel.  Combine that with the idea that they've been cooped up in their homes since the start of winter and it led to a great February for the Cranmomre Inn.

Ellie Koeppel, owner and GM of The Wentworth, An Elegant Country Inn in Jackson, shared that both vacation weeks were very busy, and the New Hampshire vacation week bookings and sales were much stronger than past years.  She reminded the chamber that that this time last year we were on the cusp of the virus and there was a lot of nervousness in the air for travel. 

Carol Sullivan, Director of Sales and Marketing at the White Mountain Hotel & Resort, told the chamber that President’s vacation week was slightly up as compared to last year. “We had a very strong February in 2020,  so the vacation weeks were a welcome change after a slow December and January,” she added. 

Ed Butler, co-owner of the Notchland Inn in Harts Location, shared with the chamber, “Surprisingly, we did better for Feb vacation weeks this year than we did last year.  The large majority of guests were from New Hampshire and New England, and yet there were still a few 'from away'”, he added.

Mt Washington Valley’s restaurants and bars have had to face difficult limitations on service, hours, and staff availability throughout the pandemic.  Yet, many of the Valley’s restaurants have survived the pandemic with out-of-the-box thinking. Outdoor dining and To-Go service has helped Mt Washington Valley restaurants to survive and boosted numbers during the February vacation weeks.

Terry O’Brien, owner of the Red Parka Steakhouse and Pub in Glen, shared some good news about the vacation weeks with the chamber. “Both vacation weeks were strong (all things considered),” she said. Adding, “the second week was bigger than I expected with numbers close to last year mid-week.  Having lost the ability to have a real functioning bar with live bands is the thing that is really hurting our business, but we are muddling through.”

Ben Williams owns two restaurants in North Conway’s shopping district.  He weighed into the Chamber’s survey saying, “It was a busy two weeks. At Black Cap Grille, business was down 10% for the first President’s school vacation week and then up 10% for NH school vacation week. Waiting lines were longer as we have reduced inside seating,  so the decline was not due to the lack of demand or people in town. We made up on the decline in in- person dining with to-go orders which were strong and growing.  Depending on the weather, guests were outside on the patio.

Ben also explained that at Barley & Salt Tap House & Kitchen located in Settlers Green,  business was very busy during the two vacation weeks, but with reduced seating, hour long waits resulted due to demand. He concluded that business was strong overall for both restaurants during the vacation weeks.

Larry Flaherty, Owner/Operator of The Metropolitan Coffee House Café and Art Gallery shared that they saw both an increase in sales and in visitors from Southern New Hampshire during the two vacation weeks at both his locations in North Conway.  He observed traffic and crowds appeared to be heavier in North Conway Village than during previous February vacation weeks.

The Gibson Center for Senior Services saw less people coming for Grab and Go lunches due to increased traffic in North Conway Village; “a backwards compliment,” according to spokesperson, Jill Reynolds.

Mt Washington Valley’s ski resorts went into the vacation weeks with plenty of snow and terrain open; many with 100% of skiable terrain available.  In keeping with Covid protocols, the ski resorts and XC Centers have had to limit ticket sales throughout the season, which has impacted all their operations.  There were many days throughout the vacation weeks when the ski resorts sold out.

Thomas Prindle, Director of Marketing for King Pine Ski Area, Purity Spring Resort and Danforth Camping and RV Resort, shared his impressions with the chamber saying, “Skier visits wise, the vacation weeks were good, but we also set capacity limits and were selling out on occasion, almost daily with snowtubing, and not selling beyond that. Unfortunately, it’s our interior profit centers, like food and beverage, tavern, rentals and even ski school that have suffered because of COVID safety measures and requirements.”  Thomas went on to explain the silver lining in the past year, “The season has been challenging for our teams and working continuously to get our guests to adhere to COVID requirements has been an effort. That being said, we have introduced and learned some things this season operationally that we’ll likely continue.”

Lisa McCoy, Events and Marketing Director for Great Glen Trails in Pinkahm Notch, shared that "Massachusetts Week”  had a strong start with lots of tickets and lessons.  Sales were pretty good too although it was not our best vacation week the skiing and snowshoeing side of things.  Yet, the SnowCoach and tubing were sold out every day!”.  She went on to explain, “The New Hampshire vacation week was really strong and presented more numbers total when all the days were added up.  If it was bookable online, we sold it.  Sales were super strong, and the weather was great.  This surprised us as the New Hampshire week is sometimes not as strong,” she finished.

Retailers weighed into the survey with positivity too. Scott Ferrari, Owner of Bavarian Chocolate Haus in North Conway, said they welcomed more first timers, and visits and spending were up overall during the President’s Vacation Week.  While he was still reviewing sales for the New Hampshire Vacation week, he trusted that the same would hold true for the second vacation week.

Susan Logan, Marketing Manager for the White Mountain Independents, a collection of independently owned retailers in Mt Washington Valley, told the chamber, “With one exception, all participating White Mountain Independent members reported that they were up, in some cases significantly, over last year’s Presidents’ vacation week, and all reported that they were even or up over NH vacation week.” Susan went on to explain that Rob Nadler of Ragged Mountain Equipment in Intervale said that he was up 15% over last year for Presidents’ vacation week and 19% for NH vacation week.  Soyfire Candle’s sales were up over last year a whopping 40% for both weeks, according to owner Joann Daly.

“We attribute both fantastic weeks to good snow and the area being prepared to receive visitors and having plenty of things for people to do,” according to Laura Cummings of White Birch Books. “There were a couple bad weather days mixed in, so people had to find some other activities, and shopping certainly fit the bill.”

Additionally, Susan explained that several White Mountain Independent retailers, including Lisa Spadaccini of It’s My Girlfriend’s Consignment Boutique, mentioned a preponderance of New Englanders in the visitor mix. “But,” she added, “We miss the Canadians and the visitors from ‘across the pond!”.

“Several of the White Mountain Independent members commented on the fact that their visitors were courteous and complimentary,” according to Susan Logan, Marketing Manager for the Independents. “Overall, it sounds like we had two really good vacation weeks.”

Plan your spring skiing and maple season visits to Mt Washington Valley soon.  You’ll find all the trip planning resources you need at www.MtWashingtonValley.org.  For information about trips and getaways throughout New Hampshire, go to www.VisitNH.gov.

#   #   #

Photos attached:

Skiers line up to take the gondola at Bretton Woods during New Hampshire vacation week.  Photo credit:  Marti Mayne/MWVCC