Columbus Day Weekend a NH Success

The number of visitors to New Hampshire this Columbus Day Weekend far exceeded expectations, with traffic through tolls around the state up a total of 6.8 percent over the same Friday to Sunday period last year. The weather was beautiful, the gas prices low, and the foliage in peak condition this weekend as visitors from both instate and out-of-state enjoyed the spectacular holiday weekend here in New Hampshire, said Tai Freligh, communications manager for the NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development. Many lodging facilities were booked to capacity and attendance at festivals and events throughout the weekend was high. All reports show signs of continued strong bookings through this coming weekend.

Here's what members of New Hampshire's tourism industry had to say about the Columbus Day Weekend...

CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE/REGIONAL GROUPS
The Manchester- Boston Regional Airport bustled with activity as thousands of guests arrived to see our spectacular show of foliage. Andy Warhol: Pop Politics' at the Currier Museum of Art was just the exhibit to fit the season of politics. The Audubon Center at Massabesic Lake was another perfect spot. Walking trails were filled with both spectators and birds! Merrimack Valley was hopping apple picking, pumpkins, beautiful trees, scary parks and houses set up for the Halloween season, and of course, color!
Charlene B. Courtemanche, Director of Operations
Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, Manchester

Everyone had a great weekend due to the weather, perfect foliage conditions, value of the foreign currency and a drop in gas prices. Most businesses were up for the weekend an average of almost 37%, with most visitors coming from New England. There was a large increase in international visitors, with travelers coming to the Lakes Region from Germany, UK, Ireland, Japan, Austria, France and Canada.
Amy Landers, Executive Director
Lakes Region Association

We had a fantastic fall weekend in Portsmouth! There was a constant stream of visitors in downtown Market Square, with the beautiful crisp fall air and changing leaves making it a perfect fall getaway weekend. Our Chamber visitor assistants helped three to five hundred people each day stopping by at our visitor information center and Market Square info kiosk.
Nicki Noble, Tourism Manager
Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Portsmouth

Reports that we are getting about the Lincoln-Woodstock region are spectacular. Peak foliage, coupled with unbelievable weather brought the traffic out in droves. Our highly anticipated Columbus Weekend Craft Fair in Lincoln saw nearly record crowds, and the vendors were very pleased with their sales. The Oktoberfest, held at Loon Mountain, was also a smash hit for visitors looking to take in the tastes with the scenes. Overall, the weekend has beaten expectations of a softer than usual foliage season, and was a great end to a great season.
Mark LaClair, Executive Director
Lincoln Woodstock Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln

All routes leading into the Monadnock Region were just spectacular with fall colors as visitors made their way through the region leaf peeping with the warm sunny weather Columbus Day weekend. Lodging establishments reported occupancy of over 80%, Friday, Sunday and Monday. On Saturday the region was completely sold out. There were many travelers from the New England states. The highest numbers came from NY. International travelers came from Belgium, Sweden, Germany, U.K., Chile and Ontario Canada. Antrim State Welcome Center reported 1,794 visitors for the holiday weekend Friday thru Monday. There were many families in the area for weddings.
James Narkiewicz, Board Member and Secretary
Monadnock Travel Council

ATTRACTIONS
The holiday weekend in the White Mountains was super with a perfect combination of great weather, great foliage, and the need for people to get away from the real world for a while. Lodges were booked solid and attractions reported numbers unexpectedly high. It was a good way to end the season and hopefully give businesses a bounce into the winter season. We expect to stay busy with bus tours through next weekend, as the foliage on the east side of the mountains will hold on for awhile so they - and the locals, have a chance to enjoy it. As expected, we did have a tremendous influx of European travelers, as well as Canadians celebrating their Thanksgiving holiday.
Jayne O'Connor, President
White Mountain Attractions

LODGINGS
We were full Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights. I had a guest booked for Sunday night coming from Michigan who ended up sleeping in a parking lot because they hadn't made a reservation for Saturday on their drive from the Buffalo area. They started looking for a place to stay in Albany about 7 p.m. and found nothing - driving all the way to Keene before they parked in the hospital parking lot. They were surprised that Columbus Day was such a big thing 'out east'. Quilted Threads, a glass blower's open studio, The Wool Arts Tour and Beach Hill Farm & the ice cream all rated very highly on for sight-seeing. We couldn't have ordered up better weather and wide variety of things to do in the area
Kate Bartlet, Innkeeper
Henniker House Bed and Breakfast, Henniker

The BALSAMS peaked at 97% occupancy on Saturday night. We had walk-ins! Our dining was at capacity and we averaged 75 to 80 rounds of golf. A number of visitors came from Canada as both day guests and seeking lodging. All three days exceeded projections! A great weekend and a wonderful end to our summer season.
Gary Armitage, Director of Sales and Marketing
The BALSAMS Grand Resort Hotel, Dixville Notch

The weather was perfect and the leaves were at peak. While reservations for guests staying at the two hotels were strong, the advanced reservations were not as strong. While we usually fill up or are strong by the end of August with advance bookings for the holiday weekend, this year most reservations were made within a 14 day window. The great weather allowed a great weekend for motorcyclists to explore the region and stop in for lunch or an early dinner at our restaurants Digby's Steakhouse and Mountain Spirits Tavern.
Kevin Martin, General Manager
Best Western Sunapee Lake Lodge, Newbury

PARKS/CAMPGROUNDS
Monadnock State Park had the best Columbus Day Weekend in ten years! Franconia Notch State Park was also quite busy this weekend with the Tram and Flume having significantly higher numbers than in previous years. Overall it was a busy weekend for New Hampshire's State Parks.
Amy Bassett, Spokesperson
NH Division of Parks & Recreation, Concord

We were close to full over the weekend at Chocorua Camping Village KOA. This was perhaps the best Columbus Day Weekend we've experienced in our 35 years of operation.
Leo Spencer, Owner
Chocorua Camping Village KOA, Chocorua

The last of our week-end campers are leaving today. We had a super week-end.
Barb and Joe DiPierre, Owners
Crazy Horse Campground, Littleton

100% occupancy...
Field & Stream RV Park, Brookline

We had a pretty good weekend, full on the RV side but very few tenters even though the weather was nice. We know the campers staying here had a great weekend and most went biking, hiking, motorcycling, to the Sherman Farm Maze in Conway, and to the Sandwich Fair. We had many visitors from Germany traveling in rented RV's stop overnight. A few Canadians through this weekend also. On average half of our campers here were from southern NH and the other half from MA.
Pete G, Owner
Foothills Family Campground, Tamworth

We lowered our minimum night stay from 3 nights to 2 nights and did get more campers but did not fill completely. The weather was great. A lot of our campers went to the Sandwich Fair on Saturday and Sunday and they said it was mobbed.
Barbara Marion, Owner
Ames Brook Campground, Ashland