New Hampshire tourism officials are expecting a spike in visitor spending this Memorial Day weekend, which serves as a kickoff to the summer travel season. It's also the state's fourth busiest travel weekend. The NH Division of Travel and Tourism Development (DTTD) estimates 625,000 visitors will flock to the Granite State, spending $100 million over the three-day weekend. That's a 4 percent increase in visitors and a 5 percent uptick in visitor spending compared to the same weekend in 2016.
Scenic drives and outdoor recreation are the most prevalent Memorial Day weekend activities, while shopping, attending commemorative events, college graduations, visiting friends and relatives, and relaxation are popular activities as well, according to DTTD research partners.
Most of NH’s Memorial Day weekend visitors will travel from New England and New York, but tourism officials anticipate visitors from the Middle Atlantic states and Canada’s six eastern provinces as well. The price of gasoline should positively influence short-term trips from Canada into NH, further bolstering Memorial Day weekend travel.
An informal survey of Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce lodging properties backs up the state's anticipation of a strong Memorial Day weekend. General managers and owners of lodging facilities reported that reservations for Memorial Day are either even or pacing ahead of last year, including both the White Mountain Hotel & Resort and the Omni Mount Washington Resort, both of which are already sold out for the weekend on par with last year which was a sell-out too.
Teena Kulakowski, owner of the Four Seasons Lodge in North Conway, says that the lodge is also sold out for Memorial Day weekend, and was sold out months ago, well ahead of last year’s reservations. Mary Ann Mayer, owner of the Mt. Washington B&B in Shelburne stays that reservations are twice as busy this year as they were last year and advance bookings for summer and fall are looking strong as well.
“Purity Spring Resort is currently pacing slightly ahead with reservations as compared to last year," says Thomas Prindle, director of marketing for Purity Spring Resort and Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort. "Danforth Bay Camping & RV Resort is sold out and full for the weekend just as it was last year. It’s encouraging to see that demand is holding for the holiday weekend.”
While a number of family attractions, like the Conway Scenic Railroad, the Mt. Washington Cog Railway, Mt. Washington Auto Road, and White Lake Speedway (weekends only right now), are already open for the season, a number of others will make their season debut over Memorial Day. Attitash Mountain Resort will be offering their Mountain Coaster, Zip Tour and scenic chair for the weekend with full operations resuming on Father’s Day weekend. Story Land, Cranmore Mountain Resort’s Adventure Park and Santa's Village will open for the season this weekend.
“Memorial Day weekend is kind of an unofficial kick-off to the summer season,” says Janice Crawford, executive director of the Mt. Washington Valley Chamber of Commerce. “All indications show this will be another strong holiday weekend in the Valley.”
For more information, visit www.Mtwashingtonvalley.org.
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