According to city tax collections, Aspen’s lodging industry took a hit this off season. May’s overall retail sales were down a modest 4% from 2016, but lodging tax collections were down 21%. City finance director Don Taylor wrote in the monthly report that the dip is due to fewer hotel guests as well as lower rates for the rooms that were occupied. Clothing sales also dropped 10% compared to the same time period last year.
Overall, 2017 has seen the highest year to date tax collections in at least six years.
The city’s portion of real estate sales tax collection is well ahead of previous years, 2017 numbers are up 80% from last year.
The city collected $23 million worth of sales tax revenue in May. The mud-season month generally accounts for about 3.5% of the year's sales. Nearly $300 million in retail sales have been generated year to date.
