Carson City lodging take slows, but still positive

Carson City’s lodging revenues continue growing on an annual basis, though the pace slowed in September as summer ended and one property hit a speed bump.

That was the basic report from Joel Dunn, executive director of the Carson City Visitors Bureau, who offered the information at this month’s meeting of the bureau’s board. Dunn didn’t name the property and said while it slowed the growth pattern, it didn’t unhinge it and he remains confident lodging revenues and room tax for the visitors bureau will continue apace.

“I’m very confident we’re going to continue to grow right up through the LCB season,” he said, references to room tax growth and the strong take that should develop when the Nevada Legislature meets beginning next February.

Dunn’s report indicated occupancy was down for top properties in September compared with the same month in both 2013 and 2012, but average room rates were up significantly. The September room rate at the top 13 properties was $71.53, down slightly from the previous month but up 8.29 percent compared with that month in 2013 and 8.61 percent from September, 2012.

Total revenue for the top 13 properties in September amounted to more than $1.4 million, up just 0.26 from that month the previous year but a 2.99 percent boost from September 2012.

Dunn reported that in September and for the year, trailing 12 months revenues were up more than 10 percent compared with 2013 and more than 15 percent compared with 2012.

The board reviewed and granted a request from the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department for reimbursement of $17,506 to cover direct costs of putting on bureau-sponsored sports tournaments. That was in excess of the $70,600 previously agreed upon for last fiscal year.

The bureau and department cooperate on tournaments that produce revenues from room nights locally. Roger Moellendorf, Parks and Recreation director, said 23 tournaments were involved.

The review prompted Moellendorf to talk about continuing cooperation with the bureau as the multi-purpose athletic center is built and completed next year. Dunn and board members said they will have to determine how much more for marketing and cooperative costs for city reimbursement should be built into the next bureau budget.