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SALT LAKE CITY — While this year's snow collection ended up being better than normal, it still pales in comparison to what happened a year ago, showcasing just how special the 2022-23 season was in Utah.
Alta Ski Area, for example, has received 621 inches of snow since October, which is well above its average of nearly 540 inches over the past four decades, but nowhere near the 903 inches it got by the end of April 2023. Many other resorts also reported snow collection records last year, generating all sorts of interest in Utah's 15 resorts that translated into a record 7.1 million skier days.
Almost a year after the 2022-23 ski season wrapped up, new data highlights the economic value of the record snowfall.
Those 7.1 million skier days led to more than $1.94 billion in nonresident visitor spending, and supported more than 25,000 direct jobs and almost $198 million in state and local tax revenue, according to an analysis released by the University of Utah Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on Wednesday.
"The 2022-23 ski season was unprecedented for Utah. The data show several economic measures at an all-time high, fueled by a historic, record-setting snowfall at nearly every Utah ski area," said Jennifer Leaver, the institute's senior tourism analyst.
About 56% of the 7.1 million ski and snowboard visits came from out of state. Californians accounted for about 8% of those who hit the slopes here last season, which topped all other states. California was followed by New York (4%), Texas and Florida (each 3%) and Colorado (2%). International travelers accounted for about 2%, as well.
This led to the $1.94 billion spent by out-of-state visitors, which was about $74 million above the prior year and $443 million above the 2019-2020 season cut short because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the report. There is no data from the 2020-2021 season because RRC Associates — a key source used in calculating the impact — had halted research at the time.
Transient room taxes collected in Salt Lake, Summit and Weber counties between December and March jumped from $619 million during the 2021-2022 season to $666 million during the 2022-23 season. This figure could have been boosted by other events happening at the time, such as the NBA All-Star Game that was held in Salt Lake City.
But it wasn't just nonresidents who were enjoying the record snow. The institute reports Utah residents spent a record $694 million at the resorts, meaning nearly $2.64 billion was spent at resorts altogether. Last year's resident spending rose $261 million from the previous year and ended up being nearly triple the amount spent during the shortened 2019-20 season.
All of this led to 25,980 direct jobs, many of which were in the leisure and hospitality sector. It also generated $197.9 million in tax revenue, per the analysis.
Nathan Rafferty, president and CEO of Ski Utah, which promotes the state's ski industry, said the data affirms how important Utah's snow is to its economy.
"(It benefits) residents by providing fun ways to recreate outside, excellent jobs and ample tax dollars from visitors that are used for community projects," he said in a statement. "These numbers reflect the hard work our Utah ski resorts invest in providing fun, positive experiences for visitors and residents alike to look upon fondly."
