HomeMy WebLinkAboutInformation Update 111125AGENDA
INFORMATION UPDATE
November 11, 2025
5:00 PM,
I.Information Update
I.A October ACRA Destination Marketing Report
I.B Aspen Public Art Preview of 2026 Projects_Info Report
I.C Follow Up Memo - Pedestrian Mall Safety Initiative Work Session, Wheeler Node
Security Improvements
October2025_DMReport.pdf
251103_Info Only Report_FINAL.docx
251111_Ped_Mall_Follow_Up.docx
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October 2025 Des.na.on Marke.ng Report for Council
Destination Marketing: The Maroon Bells has remained open despite the government shutdown. The
last day for reservations will be 10/31. Eliza attended and presented at MT2030 in Breckenridge on the
collaborative efforts between the City and ACRA as it relates to climate action initiatives and the role
tourism can play. In collaboration with Snowmass Tourism, we have been awarded the Colorado
Tourism Office’s Accessible Travel (ATP) Grant, the program aims to amplify accessible spaces in
destinations across Colorado. Work on the ATP will begin in November and wrap up in May 2026. We
have approved the design for the website, and the Tempest team will now begin buildout, anticipated
launch is Feb 2026. The Arts & Culture committee met on Tuesday October 21st. City of Aspen has
appropriated the 2026 budget for Destination marketing as $4,532,250 and on October 27th Eliza
presented an overview of initiatives planned for that budget. Please click to view the September Public
Relations Report, and The Month at a Glance Data report is available here.
The sales team hosted the Meeting Planner Fam for 11 corporate, incentive, and third party meeting
planners October 12-14. The planners experienced hotel stays at St. Regis, Hotel Jerome, The Little Nell
and MOLLIE Aspen. The other group properties including The Gant, Aspen Meadows, and W Aspen also
offered tours and meals to the planners. The group learned about Aspen’s history, experienced the
Smuggler Mine tour, and a jeep tour up Independence Pass. Aspen shined as a fall meetings destination.
ACRA also hosted a site visit for a foundation group’s annual donor appreciation program. The group
toured numerous venues and was especially excited about the new JAS Center. ACRA was interviewed
by Weddings Today regarding activities, dining, lodging, and arts & culture for couples honeymooning in
Aspen.
Special Events: The team is pulling together all the details for Wintersköl, Dec 11 – 14. We are finalizing
the button design, schedule, website, marketing efforts, and elevating our overall event
accessibility. The Wintersköl committee has chosen our 2025 Royalty which we will be announcing next
month. We are still looking for a few spots to fill for Soupsköl and need a few more rooms to host
vendors and talent; please help spread the word or contact jhardman@aspenchamber.org to
support. We are also preparing to attend the Food & Wine Classic in Charleston, Nov 14 – 16, as
exhibitors to represent Aspen and the Classic here. Food & Wine 2026 planning is also underway; passes
will go on sale Dec 10, 2025!
Airport Guest Services: ACRA staffing at ASE continued with three people a day during the month of
October as visitation began to slow down during the lovely fall. Transportation has been adequate, and
the flights are running smoothly. New hire Andrea Nilsen began training ahead of the winter season. Pat
and Casey are planning the retirement celebration for Darlene and George early November. Casey
attended the ASE modernization open house with encouragement for staff to attend these as well.
Visitor Centers: Diana has reached out to Colorado Welcome Centers for the winter brochure
distribution.
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Casey attended her first Gov Con Conference in Colorado Springs and had a wonderful time learning and
networking. Work has begun on budget salary spreads and planning for 2026. We are excited to work
with Nichole H. to highlight guest service staff for a LinkedIn post each month.
Save The Date:
December 11 Wintersköl Icebreaker Bash member event
Sales Tax Reports: As of the August 2025 Consumption Tax Report, released in October, the 2025
Tourism Promotion Fund came in 4.55% above projections and 5% ahead of 2024 collections.
Recent Press Coverage
Occupancy statistics and commentary, as well as visitor center counts, website data and air service
information can now be found on the following page in the Defy Ordinary Dashboard. All data points are
sourced from our monthly report with Blue Room Research and can be found in the Data Center on the
website.
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HOTEL
OCCUPANCY
ASE
PASSENGER
DATA
VISITOR
CENTER
COUNTS
KEY
TAKEAWAYS
WEBSITE
STATS
ACRA's 4 Visitor Information Centers experienced a
5.7% decrease in traffic in September 2025 compared
to September 2024. Staff assisted 10,508 individuals
this month.
OCTOBER 2025
•Occupancy decreased by 3.5% YOY to 60.3%
•Average Daily Rate decreased by 0.7% YOY to $582
•Room Nights Available were flat YOY
•Room Nights Booked decreased by 4.1% YOY
In September, total passengers increased by 4.9% YOY. Total passenger numbers
YTD are pacing 1.7% ahead of 2024.
With only one flight canceled, reliability was near perfect in September.
American Airlines will introduce a new nonstop flight between ASE and CLT on
December 19th.
Aspen website top performing blogs and pages for September 2025
Blogs:
1. Ghost Towns and Cemeteries to Visit in Aspen This
October (17,528 views)
2. Fall Arts and Culture Roundup (13,384 views)
3. 5 Reasons to Visit Aspen This Autumn (11,880 views)
4. Ask A Local: Favorite Fall Hikes (10,185 views)
5. Fall in Love With Aspen Bucket List (5,117 views)
Pages:
1.Maroon Bells Reservations (40,937 views)
2. Ghost Towns and Cemeteries to Visit in Aspen This
October (17,527 views)
3. Fall Arts and Culture Roundup (13,382 views)
4. Maroon Bells (13,204 views)
5. 5 Reasons to Visit Aspen This Autumn (11,876
views)
o “Consumer price sensitivity remains a defining characteristic of the current lodging landscape, and the
pattern of moderate performance growth continues to persist across both summer actuals, and early on-
the-books data for winter.”
o “Bifurcation in hotel performance mirrors that of consumer spending. High-income leisure travelers are
keeping the luxury end afloat, while budget and business segments are softening.”
o “The imbalance—more Americans traveling abroad while foreign visitors forgo the US for alternate
destinations—weighs heavily on domestic hotels and tourism businesses.”
o “One bright spot, visits to the US by Mexican travelers have surpassed prior year levels every month this
year and are up 14% YTD.”
Source: Destimetrics & Blue Room Research Report
Regional Insights and U.S. Market Review
In September 2025, Aspen's lodging
properties reported the following:
*Due to a recent change in ACRA’s phone system, this number reflects only in-person and
trackable calls. Total guest service volume is higher than reported.
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INFORMATION ONLY REPORT
TO: Aspen City Council
FROM: Lara Whitley, Aspen Public Art Program Lead
THROUGH: Sarah Roy, Red Brick Center for the Arts Executive Director
Austin Weiss, Parks and Recreation Director
MEETING DATE: November 11, 2025
SUBJECT: Preview of 2026 Public Art Projects
INTENDED OUTCOME & SUMMARY:
This report is for informational purposes only and is to provide an update on the City’s
public art plans for 2026. No action is request of City Council.
DISCUSSION:
New for 2026 (left to right): Rendering of Mall Fest Fifty installation by artist Rachel B. Hayes, art parade example
(PC: Processional Arts Workshop).
Aspen Public Art (APA) is planning a series of art experiences for summer of 2026,
continuing to create art programs in public spaces that are free and accessible to all.
Collaborating with city departments and community arts organizations, Aspen Public Art
will debut temporary artworks in local parks and the downtown core from May throug h
October, 2026. The summer lineup will feature a diverse array of public art: from
installations and murals to participatory performances and public gallery exhibitions.
Accompanying each of the artworks will be a robust program of free, bilingual,
community events that invite the public for gathering, engaging and connecting. We will
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also create an encore of our public art activity kit for self -guided tours of the artworks.
As community programming is confirmed, it will be announced on the Red Brick’s
website.
Winter News
"Unsui (Mirror)" by Sanford Biggers – extended through April 2026
This art installation features two sequined, pole-mounted clouds floating in
Paepcke Park -- presented by Buckhorn Public Arts and APA
Summer Plans
Pedestrian Mall 50th Anniversary – new for 2026
In 1976, the Aspen Pedestrian Mall made history: becoming Colorado’s first car-to-
pedestrian conversion and the birthplace of Aspen’s public art collection. In celebration
of these community milestones, we are planning “Mall Fest Fifty,” a series of
monumental art experiences that mirror the people -centered design of the Mall.
Installation of textile artist Rachel B. Hayes’ signature colorful sails to be installed
in the tree canopies above Hyman and Cooper Malls. [Installation: May-
September]
An art parade for and by the community, with handmade costumes and props,
performances and skits, culminating in a block party at the Wheeler node [June].
We are planning a series of free, bilingual maker’s workshops to support
community members in making their outfits and concoctions for the parade.
“1976 Business Promotion,” encouraging participants to visit downtown
restaurants and retailers who we are asking to offer discounts corresponding to
1976, for example, a $19.76 lunch special or $19.76 sales discount on the art
parade day
Mall Fest Fifty is collaborative by design, involving 19 City departments and
nonprofits to date.
Ongoing
City Hall Biennial Exhibition – continuing through 2027
Biennial exhibition at City Hall, featuring the extraordinary talents of 11
contemporary Colorado artists, plus a collection of political posters by the late
Tom Benton on loan from the Aspen Collective Gallery -- presented by APA
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Mission of Aspen Public Art
The mission of Aspen Public Art is to create community by connecting people to each
other and to place through art experiences that build upon Aspen’s legacy of innovation,
creativity and spirited independence. Aspen Public Art is part of the City’s portfolio of
cultural vibrancy funding which, in addition to commissioning public art experiences and
maintaining the City’s public art collection, also provides arts and culture grants to
nonprofits, Cultural Vibrancy Fellowships for artists, community arts programming at the
Red Brick Center for the Arts and performing arts at the Wheeler Opera House.
Did You Know?
When 19th century Aspenites’ lives and livelihoods were on the line, they responded
with art. In 1893, residents of the young mining camp came together to commission
artist Hiram L. Johnson of Pueblo to create “The Silver Queen” for the Chicago World’s
Fair. This glittering 18’ statue, covered in Aspen’s silver and gemstones and designed to
champion the silver cause, was Aspen’s first work of public art. For 132 years, public
art is something we have done together in Aspen.
NEXT STEPS:
No action is requested of City Council.
ATTACHMENTS:
None.
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
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FOLLOW-UP REPORT
ORIGINAL MEETING DATE: October 6, 2025
FOLLOW-UP MEMO DATE: November 11, 2025
SUBJECT: Pedestrian Mall Safety Initiative Work Session,
Wheeler Node Security Improvements
PRESENTED BY: Mike Tunte, Landscape Architect and
Construction Manager,
Hailey Roedel, Deputy City Engineer
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Rachael Richards, Mayor
John Doyle, Mayor Pro Tem
Bill Guth
Sam Rose
Christine Benedetti
______________________________________________________________________
WORK SESSION DISCUSSION SUMMARY:
Council reviewed three safety alternatives for the Wheeler intersection and provided
direction on which approach staff should prioritize. The discussion focused on balancing
public safety, historic preservation, cost implications, and long-term infrastructure needs.
Alternatives included:
1. Option 1 - Stay the course
2. Option 2 - Secure the perimeter
3. Option 3 - Implement the vision
Council was asked which approach staff should prioritize moving forward.
The majority of Council members favored Option 2, Secure the perimeter, which
minimizes impact on the historic plaza while establishing a consistent and visible
pedestrian safety boundary using traffic rated bollards.
NEXT STEPS:
In response to Council direction, staff will pursue a contract with Design Workshop and
Sherwood Engineers, to develop documentation necessary for a land use application,
HPC approval, permitting and construction documentation for bidding. Staff will develop
an outreach plan for businesses, CCLC, and residents regarding design process and
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anticipated impacts. Staff will aim to develop a cost analysis and funding plan for
impacted funds for inclusion likely in 2028 capital budget.
CITY MANAGER NOTES:
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