BILLINGS – Montana hotel owners and innkeepers are taking some relief in the latest batch of occupancy numbers.
Figures show occupancy rates in Montana hotels, motels and inns was up 2.2 percent in September compared to the same period in 2008.
Stuart Doggett, executive director of the Montana Innkeeper’s Association, says it’s the first increase in 2009 in a month-to-month comparison with 2008 rates.
Despite the positive September figures, occupancy across the state is down this year about 4.8 percent in Montana and 12.4 percent in Rocky Mountain states from New Mexico and Arizona to the Canadian border.
Betsy Baumgart, director of the Montana Department of Tourism, told innkeepers at an annual conference in Billings the economic recession will cost Montana about 700,000 visitors this year.