Hotel operators outside the Rockies struggling during recession

Despite a tourism boom in the Rockies in places like Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper, many of the province’s hotel operators are struggling.

The Alberta Hotel and Lodging Association says if things don’t start to improve, some of its members might be forced to close their doors.

The chair of the AHLA said that the big reason why the summer tourism season outside of the mountain parks hasn’t been great is because of the ongoing economic downturn.

Perry Batke added that hotel operators in smaller centres and rural areas are really hurting.

“The summer tourism traffic hasn’t really picked up to where we had hoped,” he told 660 NEWS.

In some cases, some hotels have slashed their rates.

“With the occupancy levels we’re seeing and where rates are going, it’s absolutely going to put businesses in jeopardy.”

Batke said that Americans who have been taking advantage of the low Canadian dollar appear to be spending their time and cash in the Rockies and nowhere else.

Batke said he hopes the government listens to the concerns of the AHLA.

He fears that things could get even worse for his members, with the province moving ahead with plans to boost the minimum wage, not to mention the additional costs the carbon tax is expected to bring in 2017.

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