After a recent
series of storms, with the last one
dumping 15 to 20 inches of new snow in
the Lake Tahoe Basin on Sunday and
Monday, businesses are feeling
optimistic about the rest of the winter
season.
"I'm excited about the recent series of
storms boosting the local economy," said
Barbara Ruberto, general manager of
Rainbow Mountain Premium Ski Rentals.
Ruberto said there's a positive vibe
around town with the tourists.
Five Star Ski & Board owner Sean Raftree
said business is steady, and the
weekends are picking up.
"It's a whole lot better than last
season," Raftree said.
Harlee Tuttle
of South Lake Tahoe drives through
powder along the edges of Highway 89
on Monday.
Jim Grant /
Tahoe Daily Tribune
|
The snowfall is a
big relief after last year, said Patrick
Kaler, executive director of the Lake
Tahoe Visitors Authority.
"We're off to a great start for 2008,"
Kaler said.
John Packer, director of entertainment
and public relations for Harrah's and
Harveys Lake Tahoe, said they're booked
solid every weekend all the way through
March.
"As long as the storm's settled down and
people can get up here, we're in good
shape," Packer said.
The weekend should
be good for everyone, since the snow is
expected to stop Thursday, Kaler said.
If road conditions are good, more people
will drive up, he said.
Jerry Bindel, president of the South
Lake Tahoe Lodging Association, said the
Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend
treated most people in the lodging
industry well. January tends to be hot
and cold after the holidays, but he said
most places were nearly sold out.
The LTVA markets all the storms well,
and so does the national media, Bindel
said.
"We just need to clear the roads and get
people up here," he said.
Bindel said he's
cautiously - but not overly - optimistic
about the near future because of the
deteriorating economic situation in the
country, but he said things are looking
good for the area.
He noted that because of the snow the
area received, the end of March looks to
be strong. Easter falls on March 23 this
year, so more people will be inclined to
come up for the holiday. Business
patronage usually begins to wind down at
the end of March, but with the snowfall
and early holiday, that could change
this year.
The National Weather Service is
predicting snow through Thursday, with
another 4 to 8 inches by Wednesday
morning, so the winter season continues
to look promising.
Even though more snow means more
business, Ruberto said she makes time to
enjoy it herself, because she loves to
ski in fresh powder.
"When it snows hard, we work hard and we
play hard," Ruberto s |
