Fact Check: Jay Peak Resort has seen a significant decline in reservations, with approximately 50% of its traffic coming from Canadian visitors.

Fact Check: "Jay Peak Resort has seen a significant decline in reservations, with approximately 50% of its traffic coming from Canadian visitors."

What We Know

Jay Peak Resort, located in Vermont, has historically relied heavily on Canadian visitors for its business. According to Steve Wright, the President and General Manager of Jay Peak Resort, approximately 50% of the resort’s top-line revenue and 60% of its bottom-line profit come from Canadian guests (source-1). Recent reports indicate a significant decline in reservations from Canadian visitors, with hotel bookings down around 45% and early sales for next winter's season passes down by 80% among Canadian customers (source-4, source-6). This decline has been attributed to various factors, including economic conditions and political tensions affecting cross-border travel.

Analysis

The claim that Jay Peak Resort has seen a significant decline in reservations is supported by multiple sources. Steve Wright's testimony during a Senate forum highlights the resort's dependence on Canadian visitors and the emotional impact of their reduced presence (source-1). He noted that many Canadian guests expressed their reluctance to visit due to the current political climate and tariffs, which have made travel less appealing (source-1).

Further corroboration comes from a report indicating that hotel reservations from Canadian visitors have dropped by approximately 45% and that credit card spending from Canada has decreased by nearly 40% (source-4). Additionally, the Vermont Public report confirms that early sales for winter season passes are down by 80% among Canadian customers (source-6).

The sources used in this analysis are credible, coming from government testimonies, reputable news outlets, and tourism reports. However, it is important to note that the context of political and economic factors influencing Canadian tourism should be considered when interpreting these statistics.

Conclusion

Verdict: True. The evidence clearly indicates that Jay Peak Resort has experienced a significant decline in reservations, particularly from Canadian visitors, who constitute a substantial portion of its business. The statistics provided by both the resort's management and independent reports support this claim, confirming the reliance on Canadian tourists and the adverse effects of recent political and economic changes.

Sources

1. Welch Brings Vermont's Steve Wright of Jay Peak Resort to ...
2. Jay Peak Resort
3. Summer's Back, but Canadian Tourists Are Not | Tourism
4. Vermont's Northern Ski Resorts Feel the Chill of Declining ...
5. At a Vermont ski resort, Canadians continue to hit the slopes despite
6. Tourism businesses on edge as Canadian visitors say 'au revoir'
7. Northern US states try to woo travelers with 'Canadians-only' deals amid faltering cross-border tourism
8. Jay Peak GM Calls Impact of Canadian Tariffs "Catastrophic"