San Miguel County Lodgers Pause Reservations Through 8/3

15 Jul San Miguel County Lodgers Pause Reservations Through 8/3

The San Miguel County Lodging Oversight Committee alerted all lodgers to stop taking additional reservations for arrivals from July 15 through August 3. The pause in bookings was initiated due to paid accommodations occupancy reaching the 50% threshold mandated by the most recent San Miguel County Public Health Order.

Occupancy levels are closely monitored on a daily basis by the Telluride Tourism Board, and flagged if capacity approaches the set 50% aggregate. The same direction was given to the lodging community over the July 4th weekend, and all complied by turning away additional reservations. The current Public Health Order requires lodgers to keep capacity at 50% through August 3.

The San Miguel County Lodging Oversight Committee was created to develop and manage universal protocols for all lodgers (hotels, short-term rentals, managed properties) to ensure the safety of staff, guests and the community through the pandemic. Since its inception in May, the committee has worked closely with Public Health on a phased approach to reopening responsibly. The group launched a COVID-19 cleaning certification program, required all lodgers to send pre-arrival educational information to incoming guests about following the Five Commitments of Containment, and have been responsible for monitoring and enforcing lodging capacities set by the San Miguel County Public Health Order.

“Local lodgers played a significant role in developing the phased occupancy approach for short-term visitors, and we continue to support that effort,” said Lodging Oversight Committee Chair Larry Mallard. “We are expecting to reach 50% occupancy later today, and proactively put up the no-vacancy sign for new arrivals over the next three weeks.”

Public Health officials will reevaluate lodging capacities upcoming, and consider a potential increase based on metrics.

“Our area economy and individual businesses need occupancy greater than 50% to be sustainable in the long run. However, we need everyone’s help in slowing the local spread of COVID-19 so that the health metrics will allow us to increase that number,” added Mallard. “Our hope is that everyone in our community will reengage in the Five Commitments and do what must be done to keep our numbers low.”