Every month the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce prepares a “Economic Dashboard” for the Jackson Hole, WY area. This useful report analyzes sales tax revenue, tourism and visitation numbers at Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park, Jackson Hole Airport enplanements, lodging occupancy at local hotels, real estate sales, construction permits and job and rental ads in the Newspaper. All of these numbers, along with their comparison to last years numbers, better helps us understand the economic climate in Jackson Hole.

In summary…….

Sales Tax Income for the Town of Jackson and Teton County for July 2011 was up 11% verses July 2010 and up 23% compared to 2009. (As reported by the Wyoming Department of Revenue).

Tourism & Visitation: Visitation at Yellowstone National Park was down by 6% for August 2011 (vs. Aug 2010) However, year to date visitation was down only 3% compared to 2010.  Visitation at Grand Teton National Park was down 5% for August 2011 (vs. Aug 2010). Year to date visitation was down 7% from year to date 2010.

Jackson Hole Airport Enplanements for August 2011 were only slightly down (0.4%) compared to Augst last year, but down 6% from August 2009.

On the positive side……

Visitor inquiries for August 2011 were up by 16% as compared to August 2010 and up 40% compared to August 2009.  It appears more people are looking into traveling to Jackson Hole.

Lodging rates were pretty similar compared to August 2010. Year to date lodging rates were up 2% from 2010 and 8% from 2009. Not reported in this economic dashboard report is the Fall Arts Festival, in Jackson Hole between September 8 and September 18, which currently has in Town hotels and lodges at full occupancy.

Real Estate Sales (our area of expertise) were up 24% (unit sales) and up 11% (sales volume) for the second quarter of 2011 when comparing to the same quarter in 2010 and up 163% (unit sales) and up 102% (sales volume) from the ‘bottom’ of the market in 2009.

Construction Permits for August 2011 were up by 57% compared to August 2010 and up 7% from January-August verses last year.

For additional information, contact The Gillespie Real Estate Team at 307-739-8056 or garth.gillespie@jhsir.com.

The Gillespie Real Estate Team has recently learned about a message alert system called NIXLE through Teton County Emergency Management.  This system allows local emergency services in Teton County to send an immediate email or text message to subscribers to the system.  This enables you to know firsthand what is going on in the valley whether it’s an accident, closure on Teton Pass or an earthquake.

There are two ways you can subscribe to the NIXLE system:

1. Visit www.nixle.com and click “sign in here” in the upper right corner, then click “register now for free”. (Tip: If your actual address won’t register, just use the intersection of N Cache and W Broadway as your address.)

2. Text your zip code to 888777 from your cell phone. If you do this, you will only receive text message alerts. If you follow the weblink in the text message, you can access more detailed information which is included in the email alerts.

NIXLE is a completely free service that costs nothing for subscribers or for taxpayers. We hope you will find this service useful and please feel free to forward this message to friends, family and coworkers who also may wish to receive timely emergency information via text message and/or email.

(Note: Local emergency services to not have access to your information, as it is held on a private and secure server managed by the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System.)

For the first time in resort history, Jackson Hole opened “wall to wall” this weekend.  Christy, Katie and I all hit the slopes on Saturday and did our duty in cutting all the fresh, virgin powder.  It was exciting to say the least to be skiing in November let alone skiing the Hobacks.  The early snowfall has covered the mountain extremely well and we believe there is already more snow on the lower part of the mountain than we ever had last year.

We also spoke with the director of the Four Season Resort who mentioned that booking at the luxury hotel are extremely strong for the winter months.  This should bode well for the real estate market.  Buyers will be ready to swoop in and buy some of the excellent values on the market.  It has been a few years since we saw a strong push of buyers but we are anticipating a great selling season this winter.  If you would like information of the real estate market in Jackson please feel free to contact us. Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty has just finished our biannual Catalogue of Fine Properties so if you would like an copy we’d be thrilled to send you a link.

For more information on the wonderful skiing here in Jackson or for in depth real estate information please contact Garth and Christy Gillespie, associates for Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty at 307-413-5243 visit our website – Jackson Hole Experts.

Christy and I had a wonderful weekend here in Jackson as we attended 2 events put on by Dancers’ Workshop. What a show the Elisa Monte Dance Company delivered on Saturday at the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts.

The evening started with Christy and me going to the Snake River Grill with friends Mike Stern and Bridget Mullen, Dana and John Wright, Heidi and Danny Yost and Ann Dwan. We had an excellent assortment of the Grill’s light menu which included tasty Fish Tacos, the incredible Steak Tartar Pizza and the just about famous Potato Pancake with Smoked Salmon.

We then headed to the Center for the Arts to attend a performance by Elise Monte Dance Company. We were both blown away by the talent on the stage from the dancers and just how entertaining it was. The first act, “Pigs and Fishes” was fantastic with a lot of soloing and also group dancing. After intermission we were entertained by a new dance called Zydeco Zare which included live music by Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys.

On Sunday evening we headed back to the Center for a wonderful family event again sponsored by Dancers’ Workshop. Jeffery Broussard and the Creole Cowboys were the headliners. The band rocked and it was refreshing to hear the sounds of New Orleans ringing through the Center. This was just an incredible event staged inside the Performing Arts Theater where friends, families and mostly locals danced out hearts out! There was excellent Cajun food ,great beer from the Snake River Brewing Company and just a general festive feeling in the aire. The weather even cooperated and was nice enough for the event to be outside but after the past 2 weeks of dreadful weather it was an easy decision to move most of the event inside. I am sure the band was happy as it got cold quickly as soon as the sun went down. Plus the acoustics were excellent inside the Center.

Thanks again Dancers’ Workshop! Babs Case, artistic director, for Dancers Workshop deserves some praise. Thank you, thank you!!