Financial outlook: Uncertainties nonetheless clouding tourism in Butte, SW Montana | Native

Butte-Silver Bow County’s hotel and motel occupancy rates fell from 53% in 2019 to 40% last year, an actual rate decrease of nearly 25%, according to STR, a company that collects such data.

Total sales were down around 28% last year compared to 2019, said Pochervina. But the crisis was felt nationwide, of course, and among eight major cities in western Montana, including Butte, the decline was steeper in four of them.

Things got a bit better last year, Pochervina said, but the convention business some hotels are getting has still not recovered. There are also some cancellations for earlier this year, but some are still possible in the coming months.

Pochervina said visitors to the Butte Chamber of Commerce visitor information center on George Street averaged 70 a day last summer, compared to 250 a day last year.

“While this was heartbreaking, the staff were able to take more time with visitors and provide more information about Butte, the region and the state,” she said.

The aim is to keep visitors in Butte longer and to inspire return trips. Most of the visitors were grateful for the attention and information, said Pochervina. Many visitor centers in Montana were closed last summer.

People asked for information about camping and grocery stores more than in previous years, and outdoor recreation was “by far” the main request.