Timeshare units provide economic benefits

As Whitefish slogs through a very wet and cold spring and early summer, the monetary contributions by local timeshare owners/exchangers to our tourist based economy are invaluable.

While booking into traditional lodging facilities has been greatly affected by the weather this spring and early summer, occupancy at Crestwood was over 80 percent for May.

For June, the occupancy rate already is 90 percent, and for July and August, we're solidly booked — fair weather or foul.

More importantly, Crestwood's year-round occupancy is close to 70 percent. This is not weekend occupancy but weeklong occupancy.

Well over half of the occupancies for May and the upcoming June bookings are first-time visitors from out of state. Such visitors frequently come by air and rent a car for the week. Others have driven from all parts of the U.S. and Canada.

Shoulder-week timeshare owners have come to expect iffy weather and come prepared. Our shoulder spring season owners and exchangers are avid golfers and are experts at getting up and booking tee times around the Flathead where it might not be raining.

Since timeshare owners/exchangers normally stay a week, the economic contributions from timesharing to Whitefish through shopping, grocery purchases, golf, dining out and such are significant.

With The Lodge at Whitefish Lake within walking distance, many venture over for a drink or dinner. We enjoy recommending many of Whitefish's fine eating establishments as well as The Toggery and Sportsman & Ski Haus for rain gear and warmer clothing.

For additional entertainment I encourage them to take in the Bulldog's bathrooms and explain the story behind the signs at the Great Northern Bar — and that I've got one in there somewhere.

While timesharing does have a dark side, the vast, vast majority of Crestwood owners are very satisfied with their ownership.

Many families have owned units here from the 1970s, and their vacation in Whitefish has become part of their lives.

More importantly, each year 1,000 families, friends and the increasingly leisure baby boomers spend a week or more in Whitefish. An increasing number have purchase second homes or retirement homes by being exposed to Whitefish from a timeshare exchange.

The Whitefish City Council has directed the city attorney to review timeshare zoning within our community. I encourage such a review because Whitefish could easily support more timeshare resorts.

Requests for timeshare exchanges into the Whitefish area greatly exceed availability. Since there is such a demand for exchanges into this area, we frequently are approached regarding renting a week from us.

Since we are frequently booked solid during July and August, we refer such folks to other lodging facilities — benefiting traditional lodging facilities as well.

As a community and a council, I encourage a better understanding and support for additional timeshare resorts or facilities in Whitefish.

The positive is the weeklong stays, family-oriented vacationers during the summer and winter, and increasing baby boomer visits during the shoulder seasons — as well as significant tourist dollars left behind for our business and city.

Tom Muri lives in Whitefish.