Pyrenees Ski Resorts Expect 70%+ Occupancy Over Christmas Holidays

Accommodation providers in the Pyrenees and Lleida region expect occupancy rates above 70% over the Christmas, New Year's, and Epiphany holidays, according to the Lleida Provincial Council's Tourism Board.

Juan Antonio Serrano, the board's vice president, highlighted skiing as the main draw, boosted by recent heavy snowfall. Peak occupancy, nearing 100%, is forecast between December 30 and January 2. Many hotels around ski resorts like Baqueira Beret are already fully booked for these dates, with reservations often made as early as early autumn.

Baqueira Beret's marketing head, Pep Casasayas, anticipates sales of more than 190,000 ski passes during the festive period. He described three main visitor waves: families arriving over the weekend and staying through St. Stephen's Day on December 26; a second group from December 27 up to New Year's; and a final influx around Epiphany on January 6.

Over the four-day New Year's bridge, Pyrenean hotels should hit 90-100% occupancy, while those in the Ponent counties will see lower figures. Bungalows are projected at 80-100%, and rural houses around 95%.

Around 90% of Baqueira's skiers hail from elsewhere in Spain, primarily Madrid, Catalonia, and the Basque Country, with smaller numbers from Asturias, Galicia, Aragon, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands.