Though there were concerns entering this year’s holiday season, early reports suggest that the Grinch himself couldn’t stop Americans – and westerners in particular – from getting out and enjoying the season’s cheer. 

According to the National Retail Foundation, nearly 180 million Americans shopped during the five-day period from Thanksgiving Day through Cyber Monday, just short of the 186 million who came out in 2020. Of course, Thanksgiving is just the start of the holiday rush. A new report from CBRE forecasts that holiday spending will increase 8.4% this year to $800 billion, a new record. Even brick-and-mortar sales are expected to grow 8% to a 10-year high. Thanks to rebounding economies, the National Chamber of Commerce predicts that Utahans, could spend twice as much this holiday season as they did two years ago, as could  residents of Hawai'i. Alaska, Washington, and Colorado are expected to spend 50% more than two years ago. 

Retail wasn’t the only sector that showed signs of recovery – tourism also flourished. U.S. airlines over Thanksgiving week had some of their busiest days since before COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. The Transportation Security Administration screened nearly 2.5 million people on Nov. 28, the most since Feb. 15, 2020. Though that’s about 15% less than the number of people screened two years earlier, from Nov. 22 through Nov. 28, 14 million people passed through TSA, more than double 2020. Of the busiest airports, five of were located in the West. Even smaller regional airports, like The Albuquerque International Sunport in New Mexicio, saw its busiest stretch in 20 months. Those that still felt uncomfortable flying took to the road, especially in the West. Over the four-day Thanksgiving weekend, road trips were just 4% below pre-pandemic levels. In South Dakota, Wyoming, North Dakota and Utah road trips accounted for a 30 to 48% increase over 2019.

As a result of the increased travel, the hospitality industry also experienced a much-needed boost. Lodging in Colorado’s resort communities is already 80% booked for the week following Christmas, a 20% increase compared to the same time last year and the trend is expected to continue. As of Oct. 31, on-the-books occupancy in resort towns throughout the West is up 75% compared to last year and 19% over the same time frame in 2019.  

ELECTRIC BUS: European transit company, FlixMobility, and Northwest bus service, MTRWestern, have teamed up as part of a pilot program to launch an electric bus line in the Pacific Northwest. The interstate route will begin service some time in 2022 with stops in Seattle, Portland, Corvallis and Eugene. The route is designed to illustrate the viability electric public transportation, though additional high-voltage charging stations that can accommodate large vehicles will be needed to make the electric buses a regular option. “We would love to be running electric buses up and down I-5, but the infrastructure is just not there yet for mass transit,” stated Todd Paulson, Director of Operations for MTRWestern. Learn about the work of Western Governors to expand electric vehicle infrastructure thoughout the region in WGA’s Electric Vehicle Roadmap. 

SALMON SURGE: Autumnal rain sent a surge of Chinook salmon swimming up Bay Area creeks in California where they’ve never been seen before, a sharp reversal in fortune for the iconic species that has struggled after years of drought. “It’s remarkable,” said Joe Sullivan, Fisheries Manager with the East Bay Regional Park District. 

GEOTHERMAL HEATING: Though residents of Boise, Idaho have been using geothermal heat for about 130 years, the city is now looking to expand its geothermal heating system by 40% as part of its goal to become carbon neutral by 2050. Using 177-degree water heated by the Idaho Batholith, a massive igneous intrusion of granite that produces heat through the decay of isotopes, the city currently pumps 250 gallons of geothermal water to 96 buildings through 21 miles of pipe, offsetting about 2% of the city’s energy resources. The plan is to expand the use of the geothermal water by 5 million gallons per year until reaching 355 million gallons. 

OKLA-HO-HO-HO-MA: The world's tallest fresh-cut Christmas tree, decorated with more than 20,000 LED lights and 10,000 ornaments, is being installed in Enid, Oklahoma. At 140-feet tall, it's about double the size of the Rockefeller Plaza Christmas tree. The tree was hauled from California to generate excitement throughout the town and draw tourists. "Many of us can't afford to go to New York or to California for this kind of experience,” said Kyle Williams, Chief Executive Officer of Hammer Williams Co., the lead sponsor for the project.

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