GLENWOOD SPRINGS — Indications, through July at least, point to a strong summer tourist season in Glenwood Springs compared to last summer and in comparison to neighboring resorts, according to local tourism officials.

“We saw a 10 percent increase in [hotel and motel] occupancy from June to July,” said Lisa Langer, vice president of tourism and marketing for the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association.

According to the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association’s Rocky Mountain Lodging Report for June, 77 percent of guest accommodations included in the database for Glenwood Springs were occupied on average for the month.

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During July, Glenwood Springs lodges had an occupancy rate of 87 percent. August numbers will not be available until later in September.

Year-to-date through seven months, Glenwood Springs’ occupancy is up 1.4 percent, from 57.7 percent through July of 2012 to 59.1 percent for the same period this year, according to the lodging report.

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Statewide, the occupancy percentage for all lodges included in the report was 64.6 percent through July, up from 62.9 percent for the same period in 2012.

Vail has seen a year-to-date occupancy increase of 1.1 percent, while Aspen had a 0.8 percent decrease through July, Langer noted.

“So, in terms of neighboring communities, we are holding our own,” she said. “It’s encouraging to see occupancy trending upward statewide. That means more people are traveling, and is a sign that the economy is more stable.”

Marilyn Marchell, manager at the Best Western Anglers on Sixth Street in Glenwood Springs, said that trend appeared to continue through August.

“We seemed to be pretty busy here right up through August, at least as busy as last year,” she said.

“Because of our central location between the Hot Springs Pool and the Caverns, we do tend to see our occupancy stay pretty steady,” Marchell said. “Especially during the summer, people like our outdoor, open setting.”

According to the hotel association’s lodging report, the average daily room rate in Glenwood Springs was $127.20 in June and $130.27 in July, up from $121.42 and $124.04, respectively, for those same two months in 2012.

Year to date, the average daily room rate in Glenwood Springs for the lodges included in the report has been $110.66, up from an average rate of $103.29 in 2012.

City of Glenwood Springs lodging tax numbers for July won’t be released until later this week, but at the midway point of the year the city reported an increase of 4.12 percent in collections from the 2.5 percent accommodations tax for 2013 over last year.

Last year, the accommodations tax brought in $721,787 for tourism marketing and event promotion in Glenwood Springs. The city contracts with the chamber resort association to handle marketing efforts.

jstroud@postindependent.com