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Despite vocal concerns by local hotel and motel owners last year, it seems the Moffat County lodging industry is healthy and staying that way.

Gaylen Mitchell, hotel manager for Colorado Inn and Suites at 205 E. Victory Way, said he's turning people away because there aren't any rooms available.

"With the outage at the power plant, we get calls all the time for weekly" stays, he said. "Business is booming at the moment."

Mitchell said he and his staff are optimistic for the future, as well.

Despite the "exceptional slow period" in the national economy, there usually seems to be a steady flow of seasonal workers coming into Moffat County each spring.

"People come out of the woodwork after the winter," he said. "Whether it's ranching or farming or construction."

It's difficult to shake all lingering fears, however.

Mitchell, who worked in the construction business until taking his position with Colorado Inn earlier this year, added the industry was slower last year than years past.

"It's kind of anyone's guess whether that's going to be the same this year," he said.

News of the local lodging industry's current stability also hit the Moffat County Tourism Association this week.

Board members budgeted for $140,000 in revenue to spend in 2009 under the assumption a bad economy and stalling energy industry could hurt local lodgers.

The board learned at its Wednesday meeting it now has an additional $21,938 to spend this year from higher than expected lodging tax revenue.

The group collects and spends all county lodging tax dollars on marketing and advertising for the area's tourism industry, and partially funds the Moffat County Visitor Center.

The board elected to distribute the money between office supplies, event funding and promotional materials. After the meeting, board Treasurer Cindy Looper divided the funds with $500 to office supplies, $10,000 to event funding and $11,438 to promotional materials.

Board president Melody Villard, who was elected to the position Wednesday, said MCTA plans to use its promotional materials funding on several new brochure projects, including Browns Park, Sand Wash Basin and the Craig/Moffat County Airport.

She added that the extra event funding will be a "big help" in allowing MCTA to bring more tourists to the area.

The board allocated $5,000 for Grand Ole West Days and $3,000 for the Winter Festival this year, which leaves the group with $12,000 left for events.

Michelle Perry, MCTA executive director, said representatives from six other events have come forward for dollars, as well, but have not returned their funding applications.

Villard said she would encourage anyone in Moffat County planning a community event to come forward and submit a request to the board.

"All of these events that come to us for funding are kind of an extra hand in helping us get people in from outside Moffat County," Villard said.

"With the events the board does itself, we wouldn't reach these kinds of numbers of people. I think they're our best advertising."

The deadline for event funding applications is March 23.

Collin Smith can be reached at 875-1794 or cesmith@craigdailypress.com.