Steamboat Pilot & Today

After a July that mostly lagged behind the previous year, lodging is expected to be higher this week, according to an informal lodging poll conducted by the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association. The Chamber's weekly Lodging Barometer is a nonscientific poll meant to help property managers and restaurant owners gauge their staffing needs.

According to the barometer, there are 8,200 "projected pillows" this Wednesday, compared with 6,200 projected for the comparable Wednesday last year. Mountain hotels are leading the surge, with an occupancy forecast of 66 percent, compared to 48 percent last year.

Smith earns new Realtor designation

Gisela Smith, a broker associate with High Mountain Sotheby's International Realty in Steamboat Springs, is among the first real estate agents in the country to earn a new certification from the National Association of Realtors. The Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist certification program was launched in January 2006.

"We are very excited that Gisela Smith, one of our agents, has completed the requirements and will be within the first 1,000 real estate agents nationwide with the RSPS designation," managing broker Tony Walton said.

Three business

seminars this week

There are three seminars in Steamboat with business-related themes on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

The Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association and Pinnacol Assurance will host a safety seminar from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Holiday Inn conference room. The seminar is free and will focus on how to save money in workman's compensation. Call Angie at 875-7003.

On Wednesday, the final seminar in the Workforce Forum seminar series is at Rex's American Grill from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This month's topic is training. The $15 cost includes lunch. Seating is limited; call 875-5000.

Dave Epstein, of Home ReSource and Twin Enviro Services, will lead this month's Talking Green seminar Thursday. The free discussion is from 5 to 6 p.m. at Panda Garden. Call 879-6252.