From The Telluride Daily Planet: Allegiant's 2-For-1 Telluride Flight Deal Extended into February

Allegiant two-for-one deal extended into February

Deal intended to bring more visitors to region

By Collin McRann
Staff reporter

Published: Thursday, February 7, 2013 6:06 AM CST

A deal to buy two Allegiant Air tickets for the price of one will now be available through February.

The two-for-one deal was originally supposed to last through the month of January, but in an effort to boost visitation it has been extended until Feb. 28. Travelers who purchase tickets through the promotion must use them by April 3. Allegiant is the region’s newest airline, and it offers flights to and from the Montrose Regional Airport and Phoenix, Ariz. or Oakland, Calif.

“We just released the program, and we’re hoping to drive some more load onto those planes,” said President and CEO of the Telluride Tourism Board Michael Martelon. “We are really looking to create a long-term relationship with Allegiant, so we are trying to put our best foot forward.”

Allegiant flights arrive and depart from Montrose on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and one-way trips on the airline have a base cost of $49.99.

Martelon said the promotion was financed by the Telluride and Crested Butte ski resorts and is intended to entice skiers and boarders to come check out what the region has to offer. He said one of the main reasons the ski resorts signed on to support Allegiant was because they wanted to promote inexpensive ticket deals.

Martelon said the deal was the result of increased cooperation between the region’s many entities. Different organizations like the ski resorts, the Tourism Board and others have been increasing their mutual efforts to promote the region and bring in more guests.

Though official numbers haven’t been released for the number of bookings in January, when the two-for-one deal first began, Martelon said they went up.

“I think year over year, yes we will be up and Allegiant will have a hand in that,” Martelon said.

During January, the Tourism Board focused on promoting the region to international visitors, in part because they tend to stay longer and the domestic market is cooler in January. However, Martelon said the domestic market is the organization’s top priority.

A key organization that has been working to bring in more flights and air services to the region is the Telluride Montrose Regional Air Organization. Late last year the Tourism Board and the TMRAO announced they would be entering into a partnership to better address the region’s transportation and promotional efforts.

“With the Tourism Board’s involvement with the TMRAO, things happen in a much more efficient and streamlined manner,” Martelon said. “These are very complex things and we’re trying to make it very simple.”

Allegiant started landing planes in Montrose in December. While the airline’s contract is up in April, the Tourism Board and the TMRAO have said they want to try and get it extended into the summer months. TMRAO works with airlines to bring flights to the region to boost tourism. It uses tax money to guarantee consistent revenue for airlines that participate in its programs.

Allegiant is based in Nevada and it offers low-cost flights to many vacation destinations all over the U.S.

For more information and an up-to-date flight schedule, visit www.allegiantair.com or call 866-237-5341.

For information on Telluride area real estate, please contact Telluride Real Estate Corp. at 970-728-3111, info@telluriderealestatecorp.com or visit www.telluriderealestatecorp.com.