Seasonal Industries in New Hampshire’s White Mountains

The White Mountain region of New Hampshire is a four-season destination with an economy heavily influenced by tourism. Home to major ski areas, scenic natural attractions, and quaint towns, the region draws hundreds of thousands of visitors each year ( White Mountains Region of New Hampshire - NH Economy ). Winter tourism alone contributes an estimated $1.5 billion to New Hampshire’s economy each year (Winter tourism in New Hampshire: a ‘small but mighty’ economic driver — Granite State News Collaborative), and about 2.8 million visits are made annually to the state’s ski areas (mostly in the White Mountains) (Business NH Magazine). Summer remains the busiest season statewide, with visitor spending rebounding to record highs post-pandemic (e.g. $2.4 billion in summer 2023, exceeding pre-COVID summers) (Business NH Magazine). Fall foliage season is short but intense, while spring “mud season” and early winter (November) are traditional off-peak periods ( The Shoulder Season: Make or Break Time for Tourism Businesses | InDepthNH.org ) ( The Shoulder Season: Make or Break Time for Tourism Businesses | InDepthNH.org ).

This pronounced seasonality creates both opportunities and challenges for local industries. Businesses from ski resorts and hotels to restaurants and retail shops ride the wave of tourist influx in peak months, then face quiet shoulder seasons. This white paper provides a comprehensive analysis of these dynamics in the White Mountains, with an emphasis on winter tourism-heavy areas. We draw on data from economic development organizations, tourism boards, chambers of commerce, and local business surveys to examine how seasonal businesses operate, market themselves, and adapt. Key topics include the software and technology underpinning operations, marketing channels and strategies, the impact of seasonal reliance, the community’s level of digital adoption, cost structures and staffing challenges, and the support ecosystem available to businesses. We also benchmark the White Mountains against other seasonal destinations to glean best practices. Throughout, we highlight insights for both small businesses and local organizations, with call-out sections for “What this means for small businesses” and “What this means for organizations.” The goal is to provide clear takeaways and recommendations to improve sustainability and growth in a seasonal market.