SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. and#8212; Bookings for the upcoming ski season continue a positive trend upward throughout the western U.S., despite sometimes mixed economic news, according to the most recent report by the Mountain Travel Research Program.

Data is derived from a sample of 265 property management companies in 15 mountain destination communities, representing 24,000 rooms across Colorado, Utah, California and Oregon and may not reflect the entire mountain travel industry.

As of Oct. 31, occupancy for the next six months is up 10.8 percent compared to the same time last year, while the average daily rate has also crept up an average of 3.5 percent, according to the report.

and#8220;It’s reassuring to see advanced lodging reservations continuing their positive direction as the 2011-12 ski and snowboard season comes into focus,and#8221; said Ralf Garrison, director of MTRiP, in a statement. and#8220;While the overall economy continues to have a negative influence on consumer spending, early snowstorms in many regions probably helped perpetuate the positive upward trend that first appeared several months ago.and#8221;