Record snowfall packed restaurants, hotels and tourism spots in Bend and Central Oregon this holiday season.

Alana Audette, president and CEO of the Central Oregon Visitors Association, said COVA conducted a pre-holiday survey on Dec. 17 that showed bookings at that point were flat to slightly above the same period in 2009, but a post-holiday survey conducted Monday showed bookings increased by as much as 14 percent to 15 percent for many of the region's motels and other lodging establishments located outside Bend.

“Many of our holiday bookings come from people in Oregon and Washington who are watching the weather patterns and road conditions,” Audette said. “If people are driving here to ski, they want to make sure the ski conditions are going to be optimal, and that driving conditions aren't going to pose them any problem getting here or getting home.”

Read more at The Bulletin.