rss
mobile
Feeds
jmccann@islandpacket.com
843-706-8145
Cue the fireworks. One of the local economy's primary industries appears to be experiencing a resurgence.
Travelers are flocking to Beaufort County as the Fourth of July approaches, hoteliers and tourism boosters said Thursday.
The influx is welcome in an industry that has slowed dramatically during the recession.
"The great American road trip is alive and well, and we're benefiting from that," said Charlie Clark, vice president of communications for the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce.
Two of Hilton Head's biggest hotels -- the Marriott Beach and Golf Resort and the Crowne Plaza Resort -- are sold out this weekend and poised to post their strongest July performances in years, officials said.
The Holiday Inn in Beaufort should sell out for the holiday as long as the weather holds, a slightly better showing than last year, said director of sales Philip Carroway.
And Sea Pines Resort's hotel, inn and 400 villas and homes will be 92 percent full this week, general manager John Munro said.
Bookings for this weekend and the month are "through the roof" at the Marriott, director of sales and marketing David Sulak said.
Like most of his competitors, Sulak's hotel is sold out this weekend, he said. He expects occupancy rates to be 10 percent higher than normal in July when compared to the same month in previous years.
Based on the number of Tennessee license plates he's seen on the highway and in the hotel's parking lot, Sulak suspects travelers who traditionally spend time on the Gulf Coast are coming to the Lowcountry instead because of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Crowne Plaza Resort also is full this weekend and on pace to post an occupancy rate of 90-plus percent this month. That would represent "a healthy lift over last year" and one of the resort's "best Julys on record," general manager Bob Krypel said.
He hasn't noticed a significant influx of guests from near the Gulf, however. He attributed the positive momentum to the economy, which he said appears to be rebounding.
"People are out traveling again," Krypel said. "I think they've been pent up long enough."
Both Sulak and Krypel said local hotels are starting to inch rates upward again after dropping them to keep guests coming during the downturn.
Travel is increasing elsewhere in the state, too. Stable gasoline prices and the itch to travel will put more South Carolinians on the road over the Independence Day holiday weekend, according to AAA Carolinas. The Charlotte-based motor club estimates holiday travel will increase 12 percent over what for most is a three-day weekend.
About 450,000 state residents are expected to travel 50 miles or more from home, with roughly 410,000 likely to travel by automobile, according to the group.
"A lot of people chose not to take an extended July Fourth vacation last year and this year are showing increased economic optimism," said David Parsons, motor club president.
Traffic safety experts rate the holiday weekend as the most dangerous for road deaths nationally. Motorists should be aware that state and local law enforcement officers will be out in force tokeep drunken drivers off the road, AAA said.
