Hilton Head hotels see occupancy rates dwindle as coronavirus threat continues
As the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise across the state, Hilton Head Island’s hotels are seeing their occupancy rates dwindle.
During a teleconference call Wednesday sponsored by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce, chamber president and CEO Bill Miles said Hilton Head Island’s hotels are about 90% empty.
Miles said there are “between 500 and 550 guests collectively at all of our oceanfront resorts.”
Before the coronavirus outbreak, hotel occupancy on the island was averaging about 35% in January — up more than 8% compared to January 2019, according to the chamber’s website.
The data shows that Hilton Head’s usually thriving $1.46 billion tourism industry is already seeing a decline in visitors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Hotels across the state aren’t fairing much better. During Wednesday’s call, Duane Parrish, director of the South Carolina Department of Parks Recreation & Tourism, said statewide hotel occupancy is averaging 15%.
