Tourist Still Flocking, But Spending Less
Tourist numbers are on a par with last year, said Kathy O'Bryan, manager of Peach's Restaurant on Holmes Beach.
By RICHARD DYMOND – rdymond@bradenton.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND — Every year for the past 25, Mark Short and his family leave the suburbs of Detroit for a week and come to Anna Maria Island for a vacation.
Sometimes it’s for Easter week like this year, sometimes it’s in the summer.
Still, some things have changed.
For one, the Shorts now plan out everything they will spend for the week instead of just letting spontaneity rule.
And instead of spending the whole week at a rented condo or house at the beach, they now save money by spending half their vacation with either Short’s sister-in-law, Nancy Haller, or his father-in-law, Jim Tyrrell, both of Bradenton.
Occupancy levels for hotels and motels in Manatee County showed small incremental increases over last season, starting in December, said Jessica Grace, marketing and public relations director for the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
Leave a Comment
Island Tourism Surges in January
Always a Popular Spot - The Rod and Reel Pier in Anna Maria
By Rick Catlin
Islander Reporter
Anna Maria Island tourism climbed more than 15 percent in January, compared with the same month in 2009.
Occupancy of Island accommodations for January 2010 hit 51 percent, compared with 44.2 percent in January 2009, a 15.4 percent jump, according to the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau’s latest report.
That marked the fifth straight month that occupancy of Island accommodation units increased from the same month the previous year.
Occupancy of all units in the BACVB area for January 2010, however, was down slightly. Overall occupancy was reported at 53.6 percent against 54.3 percent for January 2009.
Leave a Comment
Island Tourism Defies State Trend
Recent tourism numbers translate to increased occupancy rates and income for island property owners looking for a return on their investment.
__________________________________________________________________________________
By Rick Catlin
Islander Reporter
At a time when tourism in Orlando is off 40 percent and other Florida destinations are suffering drops of 15-30 percent, Anna Maria Island continues to defy the trend.
According to figures available from the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the two-month average of occupancy figures on the Island for September and October was 14.7 percent higher than the same two months last year.
“We’re booming and I’m delighted,” said David Teitelbaum, a board member of the Manatee County Tourist Development Council and owner of three resorts in Bradenton Beach.
Leave a Comment
More Bang For The Buck on Anna Maria Island
If you’re interested in property on Anna Maria Island, for the next few months you can enjoy a mini-vacation at a discount while you look around. Some island hotels are offering free night stays during the fall and early winter.
_________________________________________________________________________________
By GRACE GAGLIANO – gagostin@bradenton.com
Aside from white sandy beaches and warm weather, island hotels and resorts are promoting another commodity on tourists’ radar: value.
In an effort to increase tourism spending this fall and winter, which are relatively slow seasons in Manatee County, some hotels and resorts are providing the incentive of a free night’s stay to guests.
Leave a Comment