Tourism buoys Benzie inns, resorts in 2020

Editor’s Note: This article is part of a series that examines how Benzie and Manistee counties were affected by the coronavirus last year when Michigan recorded its first case on March 10. The first case was recorded in Benzie County on April 17 and Manistee County on March 23.

BENZIE COUNTY – Although hotels and resorts across the state struggled to stay open in the first few months of home stay orders in 2020 due to critical stores being open, Benzie County’s tourist attractions helped keep lodging options up.

However, especially at the start of the season, accommodations in the region were still a hit.

SLOW START

Steve Campbell, owner of Harbor Lights Resort, said he made the decision to close his resort because he didn’t want to decide who was an essential traveler and who wasn’t.

“We were closed from mid-March through Memorial Day, except to house some key workers who work in the area,” Campbell said. “We weren’t open for Memorial Day weekend. That was a huge success. We opened the last weekend in May. Fortunately, we weren’t closed during the busiest stretch of the year.”

As the pandemic and restrictions on gatherings and events continued, people started canceling reservations for 2020.

“Most of our weddings and family events, anything that was a large group, have been canceled,” Campbell said. “That really took a toll in June. All 10 calls were nine cancellations. We returned a lot of deposits.”

However, when summer began and the restrictions were lifted, things picked up again.

“We have reopened and the months of July through August filled well again,” said Campbell. “It was a solid July and August. September was busier than average, and as we climbed into fall people were more comfortable traveling. We had good business for the first two weeks of October, but then the weather turned. “

Campbell said his business failed altogether in 2020, but the summer and fall rebound helped cushion the blow.

Campbell said housekeeping was an issue, and the usual housekeeping, which was done on a daily basis, had changed as requested, with staff replacing linens, towels, and housekeeping only when guests requested and only when the guest requested wasn’t in the room.

However, Campbell also said if his resort was doing regular daily cleaning, it likely would not have had enough staff to meet demand.

“In a way, we could do the business we did because we couldn’t run the normal household with the staff we had,” he said.

Campbell said Benzie County did a lot of business in general because people were looking outside and away from big cities.

“The hotel industry has been hit hard, but there has been a lot of outside activity in this area,” he said sadly. “Boating was very popular, there was a great demand for panties.”

OUTDOOR ACTVITIES ATTRACT VISITORS

Crystal Mountain Resort & Spa lost some business earlier this year due to COVID-19 restrictions. However, once the restrictions were lifted, people would come to the resort to golf or take part in other outdoor activities that health officials deemed safe and business picked up.

“Our business is outside and inside,” said Sammie Lukaskiewicz, vice president of marketing and communications for Crystal Mountain. “It was difficult to be closed, but when we started to open, more and more rays of light appeared. People wanted to be outside: golf, hiking, kayaking, driving in the Alps. We slowly opened the golf course, nine holes on one that allowed us to speak to other industries like us to find out how they did it. “

Lukaskiewicz said the ski season really helped get things going again, as skiing like golf is already a socially distant activity.

She said Crystal Mountain has been able to evolve to meet the demands of the pandemic quite well and address changes as the game progresses. As with Harbor Lights, staffing was a major issue – communicating with over 600 employees and keeping staff ready once restrictions were lifted to keep them safe.

“You had to be flexible enough to know that executive orders will change and the environment will change,” said Lukaskiewicz. “The community we live in will change. We are committed to protecting one another and the community. As a great employer, you play a huge role in not overpowering hospitals or hurting the community.”

Related: Sleeping Bear Dunes breaks attendance record in 2020

TWO SIDES OF A COIN

Some accommodation providers weathered the storm better than others.

Judy Remmert, owner of Hotel Frankfort, said hotel occupancy increased in 2020.

“The demand for hotels remained strong,” said Remmert. “Tourism was also strong in the Traverse City area. People came to northwest Michigan for outdoor activities that were safe to participate in due to COVID-19. We were a big destination.”

She said smaller hotels and motels did better than large accommodations.

“For the smaller hotels and motels, our business demand remained strong throughout last year,” said Remmert. “When the closure began, hotels were never included. We were allowed to stay open for important trips, and we put people in. Some of them had some pretty incredible stories. We had people who stayed long-term last spring who were in demand Summer was the same as in previous years. “

She also said winter demand was higher than in previous years.

However, Remmert said the restaurant side of their business is essentially closed

“It’s harder to deal with than the accommodation side, but at least we have some income from the accommodation,” she said. “Fortunately, I was able to concentrate on that.”