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July 4 weekend looking good for beach hotels

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By TED JACKOVICS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 1, 2009

The business rebound that Tampa Bay hoteliers have been waiting for, particularly those on the Pinellas beaches, could happen, at least temporarily, this weekend if the weatherman cooperates.

Some major hotels and a few mom-and-pop favorites have sold out, but the weather is making the outlook dicey.

The good news for guests? Available rooms are likely to be discounted because the poor economy continues to plague hoteliers.

"The Fourth of July holiday looked really good before until this week," D.T. Minich, executive director of Visit St. Petersburg/Clearwater, said this afternoon .

"Going in, we had a lot of reservations on the books. We are hoping that remains the case."

The director of Pinellas County's visitors bureau said it depends on the weather because so much Fourth of July business is in-state.

Tony Satterfield, manager of the Alden Beach Resort & Suites on St. Pete Beach, said his hotel was sold out Friday and Saturday nights and expected higher than average business Thursday and Sunday nights.

"We don't get the extra days with the Fourth on a Saturday as when it's in the middle of the week," Satterfield said. "But hoteliers along the beaches are expecting a good, strong weekend."

Why? Widespread discounting, Satterfield and others agree.

"It's the economy," Satterfield said. "Hotels have been discounting since September 2008, including the winter season."

The Alden Beach is offering book two nights get the third night free deal this summer while The Don Cesar Beach Resort, which is sold out over the July 4 weekend, is offering a $50 food and beverage rebate with two-night stays and $100 rebates for three night bookings.

The Tampa-St. Petersburg hotel industry reported a 7.7 percent decline in rood demand the first four months of the year, Tennessee-based Smith Travel Research reported. That compares with a 6.8 percent decline in Florida and an 8.1 percent downturn in the United States.

But what about the weekend weather?

Not to worry, Satterfield said.

"It's an in-state holiday," he said. "Florida residents know that a 40-50 percent chance of rain just means it rains every afternoon."

Reporter Ted Jackovics can be reached at (813) 259-7817.

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