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Hotels, non-profits feel effects of PGA Championship

Posted: 8:29 PM May 23, 2012
Reporter: Brandon Lewis

Hotels, non-profits feel effects of PGA Championship

Hotels and non-profits warmly welcomed golf fans Wednesday as the economic impact of the championship begins to hit the region.

"The impact has been really significant, really good for the whole community," said Frank Beltran, manager of the Candlewood Suites in nearby Stevensville.

Normally the hotel is about 75 percent filled, but with additional golf fans, players and volunteers, it is now more than 90 percent filled.

"This has been sort of icing on the cake because May is always a good time of the year for us, hotels are starting to revive, the weather is good, occupancy picks up, but this is just extra," said Beltran.

Other nearby hotels weren't experiencing the demand they had hoped. Several told NewsCenter 16 off camera they had prepared for extra customers, but they never came. Instead, the managers believe more people are opting for day trips instead of overnight stays. The managers said Memorial Day weekend is usually a busy time so it lessens the impact.

Beltran believes his hotel was successful because it embraced the PGA early on, prepared its staff well and helped market toward golf fans.

"We purchased in advance a lot of tickets with the anticipation of the influx, so we've had very good luck with that. We've had a lot of tickets sold and I think we're down to 15 tickets left," said Beltran.

Closer to downtown, a lively atmosphere was felt in the city's art district. Many vendors set up shop on street corners and most restaurants were doing brisk business.

One restaurant partnered with the non-profit Seven Star Sanctuary and Rescue to raise money.

"They provided all the food and the cooking and we're providing the service and they're giving us the proceeds from their outdoor eatery to help our animal rescue," said Mary Thomas with Seven Star.

Thomas estimated the money raised would help cover the organization's costs for the next month.

"Animal rescue is an expensive business and any time that we can do any kind of fundraisers to help cover the vet bills or the food or even just the building expenses is awesome," said Thomas.

Already groups and businesses are looking toward 2014 when the PGA Championship returns to Harbor Shores.

"This will be new for them, this will be new for us, so we're doing our best and keep up and deliver the experience and I’m sure they're doing their best to stay focused on the course and getting to know the community and town," said Beltran. "We've been very mindful that we encourage people to come back. We know they'll be coming back in 2014 so we want them to have a good experience."