Tourism industry glad summer's not over yet

August 03, 2009 12:00 am • Last Updated: August 03, 2009 10:19 am

By By PATRICIA DADDONA Day Staff Writer

Olivia Cardarelli, 10, of Barrington, R.I., and her mother, Claudia, walk through Olde Mistick Village after an afternoon of shopping in Mystic on Sunday.

August, normally a "make-or-break" month for the state's tourism industry, may be more critical than ever this season as the triple whammy of the state budget stalemate, recession and stormy weather takes its toll.

"We need Mother Nature in August more than we've ever needed her," said Michael O'Farrell, a spokesman for Mystic Seaport.

Normally, the summer blend of sun and vacation-time spending in June, July and August boosts revenue for year-round venues like casinos, restaurants and hotels, and drives up income for seasonal destinations like beaches, campsites and outdoor museums.

But 2009's rainy June, entrenched economic slowdown and state budget impasse have made for a season of ups and downs.

"The picture for tourism is very uneven and very uncertain," added Peter Glankoff, Mystic Aquarium's senior vice president of marketing and public affairs.

Statistics from the state's Commission on Culture and Tourism illustrate the ambiguity. Statewide, hotel occupancy rates are down nearly 15 percent so far this year while tourism inquiries are up 37 percent. State tourism Web site hits are up nearly 8 percent for the same period, yet site visits are down nearly 10 percent.

If that doesn't make you dizzy, this year's increase in visits to major attractions will. It's up - sort of: by a mere six-tenths of a percent. While not in negative territory, growth is decidedly flat, acknowledged Karen Senich, the commission's executive director.

Visits to six of the state's biggest tourist attractions - ranging from the seaport and aquarium to the Mark Twain House in Hartford and the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks - are up by 293, for a combined total of 476,392.

'Flat' is good

"It's consistent," said Senich, "which, all things considered, is a good thing."

Randy Fiveash, the state's director of tourism, said that in today's economy "flat" has become something to shoot for.

"Right now, you hear a lot about people in advertising saying 50 is the new 30," he said. "If we can be flat in this economy, that's good: 'flat' is the new 'good.' If we're holding our own, that's pretty good right now. And it will get better."

Across the region, entrepreneurs and business managers are taking the long view of the mix of vacation-time doldrums and bright spots. The mixed bag makes it hard to pinpoint just how well businesses in southeastern Connecticut are - or aren't - doing, but those same business people are hopeful that August will counteract this season's struggles.

Ocean Beach revenue in New London was off by 58 percent in June, the month that 26 rainy days dominated forecasts. Yet, on July 19, a longed-for sunny day brought a record 12,000 beachgoers to Ocean Beach Park, according to park manager Dave Sugrue. He declined to provide revenue figures.

Visitors to Mohegan Sun are choosing the casino's less expensive restaurants as they seek out concerts, basketball games or table games, said Mitchell Etess, president and chief executive officer. In Montville, patrons are coming to the Dinosaur Place at Nature's Art, but they're spending less and packing lunch, co-owner Corrina Ferguson said.

While Mystic Seaport's attendance is down 9 percent, the museum's membership has increased 21 percent, O'Farrell noted. And Mystic Aquarium attendance and revenues are slightly ahead of last year's numbers, Glankoff said, declining to release percentages.

"It's better than flat, which is extraordinarily good in this economy," said Glankoff.

Planning in limbo

The state's budget woes have also had an impact. Donna Simpson, the Eastern Regional Tourism District's executive director, points out that setting up trade shows and bus tours is in limbo.

"The thing we aren't doing is the planning, booking trade shows for groups and motor coach tours," she said. "We can't because we don't know whether we're going to have a budget or not."

Yet Glankoff says the Mystic Seapass, a marketing tool which offers a package of savings and discounts for dozens of participating businesses in the region, has seen sales climb in recent months by 32 percent.

Even the lodging industry, which has been hit hard, is optimistic.

Occupancy has been down year over year for the Waterford Group, which owns 16 hotels in the state, seven of them in southeastern Connecticut, but that's changing, said Brien Fox, vice president of sales and marketing.

"June tracked better than May for us and July seems to be tracking better than June, so we do see signs of some improvement," Fox said.

One way to weather the troubled economy is to package hotel deals with regional experiences, like the Jonathan Edwards Winery's Thursday night concert series and picnic in North Stonington, which is new this year, Fox said.

Restaurant owner Jon Kodama, who owns three eateries in Mystic and Dock & Dine in Old Saybrook, said some economic changes have helped. Besides cutting back and controlling expenses, utility costs are down and delivery surcharges from last year's gas price hike have all but disappeared.

"It's been a little soft on a year-to-year basis, but our bottom lines have been stronger. I'm hoping (this) August is at least as good" as last year, he said.

Even at the Odetah Camping Resort in Bozrah, where leisure is more affordable, camping activity has been somewhat flat, said owner Nate Adelman, but August, he said, is booked and the wait list for seasonal recreational vehicle sites is high.

Summer, "unfortunately, (is) going to come to an abrupt halt after Labor Day weekend; it's been too short," he said. "We're looking for creative ways to keep our summer lengthened into the fall. I think that's going to be true for the entire area."

p.daddona@theday.com