MAYVILLE – A recent survey shows that lodging occupancy has experienced growth in the past year.
According to Smith Travel Research (STR), overall lodging for 10 brand name hotels is up 14.7 percent as of the end of August.
Andrew Nixon, Executive Director of the Chautauqua County Visitors Bureau, said that this increase is because of “new developments” throughout the county.
“New developments in Chautauqua County should also help improve pre- and post-summer visitation,” Nixon said. “We are hoping that this trend will continue into September and October.”
The National Comedy Center in Jamestown, the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton, and future hotels in the area are some of these new developments.
Hotel occupancy was the strongest during July (76 percent) and August (73 percent). July and August 2018 are up 4.5 to 5 percent compared to the same time last year. Lodging in March, April, May, and early June were higher than usual in 2018.
Chautauqua County Executive George Borrello said the survey shows good things for Chautauqua County.
“These survey results provide great news for Chautauqua County as our hotel occupancy is up, our tourism is up, and we have more needed hotel rooms to better accommodate our visitors,” Borrello said.
Borrello thinks that this new influx of tourists will improve the local economy.
“Our county’s economic development strategy is on track and the growth of tourism in our county will have an even greater impact,” Borrello added.
Mark Geise, Deputy County Executive for Economic Development and CEO of the Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency (CCIDA) likes the tourism and thinks the CCIDA need to support it.
“It is very encouraging to see that tourism is alive and well in Chautauqua County, as evidenced by these latest lodging occupancy numbers. Without question, we need to continue to foster and support projects that boost our tourism economy,” Geise.
