More beach hotels still online for opening in 2008. As the demand for cool beach digs continues to grow, one would hardly know there’s a “recession” going on right now. Yesterday I drove by ten beaches in Los Angeles and Orange Counties–Long Beach, Belmont Shore, Naples (all one city); Seal Beach; Surfside; Sunset Beach; Bolsa Chica State Beach; Dog Beach; Huntington City Beach; Huntington State Beach and Newport Beach. What did I see on a July weekend? CLOSED! The beach entries were closed in Huntington Beach (nowhere else, however), as the parking lots were full by 1 p.m. And it’s not even time for the US Open of Surfing till next week (July 18-27, 2008). So what does this have to do with hotels?
Here’s the deal: The Hyatt Resort is sold out for next weekend, and the Hilton raised their rates to $436/night! After 9/11 they were charging specials of around $129/night. In Newport Beach, the few rooms remaining at the beach are costing in the mid-$300’s, and Laguna Beach is pretty much sold out. Amazingly, the less marketed Sunset Beach still has rooms at the rebranded Best Western and Sanatra Inn. Or, stay in Long Beach where there’s plenty of availability, and rooms are quite affordable in the mid-$100’s to $200’s.
Who said there’s a recession? Well there clearly is one, though it hasn’t affected each and every individual in the same manner. Some of us are feeling the pinch more than others, but the pre-summer travel reports for 2008 showed some data from surveys that may shed light on the current travel season in California. Among the results, people said they will take shorter trips closer to home. With over 37 million residents alone, plus the continuing summer influx of Arizona & Nevada vacationers, California seems to be holding strong in room rates, and commanding the highest prices ever in rooms. Wow. Stay tuned for more on this summer of heat, high gas prices, and rising hotel prices. It’s no wonder new hotels are being built along the beaches.