For Westchester County hoteliers, the recent nor”™easter painted a fairly sunny picture of limited damage and upped business.
With the number of residents facing power outages, the big question was whether or not local hotels would see an uptick in occupancy rates.
“Absolutely,” Morgan Sussman, general manager of La Quinta Inn and Suites in Elmsford. “We”™ve been sold out ever since the storm occurred.”
Sussman said the hotel “sold out pretty quickly” and when guests inquired about the closest vacancies, even six miles seemed like a push.
In Mount Kisco, Kevin Cottet, the general manager of The Holiday Inn Mount Kisco, said, “We”™ve been booked solid.”
There has been a waiting list each day, he said.
But, “a handful or two (guests) said, ”˜I got power back. I”™m going to check out.”™”
Though the Holiday Inn made it through the storm without damage, Sussman said La Quinta faced some flooding.
“We had to move all the tables and chairs upstairs and pump out all the water from the breakfast room,” he said.
At the Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown, General Manager Rich Friedman said bookings have been up without a question.
“Fortunately, we didn”™t lose power,” he said.
Business has been “all over the board” and guests are checking in and out when their power comes on.
The Doubletree Tarrytown sustained minor damage, he said, such as shingles coming loose and trees that were affected.
Con Edison, the major utility provider for the lower Hudson Valley, said last Wednesday that power had been restored to 147,000 customers.
As of March 17, some 26,000 customers remained without power.
Con Edison reported the most affected areas were Westchester County and Long Island. The company estimated all power in Westchester was expected to be restored by March 19.
