YOUR BUSINESS AUTHORITY
Springfield, MO
Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau President and CEO Tracy Kimberlin says the local hotel industry hit "rock bottom" during the first full week of April.
In an industry update blog post yesterday, Kimberlin laid out Springfield hotel data as the coronavirus pandemic continues to thrash hospitality businesses.
During the week of April 5-11, hotel occupancy dropped to 21.2% in properties across the city compared with 88.1% in the same week of 2019. Cumulative room revenue fell 76.4% to $547,091, according to CVB data.
"Oddly, it’s a good feeling to realize there’s only one way to go but up, and that’s where we are with hotel statistics this week," Kimberlin said in the post.
The April 12-18 period showed some improvement from the prior week, according to the CVB data. Occupancy of 21.5% was down from 86.7% a year earlier, and room revenue fell 74.7% to $565,702.
Kimberlin said the city of Springfield and Greene County's latest amendment to the stay-at-home order should help to improve the local economy, though it doesn’t directly impact local hotels. While extending the stay-at-home edict until May 4, the amendment also reopens businesses that previously were considered nonessential in a limited capacity, specifically curbside pickup and delivery.
"It’s not a huge step, but it is a step forward," Kimberlin said in the post. "It’s unlikely things will return to normal anytime soon and what that normal will be is anyone’s guess, but we will recover and the tourism industry will continue to be a keystone in the area’s economic well-being."
Springfield Business Journal previously reported the Q Hotel & Suites, Greenstay CourtView, Bass Pro Shops Angler's Lodge and Hotel Vandivort were among hotels to temporarily close as the local industry began to feel the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
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