Feb. 18, 2008 — The phone is ringing off the hook at Carrington's Inn on St. Croix, a five-room bed and breakfast tucked in the hills above Christiansted.
"If we aren't making money this time of the year, we're in big trouble," said owner Roger Carrington, referring to February and the normally busy Presidents Day holiday.
The bed and breakfast has been filled all week with guests escaping the mainland cold, but he's been getting calls from people wanting to book a night so they can attend the Agriculture Fair.
At Estate Lindholm, a 10-room bed and breakfast on St. John, owner Loren Morrisette said all the rooms are filled.
"About 50 percent are repeat guests," she said.
The Buccaneer Hotel on St. Croix is filled, thanks in part to two promotions sponsored by the Tourism Department. The $500 airfare credit for St. Croix visitors has been a boon, along with a second package that includes $200 in shopping coupons and a $50 gas credit spendable in the Virgin Islands or at home, said Sales and Marketing Director Vicki Locke.
However, the hotel is getting lots of late bookings, she said. Hotel guests are spending at their usual rate on things like restaurants, the spa and excursions.
"And the golf course is going great," she said.
Marti Gotts, who owns Vacation St. Croix, said all her villas were filled. Both the Agriculture Fair and the Good Hope Art Show fill villas, she said. She's seeing more extended family groups vacationing at her villas, and they're good spenders, helping the local economy.
"The rent a car and buy groceries," she said.
At the Best Western Emerald Beach on St. Thomas, late bookers won't find a room, but Manager Joel Kling said the sister property, Carib Beach Hotel, is only about 70 percent full.
"We do have a tremendous amount of repeat and corporate customers," Kling said.
However, he said that March looks weak, a situation he's heard echoed by hoteliers around the island. He predicts that rooms will fill will last-minute bookers escaping cold and snow on the mainland.
Vacationers appear to be pinching pennies, Kling said.
"They're asking more about price," he said.
Kling may be right. One Christiansted shop owner who did not want to be identified said visitors aren't shopping
"I had two people in here all day," she said.
Many tourists are "cheap" and are looking for locally made products at rock-bottom prices like they'd find in Mexico, she said, adding that locals also aren't shopping because Christiansted has tight parking and there is lots of retail competition for local dollars.
Jewel Dreher, who works at Breezes Restaurant on St. Croix, said Monday business was very slow, a contrast to last week.
"We thought it would be busy because it's Presidents Day," she said.
However, Molly Buckley, owner of St. Croix Ultimate Bluewater Adventure, had a different story for her dive business and shop, which sells items like T-shirts and Crocs shoes. The winter season has arrived, she said.
"Finally," Buckley said.
Two weeks ago she would have had a different story, but business had doubled since then at both the T-shirt and dive shops. Boats are making trips twice a day, she said.
The $250 airline credit promotion sponsored by the Tourism Department seems to be a big plus, Buckley said..
"Let's give credit where credit is due," she said.
At Local Color, a shop in downtown Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, sales clerk Natasha Massicot said cruise-ship business was good.
"But they're watching their pennies," she said.
Elaine Estern, who owns Coconut Coast Studios on St. John, said she has a steady stream of customers to her Frank Bay door, but they're not spending as much as they did in previous winter seasons.
"They're not buying original art," she said. "It's more expensive."
In Red Hook, St. Thomas, the Stormy Petrel and Pirates Penny charter boats were booked all week, said Staci Kosick, manager at Charter Boat Center. That's normal for this time of year, she said.
It was a similar story at St. John Car Rental.
"All the cars are out," said owner Lonnie Willis.
The Stone Terrace and Fish Trap restaurants, which she also owns, are both doing well, she said.
"This is a good week," Willis said.
Back Talk Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
