Reported on Oct. 22, 2009

As the holiday season approaches, New York City’s businesses hope to get an additional boost of customers from the tourists who come in masses to see the city’s sights.

Although hotels in the past were used to having all their rooms booked during the holiday season, in order to make sure their profits increase this year, many hotels are advertising inexpensive deals and specials during the holidays to entice customers to stay with them.

The Chelsea Savoy Hotel on West 23rd Street entices tourists to stay with there with a $205 room rate. Photo: Sonia Dasgupta

Michelle Cucuccio, a receptionist at the Chelsea Inn Hotel, said the hotel has two specials during the holiday season.

“We’re offering patrons 10 percent off if they stay with us during the month of November,” Cucuccio said. “We are also offering customers a deal that if they stay with us for six nights, the seventh night is free December through March.”

Although she said the hotel, at 27 W. 11th St., has tried to establish a relationship with other businesses to create some special packages, it hasn’t always worked in their favor.

“We’re trying to work out a deal currently with a spa, so that we can offer guests a free facial if they stay with us and encourage them to use other neighboring businesses,” she said.
The Gem Hotels, which have locations in SoHo, Chelsea and on West 36th Street, have advertised a $139 a night special between Nov. 20 and Nov. 29 and Dec. 13 through Dec. 29.

“The special represents savings of approximately $80 per night, with regular rates averaging $219 during this period,” said Leslie Dewees, a spokeswoman for the hotel chain.

Dewees said that although the period between Thanksgiving and Christmas is popular for travelers to visit the city, hotel occupancies around the city are still expected to be lower this year than in recent years.

“The deal is incentive for travelers planning to visit the Big Apple over the holidays to book earlier,” she said, “as the special ends as soon as rooms at the three GEM hotels are sold out.”

According to the American Hotel and Lodging Association in 2007 there were more than 48,000 hotels operating in the U.S. With close to 4.5 million rooms combined, the nation’s hotels posted $139.4 million in revenue. However, the average occupancy rate was only 63 percent and hotels made an average of $65 per room.

Other hotels in Chelsea offered some deals, such as a $205 room with a queen bed at the Chelsea Savoy Hotel, while others, such as the Maritime Hotel and Larchmont Hotel, said they weren’t offering any deals.

Prince Reynolds, a spokesman for R A Travel, said his travel agency has been throwing themed parties in hotels to create a buzz.

“We’re currently working on a World Cup party,” Reynolds said. “We try to utilize the penthouse spaces in the hotels that are pretty much abandoned right now.”

He said the parties, hosted by the travel agency, are held in hotels that are looking for new patrons.

“We’ll invite some of our regular customers, who are looking for hotels to stay in when they come to the city,” Reynolds said.

He said there are fewer people vacationing in New York City now than in the past.

Yet, NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism bureau, reports that the city’s visitors this year will probably be unchanged from 2008, when between 11.5 million and 12 million tourists visited. Carli Smyth, a spokeswoman for the nonprofit, said, “People are doing some last-minute bookings, so people must be getting some good deals.”

Cucuccio said she believes the hotel business is subtly going upwards.

“I’ve been noticing that more people are coming straight from the airport to the hotel looking for rooms, than booking them earlier,” she said.