OC Today-Dispaatch OCTOBER 25, 2024
STUBBORNLY LOCAL, EQUALLY INDEPENDENT
Sign up now for our new, Monday-Friday newsletter. — Page 12
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94th St. overhaul ready for its review The public will have to wait until December to see the plans. That’s when the redevelopment of the 94th Street Mall property will go before the planning commission.— PAGE 10
State hears of fruitless search for Tram delay slightly clearer insurance With questions being raised about whether the Boardwalk tram will SWELLTIME
PHOTO COURTESY OF NICK DENNY PHOTOGRAPHY
A clean swell with the right wind direction resulted in enjoyable sets for local surfers last weekend in Ocean City. Above Mark Barney of Virginia Beach rides inside a swell Sunday morning near 49th Street.
During virtual hearing, mobe deployed next summer, there’s been speculation that the city’s bile home owners tell offihesitancy is because of possible legal action. That is not the case. For cial they need major for one thing, no actions have been filed. — PAGE 16 help.— PAGE 74
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OC Today-Dispatch
OCTOBER 25, 2024
OCTOBER 25, 2024
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OC Today-Dispatch
September lodging report solid, tourism officials say Resort beats competitors in latest evaluation of hotel, short-term rental stays By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor (Oct. 25, 2024) Tourism officials say Ocean City hotels outperformed its competitors throughout September and during the early weeks of October. On Monday, Zartico’s Bill Obreiter presented members of the Ocean City Tourism Commission with hotel and short-term rental metrics for the months of September and October. While September saw decreases in occupancy, average daily rates and revenue per room, he noted that the month had fewer weekends than in 2023. “Right after Labor Day we saw a bit of softening midweek, but weekends were very strong,” he said. “They were very strong at the end of September.” Obreiter said Zartico gathered lodging data from 21 hotel properties, which represents 2,776 rooms. He said when compared to Ocean City’s competitor markets, the resort recorded a higher average stay value and hotel occupancy. “When we looked at competitors, you outpaced your competition,” he said. “Your occupancy was 7% higher.” Obreiter also highlighted Ocean City’s top feeder markets, or the place of origin from which visitors traveled. He noted that Pittsburgh represented 4% of the market share, but that those visitors spend more than others. He added that Baltimore, the second largest feeder market for Ocean City, spent less. “Pittsburgh really jumped out,” he said. “When they came in September,
they spent $224 more than the average visitor … Generally the further they come the longer they stay, and the further in advance they book, the more they spend.” Obreiter added that Ocean City also outperformed competitors in warmer climates, including Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach. “Virginia Beach and Myrtle Beach are bigger than Ocean City …,” he said. “Virginia Beach has a population seven times Ocean City’s total resident population. Myrtle Beach has about six times the population … They have more room demand than you, but not so much in September.” He noted that larger fall events, such as Bikefest and Oceans Calling, played a large part in driving visitation on September weekends. He said that trend continued in the early weeks of October, during which the city hosted Country Calling and Endless Summer Cruisin’. He added that short-term rentals also benefited. “The vacation rental market has gone crazy because of these events,” he said. “They are staying for long lengths of time where they can cook in their rentals.” Commission members this week also reviewed lodging data for the month of November. Obreiter noted that while short-term rental bookings were down, hotel bookings were up. “Vacation rentals are taking a bit of a hit for November,” he said, “but hotels are performing strong.” Council President Matt James, however, said he wanted to see similar reports for the months of July and August. He noted that room tax revenues were down 20% in July. “The off-season was great,” he said, “but we are talking about small numbers relative to our prime time.”
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