According to an April report by Visit Frederick, the first twelve months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw hotels in Frederick County lose more than $23-million in revenue compared to the previous year. From March 2020 through February 2021, Frederick hotels brought in $30.7-million, a 43% decline from the $54-million in the previous twelve months. However, March 2020 marked a turning point in which the number of hotel room nights sold surpassed the previous year for the first time again.
Since that time, travel and hospitality numbers have been rapidly rising, helping the industry begin its critical recovery process. A new study by TripAdvisor reported that two-thirds of Americans are planning to travel this summer — a 17% increase from those who traveled this Spring. Compared to the first week of January, hotel searches are up 65%, searches for experiences (attractions and tours) increased by 78%, and restaurant searches are up 53%.
We asked two representatives of Frederick’s Hospitality industry to share some trends they are seeing in their respective hospitality businesses as the pandemic comes to an end.
Bryan Chaney: Owner of Three Downtown AirBnb Properties
“When COVID hit last March, virtually all of our bookings in all three properties were cancelled, we lost over $40,000 in bookings. So we restructured our rates, greatly increased our cleaning fee to cover Airbnb’s daunting COVID cleaning requirements, and thankfully bookings came booming back in the summer of 2020 and we ended up having a great year. “
“That has continued into 2021 with this past winter our best ever and we are running over 50% occupancy into the summer. We are experiencing what the hospitality industry is calling “Revenge Travel”. And while we have always have had very good guests, the quality of guests now is even better, I guess because people are so appreciative just to be able to travel again.”
“Some real interesting news is that the Frederick Arts Council is accepting proposals to paint a mural on the wall behind the Barbara Fritchie House depicting the history of Barbara Fritchie. Proposals are due by May 17 and the mural will be completed by July 4.”
Phil LeBlanc: Hollerstown Bed and Breakfast
“Hollerstown Hill B&B is in Covid-19 Recovery plus mode. Our April guest count this year was higher than before the pandemic. We were: 40 in April 2019, down to 3 in April 2020, and 49 April 2021. The month of May looks like it will be better than pre-pandemic also.”
“Help from City of Frederick’s $2,500 Small Business Grants during the first few months of the pandemic shutdown kept Hollerstown in business. That is until we could get SBA loans to continue. These sizeable loans have helped sustain the business even though sadly, none will be forgiven as we are a Self- Employed Sole Proprietorship without the required formal payroll needed for any forgiveness.”
“Business is a little easier for us now. Our B&B reservation characteristics have changed somewhat. There has been a decrease in reservation lead times and longer stay durations. Guest are now reserving rooms a week or two in advance verses a months in advance and the majority of stays are 2-3 days verses mostly single days. There are less long term obligations and less work to turnover rooms.”
“We have not had any issues with any Supply Chains, getting specially needed masks, or sanitary supplies or other food or paper products —- Thanks to McClintock’s Hand sanitizer, and Costco for everything else. Over the past year, we did not have any cases of staff or ourselves getting COVID or have any known exposure.”
New Hotels — now and on the horizon:
As hospitality and travel numbers return, we are seeing a continued interest in new development projects in the industry. Springfield Suites, at which construction began in advance of the pandemic, opened its doors on March 1st of this year. The adaptive of redevelopment of the former Visitation Academy into a boutique hotel remains in progress — with hopes of opening doors near the end of 2022 or in early 2023. On June 3, The City of Frederick’s Board of Alderman will also discuss at public hearing a proposed extension of the agreement with the Plamondon Hospitality Partners for the development of a full-service hotel and conference center in historic Downtown Frederick.