WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsMyrtle Beach hotels take big hit
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MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - Myrtle Beach hotels suffered a big blow to their occupancy numbers in the month of May, according to a new study released by the Clay Brittain Jr. Center for Resort Tourism at Coastal Carolina University.
The report states that during the Harley Rally, from May 8-16, occupancy numbers for Myrtle Beach hotels declined 40 percent from 2008.
According to Taylor Damonte, who directed the study, the average numbers for the Harley Rally have been declining for the past three years. But this year was different because the average occupancy across the entire Grand Strand was only 42.3 percent, which is the lowest average on record since 2006.
It is also lower than any other average nine-day period.
Some hotel owners say the new Myrtle Beach bike ordinances are to blame.
According to Sonia Johnson, who works at the Myrtle Beach Days Inn, there is no other explanation for the significant drop.
"A lot of bikers made comments that they boycotted Myrtle Beach at that time and took their business elsewhere," said Johnson.
Damonte says the study was not intended to favor a particular side of the bike rally debate, but he says the numbers released in the report clearly state that from an economic and business performance standpoint, something needs to be done to build the tourist numbers back up in May.
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