Hartford Business Journal

www.HartfordBusiness.com • May 18, 2020 • Hartford Business Journal 17 "I think we will get an influx of people coming here from the cities," he said, adding that Connecticut tourism venues should be expecting mainly day trippers this summer. "I think Boston and New York people will come in this direction because they will feel like it's less dense and more comfortable." Many visitors parking within the Mistick Village are also likely to visit nearby Mystic Aquarium. An executive order effectively closed the marine aquarium on March 16, resulting in a massive layoff of roughly 240 of 300 mostly seasonal employees, Gilhuly said. Remaining staff have con- tinued the expensive task of animal care and are streaming live videos of some of the 4,000 or so animals on-site to maintain engage- ment with 14,000 membership households. Gilhuly said the aquarium is los- ing at least 15% of the 800,000 visitors it draws annually from being closed in March, April and May. That marks a major blow to the organiza- tion, which recorded $21.5 million in revenue and lost nearly $2.5 million in its most recently available 2017 federal tax filing. Its local counterpart, the Mystic Seaport Museum, by compari- son, recorded $19.3 million in revenue and lost $1.4 million that year. It's not yet clear when the aquari- um will reopen, or which social-dis- tancing rules it will adopt. For now, Gilhuly said the aquarium is focused on maintaining core members through improved benefit packages, including bundling day trips with nearby hotels and restaurants, she said. The aquarium is also developing ticket packages with the Mystic Sea- port Museum, which plans to reopen May 23 for outdoor use only. "We are in con- stant contact with our partners" in the area "to amplify the mes- sage that Mystic is open and ready for you to come back," Gilhuly said. A hotel's response The historic, 52-room Inn at Mystic is one of many local lodging venues that will depend on the resurgence of foot traffic downtown this summer. Luckily, the Inn has been steadily increasing its outdoor dining capac- ity and banquet/wedding entertain- ment business in recent years. Op- erators are hoping larger gatherings for weddings will be allowed later this summer. In the meantime, a re- sort license will allow the Inn, once it reopens, to serve food and alcohol anywhere on the 14-acre property. "We can create all different types of seating areas on the lawn so people can drink, eat and enjoy the weather," said Brown, who is part of an owner- ship group that acquired the prop- erty in 2014. "There's more than enough space for social distancing." The Inn, where annual occupancy hovers around 70%, will likely limit rentals and ramp up deep cleanings to ensure guests feel comfortable when it scales up operations. Brown concedes the summer months will be considerably slower un- less there's a sharp decline in new coro- navirus cases over the coming weeks. But he still forecasts a busy fall season as big cities lose favor and people reac- climate to large social gatherings. "People are going to have the resources in the fall, when they feel more comfortable and everything eases up considerably," Brown said. "If the weather cooperates we are hoping to have the best fall ever." Mystic Aquarium is taking an estimated $4.5 million hit from being temporarily closed in March, April and May. Mystic is home to more than 80 restaurants. PHOTO | MYSTIC AQUARIUM PHOTO | HBJ FILE GO TO >> HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS CLICK ON CSUITE AWARDS OR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT & NOMINATE! & NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN | DEADLINE 7/9 PLATINUM SPONSORS: GOLD SPONSOR: SILVER SPONSOR: VENUE SPONSOR:

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