Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1299142
V O L . X X V I N O. X X V O C T O B E R 1 9 , 2 0 2 0 14 M I D C O A S T / D OW N E A S T F O C U S HOTEL BUSINESS HOTEL BUSINESS check-ins How 5 midcoast, Downeast hoteliers are navigating 2020 B y R e n e e C o R d e s P H O T O / F R E D F I E L D T he pandemic has taken a heavy toll on a hotel industry "on the brink of collapse," according to the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Out of more than 1,000 owners, oper- ators and employees surveyed by the Washington, D.C.-based trade group from Sept. 14-16, 68% had less than half of their typical, pre-crisis staff working full time. Half said they are in danger of fore- closure by their commercial real estate lenders because of COVID-19. And, without further relief, more than two-thirds expect to survive just six more months at current projected revenue and occupancy levels. In Maine, the hospitality sector — hotels, motels plus restaurants and bars — is projected to experience a $1.7 bil- lion drop in revenues this year, to $5.2 billion, after 12 straight years of record growth, according to a report released in October by HospitalityMaine. Hotels, many of which would normally open in the spring, began reopening in June amid new health and safety requirements and restrictions on out-of-state visitors that have been gradually eased. As this issue went to press, Rhode Island remained the only New England state not allowed in with a negative test or quarantine. What does that mean for hotels in Maine's popular midcoast and Downeast regions? HospitalityMaine President Steve Hewins says that while there are indica- tions they did fairly well with visitors from Connecticut, New York and New Jersey, the Massachusetts dropoff has hurt business. "The thing about the midcoast and Downeast," he says, "is that it's not a day trip out of state, so you've got to stay over- night. The lack of Massachusetts visitors coming here has clouded everything." For the view on the ground, Mainebiz checked in with five hoteliers in the region. Devin Finigan, owner and executive chef of Arogosta at Goose Cove in Deer Isle, says that occupancy rates there have been at 90% since the beginning of July.