Mainebiz

V I E W P O I N T S W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 3 M AY 1 , 2 0 2 3 From the Editor T he conversation around new hotels nearly always leads to the question, "Who is staying in all those hotels?" It's a complex question, but one that we address in this issue. Leisure travel has always been the bread and butter of Maine's hospitality industry — summer travelers. As Maine's tourism industry continues to push the boundaries of the summer and "shoulder" sea- sons, it's also looking at ways to bring in more busi- ness travelers and off-season visitors. When those visitors arrive, the hotel sec- tor will be ready, as Laurie Schreiber reports on the next wave of hotels. Much of the hotel development in recent years has been focused on Portland, and indeed there are hotels in the works for the peninsula. But she also reports on some places that are seeing the first new hotel development in years, including Waterville, Skowhegan and Bar Harbor. Major renovations are underway in Boothbay Harbor and Presque Isle. See "Hotel development remains strong," which starts on Page 16. As Renee Cordes reports, there's also a grow- ing movement to attract more conventions and trade shows. Maine is not going to compete with major convention centers in Chicago, Las Vegas or Orlando. But it can certainly find a niche with smaller meetings and conventions. See our cover story, "Selling Maine as a convention destina- tion," which starts on Page 12. Our list for this issue is Maine's largest hotels, on Page 26. Peter Van Allen pvanallen@mainebiz.biz Featured @ Mainebiz.biz For a daily digest of Maine's top business news, sign up for the Mainebiz Daily Report at mainebiz.biz/enews Get Maine's top business news daily at mainebiz.biz or by signing up for the Daily Report and Real Estate Insider newsletters. Here is our top content from April 11–25. 1. High-end home subdivision advances in Camden 2. Investors snap up Hancock lobster pound and property for $2.5M 3. Largest privately owned parcel in Bar Harbor lists for $4.9M 4. The scoop on Saco: U.S. Route 1 corridor is seeing growth 5. Portland Mediterranean eatery closes as owners mull next chapter 6. Auburn lands national collegiate sports event, anticipates $2.4M impact 7. Governor's Restaurant and Bakery transitioning ownership 8. New CEO of Hampden mortgage lender is familiar face 9. Construction industry still navigating volatile prices, supply disruptions and labor shortages 10. The County's new transportation director plans to bring more people to more places P H O T O / C O U R T E S Y O F P L U S P U U O Y 1 As Maine's tourism industry continues to push the boundaries of the summer and "shoulder" seasons, it's also looking at ways to bring in more business travelers and off-season visitors. When you're looking for a law firm that pairs well with your craft. bernsteinshur.com Be selective. BE SHUR. We work with clients across the food and beverage industry. No matter where you are in your food and beverage journey, our team of advisors can set your business up for long-term success. Hospitality industry looks for ways to grow in Maine

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