Bringing in the tourists

While looking forward to the winter tourist season, many hoteliers in Highlands County aren't sure what it will hold for their properties. -

"The season is uncertain," said Mike Peek, general manager of the Quality Inn Conference Center in Sebring.

"It is very hard to predict; it is still unknown," said Tenille Lee, sales manager for the Kenilworth Lodge in Sebring.

Phil Hatfield, who owns Inn on the Lakes in Sebring with his wife, Christine, agrees with Peek and Lee.

Phil Hatfield wonders if commercial debt will have the same impact as the home mortgage crisis did around the country.

Hatfield mentioned a troubling statistic that he read in a trade magazine. It said one of three hotels built in the past five years will go out of business either this year or in the next few years.

"The major part of our business is golf," he said. "They are still coming but not the same numbers."

Despite the uncertainty of the tourist season as well as the economy for that matter, both Inn on the Lakes and the Kenilworth have undertaken major improvement projects.

Inn on the Lakes is refurbishing in several areas with, for the most part, local subcontractors doing the work, according to Phil Hatfield.

The pool area has new furniture and a tumbled marble deck. The pool bathrooms have new fixtures and tile.

The drapes and bedding are being updated in the 159 rooms and the 24 suites will be redone.

In the lobby there is new tile and new furniture. The furniture includes some high-back chairs that have drawn attention. There will also be a faux design.

Hand-painted wallpaper from London, England, will adorn the wall behind the front desk.

Chicanes, the restaurant and bar in the hotel, is also getting a makeover. A bar top made of petrified wood and a copper facing will be installed.

There will be new booths, tables and fixtures in the restaurant.

The work in Chicanes is being done piecemeal and will likely not be completed until some time next year, according to Christine Hatfield.

"It was time to freshen up," she said, noting that property opened in 1992.

How much will that cost? "Easily six figures" was the response.

The Kenilworth's Lee said the trend is to book at the last minute, and she expects that to continue. She noted that the historic hotel has been getting a lot of inquiries this month.

The hotel is running one special a month and is marketing by using its large sign in front.

Lee said 90 percent of the hotel, which will be 94 years old in 2010, will be getting new furniture including dressers and desks as well as bedding. All the rooms will have new flat screen TVs.

The hotel is planning to put 23 more rooms into service. It currently is using 107 rooms that include the efficiencies, cottages and apartments.

In addition to the furnishings, the hotel is doing landscape work around the pool area and installing brick pavers. Several palm trees have been planted.

Also, a pub and wine bar called The Cutsworth Arms, located within the Kenilworth, will hold its grand opening next month.

Peek said the Quality Inn has had spikes in business this year. He said September was "great" but this month hasn't been good.

He added "it was not a very good start" in January and February, but April, May and June were better than the same three months last year. The summer then tailed off.

As for 2009, it has been a down year for the hotel. But Peek doesn't think it will get any worse.

"We believe it is at the bottom," he said.

Sonja Warner, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express in Lake Placid, said she is "cautiously optimistic" in looking forward to 2010.

Warner said she is seeing some economic indicators making a shift to make it favorable for people to travel.

Warner noted that the lodging chain's "Friends and Family" promotion featuring special rates will continue until the end of the year.