Even though 250,000 total visitors could visit Bloomington on April 8th. solar eclipsethe hotel still has plenty of rooms available, but the prices will be significantly increased from the regular price.
Mike McAfee, Executive Director bloomington tripsaid that even in normal weather, the city would see a large number of tourists, but a sunny day could easily see record tourist flows.
At a minimum, he said, the city will likely have about 60,000 visitors, about the same number of visitors as during a big Indiana University football game. But if it’s warm and sunny, there’s a good chance the city will see four to five times as many eclipse enthusiasts.
“It’s going to be incredible,” he said. “It’ll feel like a million.”
In a city with about 2,500 hotel rooms and typically about 500 short-term room and apartment rentals, the higher end of the official estimate can be difficult to manage.
Some hotels in Bloomington have been fully booked for months.
Some hotels sold out months in advance. Grant Street Inna locally owned boutique hotel with 40 rooms; Four Winds Lakeside Inn & Marina118 guest rooms on Lake Monroe.
Paul Wagoner, director of operations at the Grant Street Inn, said that two years ago, some people asked to make reservations before the inn’s staff even noticed the eclipse. At the time, the restaurant was unable to accommodate callers, as reservations could only be made after a year.
Last summer, when the Grant Street Inn began accepting reservations for this April, rooms quickly filled up.
“We basically sold out within about 48 hours,” Wagoner said.
The Grant Street Inn previously required a minimum length of stay, but says it no longer does so because many guests who are in town for football games don’t want to stay a second night. . The inn currently only requires a minimum stay for IU’s spring graduation ceremony.
Wagoner said inns may give away eclipse glasses or offer eclipse-related snacks or changes to breakfast menus, but many people will participate in activities offered throughout the city. Because he wants to do so, he says he has no other big plans. He is still considering whether to guard the inn’s parking lot.
Wagoner also said you need to keep an eye on the weather, as some potential customers may cancel their reservations if the forecast is cloudy. Cancellations can be made for up to seven days, which is typical for inns during major events.
Four Winds general manager Brian Lewis said the inn has been sold out for almost a year.
Staff have secured a band to provide live music the day before the event, and will also be selling eclipse-related merchandise, including can coolers, T-shirts, and, of course, eclipse viewing glasses.
The inn requires a minimum stay of 3 nights, as opposed to the usual 2-night minimum on weekends, and cancellations can be made up to 72 hours before the stay.
Lewis said reservations usually increase around this time of year, but it’s unusual for the restaurant to sell out so quickly.
A two-night stay in Bloomington during eclipse weekend will easily cost $1,000.
Many other local hotels also require multi-day reservations during eclipse weekend, and high demand has driven up prices, with many locations costing easily $1,000 for a two-night stay.
A two-night stay at TownePlace Suites by Marriott, 105 S. Franklin St., costs $900. This is about four times more than a normal weekend. A night at the Cascade Inn (2601 N. Walnut St.) costs $459, about 6.5 times the regular rate. Weekend rates at the Comfort Inn (1700 N. Kinser Pike) are typically $160. It quadruples to $644 during the eclipse weekend. Alternatively, a two-night stay at the Century Suites Hotel will set you back $1,198. This is about 5 times more than normal.
McAfee said it’s just the nature of business. Hotels are trying to figure out how much they can sell their inventory for.
“They’re trying to maximize revenue now,” he says.
Big chains have revenue managers poring over spreadsheets to figure out how much they can charge, but they’re still close to selling out, he said.
McAfee said he expects prices to fall within about 10 to 12 days, but then spike right before the event.
Some experienced eclipse watchers have made reservations in multiple markets along the path of totality, waiting as much as possible for weather forecasts to determine which destination has the best chance of witnessing the celestial phenomenon. Check whether
McAfee said some eclipse enthusiasts will forego hotels if necessary.
“They’re not afraid to sleep in their cars,” he says.
Travelers should expect traffic congestion before and after the event
Of course, some people fall out with friends and relatives, while others rent rooms or apartments. Last month, Airbnb 1,000% increase Seeking to stay along the path of wholeness.
McAfee said Monday that 29 such rentals were still available for the weekend of April 7-8. This is far less than the following weekend, for example, when 252 rentals were still available.
He urged people to plan their visits carefully and arrive early. If people are expecting to be able to leave from Lafayette or Louisville a few hours before the event, they may be stuck in traffic miles from Bloomington and have to experience the eclipse from the side of the road. .
McAfee also urged people not to leave the venue immediately after the event ends, as they will likely spend hours in traffic.
“It could be a zoo,” he said.
Boris Ladwig can be reached at bladwig@heraldt.com.
