WITTENBERG, Wis. (WSAW) – With the NFL Draft expected to attract more than 200,000 visitors, nearby cities are preparing for an influx of guests. However, not all local businesses are seeing the boom they had hoped for.
Green Bay, the host city, has limited hotel accommodations, which has opened the door for surrounding communities to benefit. But while some are seeing increased bookings, others, like the Best Western Wittenberg Inn, are still waiting for the rush.
Kristi Hefty, front desk manager at the Best Western Wittenberg Inn—located about an hour from Green Bay—says the hotel has 48 rooms available for the first day of the draft and over 50 rooms open for the remaining two days. The hotel has a total of 63 rooms.
“Honestly, we’re in a little bit of disbelief,” Hefty said. “We’re wondering why we’re not seeing more bookings.”
Typically, the hotel is fully booked during the Packers’ football season, but the draft has not brought the same level of demand.
“I’ve been here since 2012, and I’ve never seen business this slow. It’s scary,” Hefty added.
With only seven staff members, the hotel has already had to reduce hours for some employees due to the lack of guests. Hefty noted that the breakfast staff, in particular, has been affected.
“With the number of guests we’re expecting, I can handle breakfast myself,” she said.
Hefty believes travelers may be opting for alternatives like Airbnb, which can offer cost-saving options such as in-room kitchens.
“When you travel, you have to think about feeding your family too. Staying somewhere with a kitchen can help cut costs,” she explained.
Several hotels in the Wausau area declined to comment on camera, but many said they anticipate a surge in bookings as the draft approaches. Hefty and her team are hoping for the same.
“At the end of the day, no hotel wants empty rooms,” she said.
Rooms at the Best Western Wittenberg Inn are still available, starting at $120 per night. Hefty recommends calling hotels directly rather than booking online, as you may be able to negotiate a better rate.
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Source: wsaw.com