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Forecast Fair for Start of Maine Tourism Season

May 27, 2009 - PORTLAND -- Maine's tourism industry is hoping that a decent weather forecast and lower gas prices will translate into a solid Memorial Day weekend.

There are some reasons for optimism as Maine heads into the traditional opening of its summer tourism season. College graduations are expected to fill rooms this weekend, incoming traffic on the Maine Turnpike is predicted to be up, and proximity to major population centers means that last-minute visitors might pop into the state.

"I will tell you the unknown factor with everything: the weather, the weather, the weather," said Karen Arel, executive director of the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce.

Thursday was hot, with a record temperature of 91 in Portland, breaking the mark of 87 set in 1992 – and the forecast looks promising for the weekend. Temperatures are expected to remain in the 80s in southern Maine today, then drop to the mid-60s to lower 70s Saturday, when there might be some clouds and light rain.

Overall, the weather will be mild for this time of year, said Eric Sinsabaugh, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

"Sunday's looking really nice. We're looking for temperatures in the lower 70s – I don't think you can ask for any better than that – and that nice weather will continue into Memorial Day," he said.

Although the Memorial Day weekend kicks off Maine's tourism season, it doesn't mean that tourism will be in full swing.

For the lodging industry, Memorial Day weekend likely will be the slowest of the four holiday weekends this summer and fall, said Greg Dugal, executive director of the Maine Innkeepers Association.

Columbus Day is expected to be the busiest, followed by Independence Day – which falls on a Saturday this year – and Labor Day, he said.

Even so, business for some of Dugal's members appears to be shaping up nicely for Memorial Day. By midweek, properties in the Camden, Boothbay and Bar Harbor areas were about 40 percent full. Some around Kennebunkport were closer to two-thirds full.

"That's not too bad," Dugal said. "Because if 50 percent is a good weekend – if you're half full it's a good weekend for Memorial Day – then most folks are on their way."

Some areas, such as Freeport, Brunswick and Waterville, will be very busy because of college graduations.

Bowdoin College in Brunswick and Colby College in Waterville will hold their commencements this weekend.

Graduations have filled three of the seven rooms at the James Place Inn in Freeport. The innnkeeper, Robin Baron, said it's typical to fill up on graduation weekends. Two families recently booked the entire inn for a graduation three years from now, he said.

The season looks promising, said Baron, who owns the inn with his wife, Tori. Activity started picking up a couple of weeks ago, and extended bookings are up about 30 percent from where they stood at the same time last year, he said.

"I think things are just turning around," he said.

The season in Boothbay Harbor starts getting very busy around Windjammer Days in late June, but the Flagship Inn should be more than half full this weekend, said Nancy Bosio, the general manager.

"What we tend to see up here, there's a lot of last-minute stuff coming in. People are kind of holding off booking their reservations," she said. "I think we'll have a lot of people wandering into town and booking a room."

Traffic volumes through the York toll plaza of the Maine Turnpike – the gateway to the state – are expected to be up 2 percent over last year, according to the Center for Tourism Research and Outreach, an initiative of the University of Maine System. More than 44,000 vehicles, an increase of 2.2 percent, are expected to go through the toll plaza today, the busiest travel day of the weekend.

That traffic volume would be 1.2 percent below the five-year average. The economy is keeping traffic volume down, but a good weather forecast and lower gas prices should be a benefit, said Charles Colgan, the center's associate director.

In Maine, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $2.39 on Thursday. Though the price has crept up about 50 cents since late last year, it is still nowhere near the year-ago price of $3.82.

Nationally, AAA is projecting an increase in the number of travelers this year, although the numbers will still be down from 2007. An estimated 32.4 million people will travel at least 50 miles during the Memorial Day weekend, up from 31.9 million last year. In 2007, the figure was 35.3 million.

This weekend is typically a time when many travelers are opening up summer homes – a time to stock up and, to a lesser degree, eat out, said Richard Grotton, president and chief executive officer of the Maine Restaurant Association.

"They're not up and running yet," Grotton said of summer households. "They're eating in restaurants because they really haven't set up housekeeping."

It's a little early for getaway travelers, but Grotton hopes good weather will lure some of those people here.

Lucky Catch Cruises in Portland will start taking tourists on lobstering excursions on Casco Bay this weekend. Its owner, Tom Martin, said he has a handful of customers booked and is hoping for more.

"Bright sunshine! Perfect day!" he exclaimed. "Come to Maine!"

By ANN S. KIM, Staff Writer, Portland Press Herald, May 22, 2009


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