Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-04-24
Resort Hotels
Check Rising
Price Trend
By Wilton P. Wolfe
Rsxorf Hotsl Representative


Rssor. Hotel Representative
NEW YORK, April $50
you're planning your vacation?
You've looked over your sched-
ule at the Office. had family con-
sultation and decided July Z is the
ideal date to cast dull care aside
and take of for a blessed two-to-
four-week sojourn, where the
mountains meet the sky, junior
will be safe in the hotel wading
pool and the horses have been
trained to be courteous to paying
guests.
Mid-July to late August remain
the weeks in which reservations
are most difficult to obtain. AL
ready many Of the resorts we rep
resent are becoming filled for that
period. But May, June, Septem-
Der and October are becoming in
creasingly accepted as vacation
months.
This trend appears to be having
its effect on the 1949 reservation
picture more than in any other
year.
Off-Season Prices.
It Is impossible to report to
1949's vacation planuer that he
can expect any reduction ia resort
prices, except in "6nessason"
areas. Food costs have dropped
slightly, but other operating costs,
particularly help, have risen.
Aside from seasonal resorts. which
will remain open through the
summer at reduced rates. prices
will remain about the same as last
year. 1
The big news in relation to the
price situation is that this year,
for the first time since 1887, there
will be no rise in prices at luxury
resorts. The upward trend is
definitely arrested.
Many will take advantage OF the
early or late season rates offered
by some New England spots or
take of for Florida, lured by the
knowledge that in summer they
can stay at such fine ocean-front
hotels as Miami Beach's Martin
ique or Sorrento for less than half
of the winter season rates. Many
have learned that the pleasant
climate of islands such as Ber-
muda, Nassau and Jamaica Is
virtually year round and that
spring and summer are the time
for a budget vacation on these bits
Of foreign soil.
There has been little new con-
struction of resort hotels, aside
from Miami Beach Ian exception
to this Is the luxurious new Tower
Isle in Jamaica) but many have
made additions and improve
ments. Ponte Vedra Beach.
Fla, for instance, completed
"a additional apartments last
fall. The Princess Hotel in
Bermuda spent about $1,000, 900
on renovation for this season, and
the attractive and intimate Reefs
Beach Club on Bermuda's south
shore was completed last year at
a cost of approximately $400. 900.
At Bedford. Pa, the Bedford
Springs Hotel opened its summer
season April Is after redecoration
and the addition Of new guest
quarters. The work was part Of
a five-year Improvement program.
Others Expand.
An elaborate new Shore Club
has been added since the war by
the Mayflower Hotel. Plymouth,
Mass, and Split Rock Lodge in
the Poconos increased its capacity
from 10 to 1870 by the addition of
a new wing and cottages. to name
but a few.
win the traveller get more for
his money this year? The answer
is eyes," in almost every case. AS
competition has returned, resort
hotels, like other businesses, ma
they must progress each year.
offer more In the way Of service.
facilities or recreation than they
have the year before.
The desires Of vacationist
change. Once it was impossible
to have breakfast at an American
plan resort after $50 or 8 an.
But sleeping late is part Of the fun
for American families on vaca-
ton. Gradually that hour is be-
ing pushed forward. At Noun
tain Top Club. Chittenden, VT,
for instance. the dining room viii
remain open for breakfast until
IL am. this summer.
The Fort Montague Hotel. Mas
sau, and several similar establish
ments are considering serving two
meals only, brunch and dinner.
during the summer season. This
plan. by the way. would make 1t
possible to reduce the daily rate
charged something like 81 per
day.