By Mthetho Ndoni

With the holiday season kicking off with a bang, hotels and bed and breakfast (B&B) establishments in Nelson Mandela Bay are confident of big summer bookings.

Several hotels and B&Bs said they had been fully booked in advance by holiday- makers, and others said they were pleased with the number of rooms already allocated.

Port Elizabeth Metro Bed and Breakfast Association vice-chairman Shena Wilmott said that because of the number of holidaymakers who would require accommodation, she did not think many establishments in the city and surrounding areas would battle.

“Business was quiet at the beginning of this month, but now people have started to flock to the city looking for cheaper places.”

She said people usually only booked until Christmas or New Year, after which business started to drop for the rest of the season.

Cathy van Heerden, of Sir Roy’s Guest House in Walmer, said bookings were “very good” at the moment and the B&B had been busy in the first two weeks of this month. Dolphins View Guest House owner Elaine Layfield said bookings were up compared with last summer’s season.

Summerstrand Hotel marketing co-ordinator Nicky Saayman said the hotel was having a good summer season this year, with most of the rooms booked.

Beach Hotel manager Angelique Power said they were fully booked for this month.

“There is an increase in our bookings this year compared with last year and, I must say, we are doing exceptionally well.”

She said they still had their regular and loyal customers, but most of the clientele coming in were holidaymakers.

The receptionist at hotel Formula 1 in Humewood, who did not want to be named, said bookings had been coming in since the first week of the month.

“It looks like it’s going to be a busy summer, because it is not as quiet as last year.”

Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism Board head Fezekile Tshiwula said that if hotels and B&Bs had started filling up, it was a good sign for the city’s economy.

“If that’s the case, it means that they are doing good work in marketing their businesses,” Tshiwula added.

Source: The Herald