Hotel representatives in Evanston say the slowing economy, terrorist attacks and addition of the Hilton Garden Inn have contributed to decreasing sales.
“It’s been a triple-whammy,” said Lynn Killinger, general manager of The Homestead, 1625 Hinman Ave. “The Hilton has impacted us, but it might not (have had) as much of an effect if the economy had been doing better and if the terrorist attacks hadn’t occurred.”
Spokesman Duane Smith of Smith Travel Research, a lodging industry tracker, said hotel occupancy rates fell by 20 percent nationwide between Sept. 9 and Sept. 16. It declined another 35 percent from Sept. 16 to Sept. 22.
The worst plunge was among the most expensive hotels, known as “up-upscale chains.”
But Killinger said The Homestead was full the week following the attacks because of parents driving their children back to Northwestern. In general, however, she said there was a 4 percent to 5 percent decline in reservations.
But the Omni Orrington Hotel, 1710 Orrington Ave., gained business because of the attacks, said Patrick Doud, the hotel’s director of marketing and revenue management.
The hotel gets regular business from Japan Airlines flight crews, Doud said. When all aircraft were grounded after the attacks, a Japan Airlines flight originally scheduled to land in Washington, D.C., was rerouted to Chicago. The 111 passengers, as well as the crew, stayed at the Orrington from Sept. 11 until Sept. 15.
Doud said the hotel’s 277 rooms were almost completely booked that week, with about 30 percent of the clients being international visitors who could not find return flights home.
Hotels that host conventions have taken an especially hard hit, Doud said. But it is unlikely Evanston will suffer very much because of business from NU.
“Because certain conferences and events will continue to be held, the Evanston market probably will feel less of an impact than any other Chicago market,” he said.
Killinger said the biggest cancellations for The Homestead have come from their European markets because of canceled international flights. But Killinger said there were still no openings for NU Family Weekend Oct. 20 and only a few spots left for graduation.
The 178-room Hilton, which opened July 2, also saw a decrease in reservations and an increase in cancellations after the attacks, according to general manager Michael Ginter.
“By all means there was a dramatic decrease in September following the attacks, but it looks like October will be back to normal,” he said.
Ginter said the Hilton, 1818 Maple Ave., is booked completely for Family Weekend and graduation.
Phyllis Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Marguerita European Inn, 1566 Oak Ave., said it also is filled for Family Weekend and for almost every football weekend this fall. Although the economy has been slowing since the beginning of the year, Wilson said the Hilton has not adversely affected the Inn.
“It’s comparing apples and oranges,” she said. “The Hilton will probably be looking for more business travelers, while we’re a bed-and-breakfast.”
Evanston’s other major hotel, the Holiday Inn, 1501 Sherman Ave., could not be reached for comment.
The Daily’s Claire Bushey contributed to this report.
