After a rough pandemic-closed year for the tourism industry nationwide, especially in visitor-dependent Alaska, businesses are starting to show signs of recovery. And that means guests filling up overnight accommodations in Wrangell after a dismal 2020 visitor season.
“In my estimation, this is my best year ever!” said Leslie Cummings. “My B&B muscles, my breakfast-cooking muscles are way out of shape. I feel like I had a year off, almost. It’s been kind of a challenge,” she said Monday.
Leslie and her husband Alan run Grand View Bed & Breakfast, which has three bedrooms, as well as All In Charters.
In 2020, they only filled about 22 room nights. This year is much better, she said. In May, they had guests in the three bedrooms for 74 nights in total during the month, and she estimated 90 room nights for July.
She also said travelers coming to Wrangell this summer are different from the previous 12 years they have operated the business. This summer’s guests are longer-term stays, usually for about a week, whereas visitors used to be only two- or three-day stays.
Tourists are more interested in staying longer in Wrangell and seeing what the community has to offer, Leslie Cummings said, rather than island-hopping and potentially risking COVID-19 exposure in other towns or while in transit.
“The other thing that I’m noticing … when they’re getting here, they’re so happy,” she said. “They’re so glad to be traveling.”
Wrangell offers 15 lodging options for visitors, including bed and breakfasts, hotel and boathouse, according to the Wrangell Convention and Visitor Bureau website.
Hospitality businesses around town report full or nearly full bookings for the summer.
Mike Matney, with Wrangell Extended Stay, said they are fully booked for July and are almost full for August. The business offers single and double rooms, and family units.
Lynda Nore, with Mt. Dewey Sunset and View, is also fully booked for her two rooms. She has actually had to turn away reservation requests, she said. Visitors tend to want to come into town around similar times of the year — particularly the Fourth of July and Bearfest, which is scheduled for July 28 to Aug. 1 this year.
“2020 was definitely a bad year,” Nore said. “I haven’t been in business that long, this is only my fourth year. So I didn’t have too much to compare it to, but the customers that I’m having are returning customers.”
Christie Jamieson, of Squawking Raven B&B, is also very busy. She has closed her doors temporarily to enjoy a family reunion, but said they will be back in business around July 12. They did not operate in 2020 at all, but this year is looking good.
“We decided to jump in with both feet for this year, and we have been busy,” Jamieson said. “July is going to be busy, August is going to be busy. It’s definitely been better.”
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