This past Memorial Day weekend saw record breaking numbers and local businesses are hopeful the trend will continue through the summer.
Hotels, condominiums, restaurants and other tourism-related businesses said last weekend was busier than many can remember in their time along the Emerald Coast.
“We sold out of all of our fish and had around 800 people on Saturday and Sunday,” said Courtney Reeder, assistant manager of Stinky’s Fish Camp on 30A. “An average weekend in the summer is around 600 or 700. This broke records from last year and since we opened.
“It’s going to be a great summer,” she added. “Last summer was great, but we’ll be even busier this year.”
Dan O’Byrne, director of Okaloosa County tourist development department, said tourism growth in the county has remained steady since 2010 and he predicted the trend would continue through the summer.
“From what I hear, everyone is cautiously optimistic,” O’Byrne said. “What we’ve seen is continued increases of 2 percent and what that tells me is we’re maintaining. We’re holding onto the customers and giving none of them back.”
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, saw the highest numbers they’ve had in five years over the Memorial Day holiday, said Laurie Hobbs, resort spokeswoman.
“We were in the high 90 percent occupancy for Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” she said. “On Saturday, we had 98 percent occupancy, that’s 1,200 accommodations.”
Hobbs expects the summer also to have high numbers. She said one trend at Sandestin is multi-generational vacationers such as grandparents, parents and children traveling down together.
Officials at the Emerald Grande were reporting extremely high occupancy rates as well.
“We had an amazing weekend,” spokeswoman Jamie Hall said. “We had wonderful weather, we were incident free and everyone who came out enjoyed themselves.
“We were able to break records Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I think it bodes well for a very good summer.”
Santa Rosa County was no different.
At St. Rosa’s Sound RV Resort, every one of the 88 sites was filled last weekend and the park is nearly booked for the July 4th holiday.
Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council Director Kate Wilkes said she had reports that traffic from the beach to the mainland on Sunday was backed up for nearly two hours because of crowds.
“It’s kind of a good problem to have,” Wilkes said. “ ... It was a great weekend. Even before the weekend came along people were saying everything is booked up.
“I know we’re really going to outdo last year.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Angel McCurdy at 850-315-4432 or amccurdy@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @AngelMnwfdn.