Packed hotel rooms this weekend create ‘spark of optimism’ for Regina hotel industry

If you’re trying to book a hotel room in Regina this weekend, good luck. With several sporting events and thousands of people descending on the Queen City, for the first time in nearly 18 months, most hotels are booked solid.

Tracy Fahlman, President and CEO of the Regina Hotel Association, says there’s a lot of excitement among hotel operators who are seeing their facilities quickly filling up.

“After 16 months, you know this weekend has really created a spark of optimism for the hotel industry during this dark time,” she said. “So, there’s a lot of mixed emotions right now in the hotel industry and we’re grateful, excited, thankful, anxious. We can’t wait to see all the green jerseys throughout the Queen City this weekend.”

And it’s not just the Riders’ home opener against the B.C. Lions that’s contributing to the demand for hotel supply.

“We’ve got a regatta event happening on Wascana Lake, we’ve got a huge hockey showcase in town at our EventPlex, a big baseball tournament, and of course Friday’s Riders night,” she explained.

Fahlman calls it a “surreal” time right now. Not only are hotels booked up, but there is a trickle down effect for other businesses.

“We’ve got visitors staying in hotels and they’re also dining out. They may be visiting pubs, restaurants … and so retail also does well. Picking up those last-minute items. Guests will be taking Uber, they’ll be taking taxis.”

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Regina hotels averaged 60 per cent occupancy on any given day. When the pandemic hit, that dropped to 25 per cent or less, so there’s no illusion about a full economic recovery right now. Hotels are some of the last businesses that are likely to rebound.

“For the hotel sector, it will not be in a position of a full recovery until right now, the year is estimated at 2023,” she added.

Right now though, they’ll take what they can, and that’s created a spark of optimism. While it’ll be difficult to get a hotel room, if someone needs a place to stay Fahlman recommends picking up the phone, rather than just browsing internet sites.

“Last-minute cancellations do occur, so call your preferred hotel directly,” she advised.