THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 19, 1995 TAG: 9507190439
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MYLENE MANGALINDAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Bring on the heat.
It's good for business.
With the record temperatures this weekend, Virginia Beach's resort strip lured big crowds who were hoping, perhaps, that a dip in the ocean would cool them off.
As the mercury soared to 101 degrees, restaurants and retailers got more customers in their establishments from sunbathers trying to escape the record heat outdoors.
``This weekend, we saw a good jump (of visitors),'' said J.E. ``Buddy'' Wheeler, supervisor of the city's Visitor Center.
About 1,200 people trooped through the Visitor Center on Saturday. Normally the office sees an average of 800 to 900 people per day at this time of year, he said.
``They get so hot, they get tired of sitting around,'' Wheeler said of the beach-goers. ``They think, `Well, if we go anywhere, we might as well go to the beach.' ''
Several Oceanfront proprietors say they benefited from the hot, humid weather.
``I think the restaurants and retailers experienced a little more business than last year,'' said Richard P. Anoia, chairman of the Resort Leadership Council, a group of the hotel, restaurant and retail associations. ``People spent a little more time inside because of the heat. Generally, I think the heat helped.''
Both of his properties, the Windjammer Motel and the Golden Sands Motel, were filled to capacity.
``Of course, on the beach, we don't need the heat as much as we want the sun,'' he said.
Anoia said his motels needed air-conditioning maintenance, but the managers had a difficult time getting service.
July is traditionally the biggest month for hotel, restaurant and amusement revenue, said Ron Kuhlman, marketing director for the Virginia Beach Department of Development.
Last year, $29.5 million was generated in hotel revenue alone in July.
On the Fourth of July holiday, which landed on a Tuesday this year, lodging facilities were filled to capacity, said Henry Richardson, president of the Virginia Beach Hotel and Motel Association.
Most people stayed at the beach three full days, starting Saturday and leaving Tuesday.
``The whole month of July has been very good. Business is ahead of last year,'' Anoia said. by CNB