Giving ‘tanks’ to tourists

Rising gas prices have certainly gotten the attention of tourist-attracting groups as well as hotels, all of whom advertise they want to help motorists keep their tanks full.
 

One of the latest moves was the Wisconsin Hotel and Lodging Association’s (WHLA) offer of gas cards worth between US$25 and $100, depending on the length of stay.
 

WH&LA President Trisha Pugal hopes that the promotion will encourage travelers to expand their “staycation” plans just a bit longer.
 

“Last year had a very modest growth, it was 1.8 percent or something like that from the previous year,” said Pugal. “We’re looking forward to this year moving much stronger.”
 

Hotels are typically offering gas cards often ranging from $25 to $50.
 

“As everybody talks about gas prices and everybody talks about value, these hoteliers are very mindful that travelers need to hear about a great deal,” said Nicki Grossman, Broward’s tourism chief.
 

While the concept isn’t new, the programs are "getting a little more sophisticated," said Joe McInerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.
 

B&B’s have also gotten in the act. Hundreds of Bed and Breakfast owners across the country have started a grass-roots effort to give travelers some gas relief, says a press release.
 

So far, over 310 lodgings across the country have created individual promotions to lesson the drain on your wallet caused by soaring gas prices.
 

That’s what hotelier Ocean Properties had in mind when the company decided to offer a $50 credit for gas. The credit is good for travelers who stay at least two consecutive nights at any of its 10 participating Florida lodgings, including Courtyard by Marriott hotels in Naples, Key Largo, Coral Springs and Lake Buena Vista.
 

“People are saying, ‘Listen, these gas prices are killing us,’ ” said Kerry Morrissey, spokesman for Ocean Properties. “If you’re a family driving an SUV on the road 10 hours, you’re spending a lot of money. This was designed to get their attention.”
 

Ingenious hotel executives have even come up with variations on the free gas card concept. In California, for example, Old World Inns allows guests who carpool to receive a two-bedroom suite for the price of a single room, says B&B innkeeper Russ Herschelmann.
 

The Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Regency in Texas hotels plan "Fuel Your Stay" in June. The deal will give guests up to a $75 credit for hotel incidentals, including food, beverage and parking expenses, based on their mileage on the way to the hotel.
 

And guests renting condos at the Barefoot Resort in Myrtle Beach, SC, will be eligible for a $50 gas card and a free night if they book seven-night stays with a Saturday check-in, says Karla Faircloth, operations manager.
 

Even smaller properties are offering discounts. The Yosemite Sierra View Bed and Breakfast in Oakhurst is offering a $10 travel incentive for any two night stay, as is the Sierra Mountain Lodge bed and breakfast in Ahwahnee.
 

The Holiday Inn Express in Chowchilla is offering help with both gas and meals. The newer property just off of Highway 99 is offering a package deal that will cover $10 for gas and a dining credit as part of its Yosemite Package.
 

Other properties are dropping room rates to make up for gas prices. The Hampton Inn in Madera is giving $10 off of room rate to make up for gas.
 

By David Wilkening
 

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