By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — LeAnn Cox with Visit Hutch notes that tourism isn't all the way back to normal, but the numbers are good so far in 2021.
"2020 our occupancy was about 38%, so it was a significant hit for the community," Cox said. "Through the first five months of this year, we're already up to about 43% of hotel occupancy. We're on our way back to getting close to those pre-COVID numbers. It will take a couple of years. It's not something that will just, if we have a good summer, we're there. It will take awhile."
Events like the Kansas Shrine Bowl and the NJCAA tournament have certainly helped, but it's hard to know how quickly individual operators will get back to break-even.
"Of the reporting hotels in Hutchinson, we've been in that mid-50% range for many, many years," Cox said. "Obviously, we would love to grow that. We're working on bringing in new events to try and just do that. If we could get back into those 50s, I think most hoteliers would be way more comfortable."
There is a part of the year where Hutchinson could use some larger events.
"January and February are always months that we can fit a lot of things into the calendar," Cox said. "That's also the time of year that there's not a lot of things to bid on or that are actively looking for a place to call home. That's nationwide."
Cox acknowledges that Hutchinson still has a need for more hotel rooms overall and that the loss of the Atrium Hotel's capacity has made it more challenging to compete for larger events.