Strong spring for tourism reported on Hilton Head

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — A strong winter and spring tourism season on Hilton Head Island has the industry expecting even better things this summer.

The Island Packet of Hilton Head (http://bit.ly/HpolrI ) reports that revenue per hotel room was up almost 24 percent during the past six months. Those numbers come from the Smith Travel Research company.

Susan Thomas with the local visitor and convention bureau says the figure has not been that high since the start of the Great Recession.

The numbers indicate that people are staying more often and spending more money when they do.

Tom Ridgway owns Hilton Head Rentals and Golf and says businesses don’t have to give as deep discounts. He’s offering 10 percent off regular rates this summer, down from 35 percent reductions three years ago.

___

Information from: The Island Packet, http://www.islandpacket.com