Hotels Get Creative With Experiences to Fill Void During Shoulder Seasons
Photo Credit: Hotel ballrooms are increasingly becoming the site of many events. Gurney's
Skift Take
Repurposing unused square footage to up the ante on experiential travel can give hotels the boost they need — especially during the off-season.
In high season, the drive for Bostonians heading to Cape Cod’s beaches and upscale resorts can take up to four hours. But in the off-season, those winding roads are just as barren as the trees.
Until now.
At Pelham House Resort in Dennis Port, Massachusetts, 3,000 square feet of mostly unused ballroom space has been converted into an indoor curling rink. The only ice that’s required is that which clinks in the drinks coming out of the small bar, where birthday parties, bachelorettes, and families can grab a tipple or cocoa before trying their hand at the Olympic sport.
The $20,000 investment has not only inspired many guests to think about a summer stay once they’ve seen the property, said managing partner John McCarthy, but helped solve a twofold problem: bringing business back post-pandemic while giving the shoulder season a shot in the arm.
