Hotel Business Check-Ins: How 5 Midcoast, Downeast Hoteliers Are Navigating 2020

Renee Cordes

Source

Mainebiz

Date

10-19-2020

Pages

14-16, 18

Abstract

Five hoteliers in the midcoast and Downeast discuss what it has been like operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maine's hospitality sector overall expects to lose $1.7 billion in revenues this year. Devin Finigan, owner of Aragosta at Goose Cove in Deer Isle, says she benefited unexpectedly from the pandemic's upheaval, since social distancing was easy on the 22 acres and many of her past employees returned because other plans fell through. Bob Smith of Sebasco Harbor Resort in Phippsburg says the resort struggled with staffing but saw rising occupancy levels throughout the summer. Camden Harbour Inn saw low occupancy rates in July but they have been improving since, according to Raymond Brunyanszki. New hoteliers Ted and Jill Hugger, with inns in Edgecomb and Camden, struggled to make sense of grant applications and rules about which visitors from which states were allowed in, but they are maintaining a positive outlook, as is Jeremy Dougherty, the general manager of the Bar Harbor Inn. The inn struggled with low occupancy rates and low staffing, but plans to extend the season into January to make up for losses.

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