NEW YORK (WCBS 880) — Summer communities in New York and New Jersey are preparing for a busy season now that most COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in the Tri-State area.
In Point Pleasant Beach, business owners say they are hoping for a big rebound after a disappointing season during the pandemic.
“I'm anticipating a stronger crowd in 2019 this is the first year that we already have sold out dates and are starting wait lists so as far as our occupancy is concerned, we are extremely excited and it is much, much stronger than we've seen in years,” said Christina Ranuro, owner of the White Sands Resort.
Ranuro says they are excited to welcome back guests from all over but is worried about staffing.
“Our biggest challenge is the employee shortage we cannot hire anybody,” she said. “Our highest incline of staff [comes] during the season because we go from being only 52 rooms to 127 rooms. So we need to hire that many more seasonal employees. This year the seasonal employee is just not available.”
Meanwhile, Mayor Mark Walsifer feels the biggest challenge will be making accommodations and space for everyone who wants to visit.
“What we did last year was, we cut out volleyball, we cut out all kind of ball playing on the beach, we cut out the surf camp, and all our camps and everything that came down to the beach, because we knew we needed that area. [This year] we're allowing them all to come back,” he explains. “So now, if we still have a lot of tourists coming back and visitors coming back…we're gonna have some challenges.”
He says to keep track of space on the beach, the town has moved to selling beach passes and wristbands strictly online.
Mayor Walsifer says the beach revenues were actually up almost $1 million last year and he expects another busy summer.
Meanwhile, on Long Island, the Town of Huntington is preparing for the return of events.
Huntington Town Supervisor Chad Lupinacci says some businesses did close in the town because of the pandemic however, things are starting to turn around now that the summer is approaching.
“If something went out in the Town of Huntington, it was usually replaced very quickly by a new business or new venture. It shows the resiliency of the town and the attractiveness to businesses to locate here,” he said.
And popular events are already scheduled to begin again.
“We’ll be having our Memorial Day ceremony at 11 o’ clock on Sunday at Town Hall. There’s some local parades that are going on this summer, too,” he said. “We just got the permit approved…for July 4, for the Fourth of July parade.”
Moreover, Jackie Martin, from the Greater Huntington Council of Yacht and Boating Clubs, says people are buying boats, kayaks and canoes like never before.
“Most of these places have never seen the explosion and demand for slips, moorings. Everyone is full, they're full to capacity. Every yacht club, public marina they're all full,” she said.
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