Jekyll Island Reports Growing Tourism, Adds Retail Tenants

JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga., July 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Jekyll Island Authority Board received positive reports during its monthly board meeting held July 15. Jekyll Island saw an increase in visitation numbers and higher hotel occupancy rates in June, as well as during the recent 4^th of July holiday week.

In June, Jekyll hotels were 72 percent occupied, up from the 68 percent in the same month last year. Average daily rates also increased, to $156 in June, bringing total revenue for the island's hotels to $3.1 million. Following the same trend, on the July 4^th holiday weekend, all Jekyll hotels were either sold out, or had only a few rooms available.  Summer Waves Water Park and the Jekyll Island Golf Courses each had record-setting holiday numbers, and the new Dairy Queen had their largest single-day sales on July 4^th.

Alongside growth in tourism, the Jekyll Island Convention Center reflected equally positive trends in June, bringing in 72 percent more revenue than budgeted. In June, the center hosted 21 events, including five weddings- one for each Saturday in the month. 

Beyond the initial success of the summer tourism season, the board was also updated on the continued progress made toward revitalization. Ray Lewis, managing partner with JRL Associates, told the board that plans are moving forward with the new Holiday Inn Resort project, which reposition the current Oceanside Inn & Suites hotel. In September, the Oceanside Inn & Suites will officially close and be renovated into the new 155-room Holiday Inn Resort, which is slated to open in May 2014.

Also during the morning meeting, the board approved staff recommendations for five additional tenants at the Jekyll Island Beach Village retail area, which will be constructed adjacent to the Jekyll Island Convention Center. Those new tenants will be The Cloister Collection clothing store, Fuse yogurt shop, the Jekyll Island Seafood Company restaurant, Kennedy Outfitters outdoor equipment and tour operators, and Tonya's Treasures clothing and accessory store.

About the Jekyll Island Authority Board: Through an act of state legislature, the Jekyll Island Authority was created to oversee the conservation and development of the island, which is a self-funded state park. Members of the Board constitute the policy-making body of the Authority, and are not compensated for their services. For more information, visit jekyllislandauthority.org.  

SOURCE Jekyll Island Authority