Beaches prep for Memorial Day weekend

GULF SHORES/ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Eagerly anticipated by hundreds of thousands of Southeast and Midwest families, Memorial Day weekend will soon be upon these visitors to Alabama’s 32 miles of glistening coastline. According to an informal survey of lodging partners along the Pleasure Island coastline, the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) expects a large number of guests this holiday weekend.

"Several accommodations are reporting occupancy rates similar to those levels seen last Memorial Day," said Herb Malone, president/CEO of the CVB. "This data proves that people are still traveling despite the picture painted by some media outlets. With gas prices noticeably less than last year, an overwhelming majority of travelers are looking for drive-to destinations that offer obvious value, which places the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach area in an excellent position."

Searching for this value has resulted in some travel customers waiting until the last minute to book their vacations.

"We have seen a considerable shrinking of the booking window," Malone said. "When guests of yesterday would have booked months in advance, some are choosing to waiting until a couple of days before they arrive."

Echoing the same sentiment, Marie Curren, director of marketing and reservations for Brett-Robinson Vacation Rentals, reports that approximately 30 percent of the company’s Memorial Day business is booking within 0 to 6 days to arrival.

Meanwhile, Sarah Kuzma, cooperate relations director for Meyer Real Estate, is seeing the same trend of last minute bookings.

"Our phone inquiries and web bookings for Memorial Day were very heavy at the end of last week and over the weekend continuing today as people are realizing that the holiday weekend is fast approaching," she said. "Due to last-minute reservations and the aggressive sale prices that we are promoting, we expect to come close to the levels of occupancy we experienced last Memorial Day."

With large crowds expected this Memorial Day weekend, the Pleasure Island community is welcoming the start of the summer travel season.

"The Alabama Gulf Coast offers families a value-packed vacation that is within an easy interstate commute from the South and Midwest regions," Malone said. "Our beach community will be hosting numerous events this weekend from fishing tournaments to live concerts."

Guests looking for last-minute rooms may search the CVB's lodging availability chart here, or browse the packages and hot deals page here.