Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce president Mary Ann Brockman was a bit startled when the Nov. 10 workday began.
“We usually get calls about an accommodation for Thanksgiving week right about now,” she said.
“Instead, we were flooded that Monday with people calling who already had a reservation, but wanted information about where to eat Thanksgiving Day,” Brockman said.
“That sounds like a good indication it’s going to be very busy on the island that week,” she added.
In fact, many accommodation owners and managers said they were nearing capacity for the holiday.
“We’ve just about sold out for Thanksgiving weekend. Guests have been calling earlier than usual. Our phones have been off the hook with people calling for a Thanksgiving stay, and calls started in mid-October,” said David Teitelbaum. He is the owner of the Tropic Isle, Tradewinds, Tortuga Inn and Seaside resort motels on Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach.
“Many of our guests are repeat visitors and have learned to book early,” he added.
While a sold-out Thanksgiving is not surprising to Teitelbaum, the number of people who have booked for Christmas is a surprise.
“I guess they’ve gotten the word to book early. We’ve already got several days at Christmas that are sold out, and other days at that time are filling up fast. If you’re thinking about coming for Christmas, my advice is decide quickly and make your reservation now,” he said.
At the White Sands Beach Resort, 6504 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, co-owner Jeff Gerry said he’s got some units available Thanksgiving week, but reservations are coming in rapidly.
“It’s been a flurry of activity for us lately. I’d say most of our guests are repeat visitors who enjoy staying here. I think that’s probably true for most resorts on the island,” he said.
Gerry said he has yet to see Christmas reservations flowing in, which usually start around the Thanksgiving holiday.
“Maybe it’s just a question of getting the word out that we have rooms for the Christmas holiday period,” he said.
“Many of our neighbors are already getting Christmas reservations, so it’s a bit unusual for us not to be getting calls for a Christmas stay,” Gerry said.
Even if White Sands sells out Thanksgiving week, Gerry said walk-in visitors need not worry.
“We work with the other resorts and the chamber to find rooms. That’s how everyone on the island operates. We try to look out for each other,” he said.
Sebastian Mueller, manager of the Blue Water Beach Club, 6306 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, said he’s been taking quite a few reservations for Christmas, and Thanksgiving is already “looking like it will be full for us.”
“If this weather keeps up, and the snow keeps falling up north, everyone here is going to have a lot to be thankful for,” he said.
Likewise for the Bali Hai Resort, 6900 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach.
Co-owner Al Bouziane said the resort is about 90 percent full for Thanksgiving and most visitors are repeat guests who figured out how to guarantee they’ll have a room next Thanksgiving.
“As they are leaving one year, they make their reservation for the next year,” he said. “That way, they already know they’ve got a room waiting for them.”
Bouziane said he “expects a full house for Thanksgiving.”
There are, however, always last-minute visitors looking for a room.
“We’ll try to help them. We work with our adjacent resorts and the chamber to make sure they have a place to stay,” he said.
Brockman said the chamber keeps a list of available units, and people can call the office to learn what’s available.
“Please call us if you can’t find a room, or if you are a chamber member and have accommodations available,” she said.
Brockman also has noticed that many visitors from the north tend to start making reservations when the first snow falls, but that might not be such a great idea.
“I’ve had some people tell me that in past years, they waited too long to book a room. Nobody wants to be up north when the snow and freezing rain hits,” she said.
Chamber’s got your room number
The Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, 5313 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach, keeps a list of accommodations with available units in order to assist visitors, particularly for holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Chamber president Mary Ann Brockman said a visitor having difficulty finding a room can go to the chamber office, 5313 Gulf Drive, or call 941-778-1541 to learn what resort has a room available. Office hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays.
The office will be closed Nov. 27 for Thanksgiving.
“We do encourage people to make reservations early, but people make spur of the moment decisions to come and we’re here to help them find a nice place to fit that decision,” Brockman said.