Some island business people are expecting the holiday season will bring silver and gold.
And a cash “ring.”
Island businesspeople say they expect to see a surge in customers during the winter break that comes with the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
“The first three weeks of December are the slowest and the busiest time of the year follows right on the heels of the slowest,” said Sean Murphy, owner of The Doctor’s Office cocktail bar, 5312 Holmes Blvd., Holmes Beach. “Anyone with any money is skiing or shopping in New York.”
Having lived on the island for 40 years, Murphy suggested he has the holiday forecast for the island down to a science: “By Dec. 23, people arrive on the plane, get to their rental, shower and then are out enjoying the island by 7 p.m.”
Other businesspeople on the island agreed that Dec. 23-Jan. 2 they will see a mini-peak season, including those at Ginny’s & Jane E’s Bakery Cafe and Gift Store, 9807 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria, and Sandbar Seafood & Spirits, 100 Spring Ave., Anna Maria.
Chuck Wolfe, CEO of Chiles Hospitality, which encompasses the Beach House, Sandbar, MarVista and Anna Maria Bake House, among other food service businesses, said their restaurants were seeing a normal amount of patrons for mid-December.
But he anticipated business to pick up during the holidays.
Morgan Lowe, general manager at Ginny’s & Jane E’s, has worked on the island for 10 years. She said she expects a bump in business around the Christmas and New Year holidays.
Lowe said there’s always a lull between the fall and winter holidays.
“They’re here for Thanksgiving, then there is a lull, but things gear back up towards Christmas again,” she said. “We’re fortunate during a slow time to have a lot of locals and loyal customers who come in, visit the store, and dine at the cafe regularly to keep us busy.”
On the vacation rental side, Nicole Kaleta, owner of Once Upon a Beach Boutique Vacation Rentals & Property Management, reported a 4% revenue increase and a 6% rise in occupancy from December 2022 to December 2023.
She added that pricing per property was slightly lower this year for December than in 2022.
Meanwhile, Terri Kinder, president of the Anna Maria Island Chamber of Commerce, noted an increase in individuals seeking information ahead of the holidays.
“We’ve observed a rise in the number of people inquiring about our slice of paradise,” she said. “The number of visitors and phone calls coming into the chamber has increased significantly, with inquiries ranging from restaurant availability during the holiday season to recommendations for planned adventures and places to stay during their visit.”
