Major Lodging Chains Attract Boating Guests

When Bassmaster Classic XXXIX kicks off on the Red River in Shreveport-Bossier City, LA, Feb 20-22, fans from across America will be arriving in search of boater-friendly lodging. Some bring their boats in hopes of spending a day on the water with binoculars watching their favorite pro attempt to win the biggest of events - the "Classic."

When the average traveler pulls into a hotel, all they want is to grab a clean, safe room and get a good night’s sleep. Main considerations are little more than finding easy fuel and food. But touring bass pros or Classic fans, it’s a different story. With a small fortune in “tools of the trade,” these guests often stays 3-10 days at a time, and want special lodging facilities where their needs are recognized and provided. And it’s the wise hotel that accommodates them.

Long ago, luring fishermen with boats was not exactly the main goal of major hotel chains. Instead, boaters stayed at local motels, state parks, marina cabins or they camped out lakeside. Today, these same traveling anglers have become a target market for some of the largest hotel chains.

One such group, is headed by Jeff Rogers, President of Southern Host Hospitality (SHH), the hotel management corporation for multiple well-known lodging brands such as Quality, Microtel, Rodeway, Best Western, Comfort Suites, Holiday Inn Express (all “Inn & Suites”) and Howard Johnson’s Bossier City. Rogers understands the tournament market well. When anglers drive past his hotel with boat in tow, Rogers wants and welcomes their business. And he often gets it - because his corporation reaches a little farther than some of the competition.

“We installed 12 outdoor electrical plugs at each hotel for guests to charge their boat batteries. We put these plugs at the ends of the buildings because we knew boaters needed to have easy access to them from their rooms,” says Rogers.

“We cater to the fact that boaters need to be downstairs. That’s hard to do since, most Bossier hotels have inside corridors (which is what we have) but putting the outlets at the end of the building, opens up at least ten downstairs rooms in each hotel. And we try to put these guests in rooms on the back side with windows overlooking the parking lot so they can see their boats at all times.”

When it comes to hotel / motel security, consider the advice of Robin Babb, a former threat assessment professional and stalking expert. She offers advice for touring pros looking for the right room:

“At a minimum, the location should offer 24-hour lobby reception, security camera monitors, well-lighted parking area, doors with a deadbolt or door knob lock, plus a chain or swing-arm locking mechanism and peep hole. Also, it is a plus if the location offers night security patrol.

Joanna Wilson- Southern Host Hospitality’s Regional Sales & Marketing Director says, “We have 24-hour security – our managers live on property. We have security cameras and inside corridors, which provide more personal guest safety. Policemen continually travel the hotels here, making parking lots more secure.

We’ve been able to enjoy the fruits of making the Red River navigable for port and casinos – and since then, it also lured a lot of fishing tournaments here. Growth of the river gave more publicity to other interests in the area,” she says. “Just overnight, it became known as a wonderful tournament spot.”

More fishing tournaments mean more hotel business for Shreveport and Bossier City – a welcome sight - unlike years past when tournament anglers were not considered a major target. But today, this market in cities that host major tournaments, is considered a valuable one.

“Established tournament trails are desirable because they can provide economic impact in excess of a million dollars per event” says Mary Ann Tice, Executive Director and CAO of the Shreveport Regional Sports Authority, an economic development corporation that secures sports tourism for it’s economic impact.

Following the first bass event we hosted, the 1997 BASS Federation Championship," adds Tice, "we rapidly recognized the potential for bass fishing and the Red River became our primary venue. That first BASS tournament on the Red River basically opened the area to bass fishing.

B.A.S.S. ushered the advent of televised bass fishing along with corresponding print media – B.A.S.S. caused the explosion and we ‘poised to reap the benefits.’ Bass fishing ranks very high as a preferred sports tourism event for us to host.”

For more information on the Bassmaster Classic, http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/tournaments/classic/news/story?page=b_Attend_2009_Classic

For more information on hotel accommodations during the Classic or throughout the year, contact Quality Inn / Suites at 318) 742-7890, Microtel Inn / Suites 318) 742-7882, Rodeway Inn / Suites at 318 747-2400 or Howard Johnson Bossier City, at 866-538-0336.