By Tricia Pursell
LEWISBURG — The state scholastic swimming and diving championships at Bucknell University will draw 5,000 people to the Valley this week, and hotel and restaurant owners hope those fans and athletes will float into their establishments and buoy the area economy.
The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament represents at least a $250,000 boost to the Valley, according to Andrew Miller, executive director of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitor's Bureau.
March, Miller said, is typically a slow month for business.
"Whenever you have that kind of number of people coming in, it is widely appreciated and greatly received by the downtowns, and especially the hotels," Miller said.
Approximately 500 student-athletes are participating in the championships, which began Wednesday. This is the sixth year Bucknell University "” and its eight-lane pool "” has held the event. The tournament previously was held at Penn State, which only has a six-lane pool.
"Hotels, and bed and breakfasts are sold out" even as far away as Columbia and Lycoming counties, Miller said.
"It's definitely a sold-out week," added Andy Gemberling, manager of the Best Western in Lewisburg. "It's definitely something we like to see each March."
The hotel is filled for the five days the event is held. On any other day, the hotel is usually about 20 to 30 percent occupied.
The 47 rooms at the Phillips Motel, in Shamokin Dam, are also full, owner George Goshorn said.
The sellout happens every March the swimming tournament is held at Bucknell, he said, and plays an important part in the business's success.
The Econo Lodge in Shamokin Dam is home to nine of the participating teams this year. That's 114 rooms full of swimmers.
"This is always the first major revenue-generator for the lodging industry in this area for the year," general manager Connie Buck said.
On an average day, the lodge is about 30 percent occupied. This week, it's at 78 percent.
Teams booked well in advance this year, Miller said. Valley hotels work together through the Susquehanna River Valley Visitor's Bureau to make sure that all guests find lodging.
"Studies show when people spend the night, they are more apt to spend a lot more money," Miller said.
Whether guests are staying in hotels, eating at Valley restaurants, or even buying gasoline or a soda at Sheetz, Miller said, "They are spending money in our community."
Some restaurants and hotels are bringing in extra staff to carry the added workload. Miller calls that "the trickle-down theory of tourism."
While most of the visitors will check out on Saturday, Buck "” of the Econo Lodge in Shamokin Dam "” said some families stay to enjoy the Valley for an extra day.
"People remark about the hospitality they receive in the area," she said.
And these guests sometimes return in the summer.
"They take a look at what is offered here," she said, "and they bring their families back. We," she said proudly, "introduced them to the Susquehanna Valley."
n E-mail comments to tpursell@dailyitem.com
