Winter Weather A Positive For Downtown Hotels

Rusty Surette, News 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- There aren't many places that will stay open during a major weather event, like a blizzard, but hotels are leaving the light on and this week downtown hotels are seeing a boom in business.

Travelers last week were quick to cancel their room reservations because of the blizzard, but that's not the case this week.

"Our corporate business is up," said Skirvin Hilton General Manager Martin Van der Laan.

Van der Laan said businesses in the downtown Oklahoma City area are reserving rooms for employees. That way workers are able to get back to work quicker, once the storm passes.

"It turns out it's going to be actually a very positive experience for us," said Van der Laan. "Some businesses can't afford to lose another three or four days of productivity."

At the Colcord, many employees are staying put in rooms.

"Safety of our guests and hotel and restaurant staff is of utmost priority, and several of our staff members are staying at the Colcord Tuesday night to ensure a smooth operation for the remainder of the week. La Baguette, our in-house restaurant, is operating on a normal schedule," said Colcord Sales Manager Michael Bratcher. "Our guests have made the best of their stays here, even working from their guest rooms and in our business center and meeting spaces when they weren't able to leave the hotel to report to their offices."