Printable VersionAs spring breakers “hook it up” in Lake Havasu City this weekend, Hospitality Association members are looking for strong business — but not just for themselves.
The Lake Havasu Hospitality Association, along with more than 85 business members, kicked off the “Hook It Up 2010” spring break initiative Friday, which looks to offer big deals to the thousands of youth visiting the city looking for fun in the sun. The program, which runs through April 10, involves LHHA businesses offering free wristbands that allow spring breakers to receive discounts, deals and exclusives for various businesses.
“The whole point to everything we’re doing is to make sure that we do everything we can to show them a good time,” LHHA Executive Director Greg Tryon said. “We want the kids to have a safe experience and love it so much that they come back for more.”
Local businesses, such as Nick N Willy’s Pizza, are hopeful the season will start off strong.
“We’re hoping and expecting a large turnout for the spring breakers this year,” owner Joe Harrold said, adding that the company is offering discounts on pizza through the spring break season. “We are happy to welcome the spring breakers to the city and we’re thinking it’s going to be great this year.”
Tryon explained that when people visit local hotels or businesses in the LHHA, each will receive free wristbands, fliers highlighting upcoming events and posters. The LHHA also is offering $10 T-shirts to all visitors. Proceeds for the shirts go toward the LHHA and participating businesses. If the T-shirt sales are a sign of a positive spring break season, LHHA members are expecting this year to be huge.
“I’m just shocked. We ordered a box for the first day and we sold out,” Havasu Lanes District Manager Rusty Hanna said, adding he sold more than 20 T-shirts within the first hour Friday. “We really hope this is going to mean big things. We’re looking forward to this season and we hope it’s big for everyone in this city.”
Havasu Lanes is offering all you can bowl for $8 from 9 p.m. to midnight Sunday to Thursday and $5 off Rock and Bowl Friday and Saturday evenings to all wristband wearers through Hook It Up 2010.
Bombora Beachwear store manager Stephanie Finch agreed sales have taken off already.
“We went through a couple dozen shirts on the first day so that’s really great,” Finch said, adding that the store will alternate offering 10 percent off merchandise or free drink koozies and other promotions through the month. “We’re totally ready for them and ready for it to be busy around here.”
But, like Whetten of Whettrods, owners are not looking only for their businesses to prosper during the next month, but are hopeful it will extend to the entire city.
“I’m hoping that it is huge. Not just for me, but for all the business owners,” Ed Snook of Todd Shuttle Service said. “A lot of businesses make it month to month in the winter, but spring break and summer, that’s when the gravy really comes in.”
Todd Shuttle Service is offering rates as low as $2 per person for shuttles of five or more through the Hook It Up 2010 program.
Snook explained that many businesses depend on the next few months of sales.
“That’s when we pay our big bills because that’s when we can,” Snook said. “The (LHHA) is trying really hard to bring spring break back to this town and I’m all for it. The city needs it. We are a tourist town. We’re lucky we have our tourists and we all need to embrace it and make the best of it.”
You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com
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