COLUMBIA, S.C.-The Courtyard by Marriott is just one of the downtown hotels experiencing an unexpected surge in bookings, as people seek shelter from the impacts of Hurricane Helene.
One couple staying at the hotel said, “We were fine with the electricity out, but once the electricity and the water was out… we were done.”
Although they have been fully booked before, General Manager, Kasey Paxton, says it has never been fully booked for five consecutive nights.
Typically, an increase in guests would mean an increase in revenue, but the Marriott is keeping rates steady. “We don’t want to charge people too much for what’s happened,” says Paxton.
Along with the hotel staying fully booked, comes a busy housekeeping schedule. Rooms being cleaned as soon as one guest leaves for another to check right in.
A hotel that was once being used as a getaway spot is now being used for refuge. For workers like Paxton, it is reassuring to know she is “not alone with all these guests that are staying here,” even amidst the stress it brings.
