Snowstorms also driving spring breakers
Florida, California and Mexico are at the forefront of Spring Breakers minds’ minds this year, with business up as much as 25 percent. Officials cite three factors:
Bad weather. Delayed gratification. An improved economy. Or perhaps all three.
"You’re hearing a lot of (customers) say, ‘We’re done. It’s time to get out of here,’ " Jeff Krudup, of Travel Leaders in Fort Wayne told USA Today. "After tightening their belts last year, they’re ready to spend."
The increased business comes despite air fare hikes in recent months of up to 13 percent. Also up: average daily room rates for popular Spring Break destinations, up about 11 percent, according to Ortibz.
Three cruise lines cancelled port calls in Mazatlan under the cloud of negative publicity, but that area, along with Puerto Vallarta and Cancun remain popular breaker destinations.
New Orleans tourism officials, meanwhile, hope the convergence of spring break and Mardi Gras on March 8 will give them a boost over Mardi Gras 2010, which was the biggest since Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005.
CheapOair.com says the city is moving up the spring break rankings, but still trails the top five: Orlando, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Fort Lauderdale ant Phoenix.
"I think New Orleans will get some spring breakers, certainly," CheapOAir’s Bill Miller told the Associated Press. "But with the millions of kids who head out for that period, there won’t be a substantial swing from Cancun," which he said remains the top international destination for spring break.
By David Wilkening
David
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