"From all indications, the robust summer vacation season in Minnesota, which started early with beautiful spring weather, will extend into late fall this year," said Arnold J. Hewes, president, Hospitality Minnesota, the state's leading hospitality trade organization, which represents restaurants, hotels, motels, bed breakfasts, resorts and campgrounds.

Hospitality is a vital industry and revenue-generating force in Minnesota and a strong summer travel season benefits the state. The hospitality industry is Minnesota's second largest industry, employing more than 175,000 people and paying wages of $3.7 billion each year. Annual sales for the industry exceeded $9.1 billion last year and generated more than $800 million in tax receipts.

Minnesota Resorts

Vacationers made reservations at Minnesota resorts early this year.  "Due to the beautiful spring we experienced, people were excited and planned ahead for their summer vacations," said John Kavanaugh, Minnesota Resort Association President and owner of Kavanaugh's Resort  Restaurant in Brainerd.

Travel in the Arrowhead region also was up. Sue Kerfoot, owner of Gunflint Lodge in Grand Marais, says, "There is no question this year has been our most successful summer ever." Overall, Gunflint Lodge has 30 percent more bookings this year than last year. "We are heavily booked until late October, and we're receiving an unbelievable amount of inquiries for winter." Kerfoot attributes this increased booking to the Internet and says the resort's web site is their "single best source of new business."

Dan Kaldahl, owner of Fair Hills Resort in Detroit Lakes, says, "We've had a waiting list since last November." Weather is always a factor when it comes to vacations and travel. According to Kaldahl, northwestern Minnesota is still battling higher than normal water levels as a result of the devastating floods last spring.

Minnesota Campgrounds and RV Parks

Minnesota campgrounds and RV parks are more weather dependent than resorts.  Dick Holetz, owner of Camperville in Mora, says travel was busy this summer due to the favorable weather.  The early spring and fairly mild weather also had a positive effect on campgrounds.  According to Holetz, "People began camping May 1."

Minnesota Hotels and Motels

Resorts and campgrounds are not the only travel businesses enjoying a busy summer season.  Hotels and motels hosted a greater number of travelers. Minnesota Hotel  Lodging Association member, Colleen Lund, owner of the South Haven Inn in Breckenridge, says, "We had no idea what to expect this year.

We've had numerous guests passing through from Canada, as well as many guests unable to find rooms in neighboring towns."  This healthy summer season was especially important to the Inn, which was closed from April to November 1997 due to the flood that ravaged Breckenridge last spring.  Even now, half of the motel's rooms are reserved for people who are working on the aftermath of the floods. 

Hotels in southeastern Minnesota also reported a positive summer travel season.  Kathy Brewster, owner of Brewster's Red Hotel in Lanesboro, said, finding a place during the summer was very difficult for some due to the town's popularity.  "This is where the canoes are.  This is where the bikes are.  This is where people want to be in the summer."  And with reservations well into November, Minnesotans plan to continue vacations enjoying the outdoors.

Summer travel is also expected to help larger hotels in the Twin Cities area. Tom Chase, general manager of the Minneapolis Marriott City Center, says, "Our business was definitely up in downtown Minneapolis until the Northwest strike and we expect that trend to continue once the strike is settled."

According to the Minnesota Office of Tourism, the Mall of America -- including Camp Snoopy and UnderWater World -- is the number one tourist attraction in Minnesota. Other factors influencing travel and tourism in the Twin Cities include downtown activities, conventions, events at the Target Center and Metrodome, museums, casinos, and Taste of Minnesota in St. Paul, the Aquatennial in
Minneapolis and the Minnesota State Fair.

Hospitality Minnesota represents more than 4,000 restaurants, hotels, motels, bed breakfasts, resorts, campgrounds and their suppliers as the umbrella organization for the Minnesota Restaurant Association; the Minnesota Hotel Lodging Association and its affiliate, the Minnesota Bed Breakfast Guild; and the Minnesota Resort Association, which includes the Minnesota Alliance of Campground Operators. Hospitality Minnesota offers educational programs, government affairs representation, regular communications and industry marketing through the Associations.