Motorcycles equal money for some local businesses
By Cristina Kumka
STAFF WRITER - Published: September 18, 2010
STAFF WRITER - Published: September 18, 2010
Formal results aren’t in, but according to some Rutland and Killington business owners, the Killington Classic motorcycle rally was profitable during a time otherwise dominated by the Vermont State Fair.
Both the Killington and Rutland Region chambers of commerce reported good results from the ninth-annual touring rally — a stark difference from last year when the rally bypassed downtown Rutland because of miscommunication.
Seth Webb, Killington’s new tourism director, said an estimated 1,000 motorcycles started in Killington Friday and made their way down to Rutland at 6:30 p.m. for a welcoming block party with beer gardens, live music and outdoor dining.
Thomas Donahue, executive director of the Rutland chamber, called it a “wonderful success.”
“Seth Webb certainly had a lot to do with that,” Donahue said. “Everybody pulled their weight and it came together tremendously.”
But for area hotels and restaurants, the four-day event’s success wasn’t speculation — for them, it was in the numbers.
Betty Larson, director of sales at the Comfort Inn off North Main Street in Rutland, said a group of riders called the Retreads packed 70 rooms for four to five nights each. The hotel made $25,000 from the group’s stays, she said.
Bill Gillam, owner of Rutland’s South Station Restaurant, said the group made things “extremely nice this weekend.
“It’s nice to see some business going on,” he said. “I don’t usually do much during fair week.”
Donahue reported seeing Rutland’s Three Tomatoes Trattoria being filled and Webb said the Killington Motel was fully booked for three nights.
Louis Illiano of Peppino’s Ristorante Italiano said without the Killington Classic the weekend would have been extremely quiet.
“Anybody with any historical perspective will say 10 to 15 years ago, fair week can could have been the slowest week of the year,” he said. “It’s turned what would be a negative week into a positive.”
Webb said the key to keeping bikers on the mountain was promoting Killington inns and hotels and more, planning about a dozen more activities on the mountain than last year during Classic weekend — from a pig roast and classic bike show to a Sept. 11, 70-mile ride up Route 100, and a fireworks display.
Both the Killington and Rutland Region chambers of commerce reported good results from the ninth-annual touring rally — a stark difference from last year when the rally bypassed downtown Rutland because of miscommunication.
Seth Webb, Killington’s new tourism director, said an estimated 1,000 motorcycles started in Killington Friday and made their way down to Rutland at 6:30 p.m. for a welcoming block party with beer gardens, live music and outdoor dining.
Thomas Donahue, executive director of the Rutland chamber, called it a “wonderful success.”
“Seth Webb certainly had a lot to do with that,” Donahue said. “Everybody pulled their weight and it came together tremendously.”
But for area hotels and restaurants, the four-day event’s success wasn’t speculation — for them, it was in the numbers.
Betty Larson, director of sales at the Comfort Inn off North Main Street in Rutland, said a group of riders called the Retreads packed 70 rooms for four to five nights each. The hotel made $25,000 from the group’s stays, she said.
Bill Gillam, owner of Rutland’s South Station Restaurant, said the group made things “extremely nice this weekend.
“It’s nice to see some business going on,” he said. “I don’t usually do much during fair week.”
Donahue reported seeing Rutland’s Three Tomatoes Trattoria being filled and Webb said the Killington Motel was fully booked for three nights.
Louis Illiano of Peppino’s Ristorante Italiano said without the Killington Classic the weekend would have been extremely quiet.
“Anybody with any historical perspective will say 10 to 15 years ago, fair week can could have been the slowest week of the year,” he said. “It’s turned what would be a negative week into a positive.”
Webb said the key to keeping bikers on the mountain was promoting Killington inns and hotels and more, planning about a dozen more activities on the mountain than last year during Classic weekend — from a pig roast and classic bike show to a Sept. 11, 70-mile ride up Route 100, and a fireworks display.
