More Carnival visitors staying longer in TT

THIS CARNIVAL is shaping up as a bumper season for local hotels. Most were completely booked from as early as last month, with some prospective visitors making reservations from as early as last year.

In the case of the Cascadia Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann’s, which has 68 rooms, there have been much earlier visitor arrivals this year and later departure dates. Marketing Manager at the hotel, Barry Bidaisee, said visitors usually made reservations from Carnival Friday to Ash Wednesday.

However, this year visitors began arriving as early as February 16, with departures planned for February 28. “We are seeing an increase in the length of stay from five nights to at least seven nights this year,” he said.

A spokesman for the Chancellor Hotel and Conference Centre, St Ann’s, said because the hotel was offering a special five-night package from today until Ash Wednesday, visitor arrivals had not been so heavy over the past few days. However, they were expected to pick up from last night  and continue into today.