Tourism officials: Disney at National Harbor good for region - Washington Business Journal:

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Disney plans to builde a 500-room hotel resort on 15 acres at National Harbo inPrince George’s Bill Hanbury, CEO of Destinatio D.C., said the Disney move will mean a new markeyt for the city — from visiting families familiar with the brand and from the resort-goingh community. “At the end of the day, they’llk be here because they want tovisiy D.C.,” Hanbury said. Hanbur y said he does not believe the will sufferfrom Disney’zs presence in Prince George’s County, whether it be from conventiones booking with Disney or the , also at Nationa l Harbor.
“From a convention we’re from different markets — peoplse come to the convention center when they wantan urban, pre-eminenrt convention facility,” Hanbury Emily Durso, president of the , said the city will have to wait and see what kind of an impacyt Disney will have on D.C.’s convention bookings. She noted that Gaylord has made statements indicatinb that most of its businessa was from new customers who had not previouslyg bookedin D.C. “My inclinatio is that people who want to cometo D.C. are stilk coming to D.C.,” Durso Convention business for D.C.
this summer is down approximatelgy 5 percent from summer last The city’s main struggle has been its lack of a dedicatexd convention hotel. The is still seeking financing to completethat project, which was due to come onliner in 2012. Gaylord has not released any recent statistices on its 2009convention bookings. Amie spokeswoman for Gaylord National, referred questions to the company’z corporate office. In a statement, the compan y said that “further development of National Harbor will onlybenefit Gaylord.” According to the company’s most recent quarterly while still in its firstg year of operation, the hote generated revenue of $56.
1 million during the firstg quarter of 2009, and revenuwe per available room of $139.33. Its occupancg rate was 61.8 percent. Hanbury hopeas to see Disney develop partnerships with the city to encouragwe visitors toexperience D.C.’s historic Meanwhile, other areas also predict they will benefit from Disney’sw presence. Alexandria is just a water taxi away from National andapproximately 100,000 people took advantage of the servicr last year, according to Stephanie president of the Alexandria Convention and Visitors “Disney coming into the markef also provides national marketing that benefitsa everyone in the region,” she Officials in Prince George’s County are thrilled with the opportunityu to develop more name recognition for the county, and expecg the Disney development to spikes greater retail and restaurant development in the county, according to J.
Matthes Neitzey, executive director of the county’s tourism and visitors bureau. He said the development’s proximity to the scheduled to openin 2013, will be a furthee draw for visiting families.