Maine Innkeepers

Maine Innkeepers Association

Bringing Maine Families Home

. . . One Room at a Time

2010 Hospitality for Habitat Is a Huge Success & Raises

Optimism among Innkeepers for Upcoming Tourism Season

Released by the Maine Innkeepers Association July 5, 2010

Steve Bolton, Executive Director, receives donation check from Greg Dugal,

Executive Director of the Maine Innkeepers Association.

Hospitality for Habitat attracted a record number of travelers to Maine this spring despite ongoing concerns about the economy, according to Greg Dugal, Executive Director of Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA). The Seventh Annual Hospitality for Habitat, a program designed by Maine Innkeepers Association to raise funds for Maine chapters of Habitat for Humanity through deeply discounted spring room rates, recorded its most successful year yet, raising optimism among Innkeepers for a good tourism season.

This year 33 MEIA member properties, with support from their guests, raised a total of $21,500 for Habitat for Humanity, which far exceeds donations from any prior year.

$13, 435 was donated directly to local chapters of Habitat for Humanity to help fund housing for Maine families. In addition, the Harraseeket Inn in Freeport raised approximately $8,000, which was sent to Habitat for Humanity in Americus, Georgia for distribution to their Haiti chapters. The annual Hospitality for Habitat program offers visitors to Maine a 50% discount on room rates in May in exchange for a donation check for $35 made out to Habitat for Humanity.

“This program has gained momentum each year since 2004, but the increase of over $5,000 in donations this year was exceptional,” noted Dugal. “We are pleased that so many visitor’s to Maine now look forward to, and make plans to visit the state in May to take advantage of the discounted room rates. And this terrific response can also be seen as a very encouraging sign for a good summer tourism season.”

In addition to the incredible effort of the Harraseeket Inn, this year’s top fund raisers participating in Hospitality for Habitat were the Village by the Sea Hotel & Conference Center in Wells with over $4000 in contributions, the Newcastle Inn in Newcastle, the Beachmere Inn in Ogunquit, the Mira Monte Inn and Graycote Inn in Bar Harbor.

“Our guests, owners and staff enthusiastically support the program, and were pleased to surpass last year’s contributions,” said Gail Phillips, General Manager/CFO at Village by the Sea Hotel & Conference Center, the top fund raiser. “We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to such a worthy cause and help Maine families in need. Our guests, as well as staff, are already looking forward to Hospitality for Habitat May 2011”.

About the Maine Innkeepers Association
The Maine Innkeepers Association, a leading provider of tourism information to both Maine’s lodging industry and its visitors, represents nearly 700 B&Bs, camps, cottages, hotels, inns, motels and resorts across Maine, and their suppliers. Through communication, education, promotion and government affairs, the Association helps its members achieve prosperity and deliver a quality product to the consumer. Maine Innkeepers Association is located in Freeport, ME and can also be found at www.maineinns.com.

We truly appreciate all of the support provided by the Maine Innkeepers Association and the participating hospitality establishments.