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Rain can't keep visitors away

Bad weather brings good day for stores

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With Ernesto sliding quietly by Hilton Head Island on Thursday, local tourism officials say the now-passed scare won't upset a busy Labor Day weekend.

• Photo: Vacationer Mitzie Ramsey of Fountain Inn shops for souvenirs at the Planet Hilton Head store at Coligny Plaza on Thursday. Ramsey said she decided to go shopping because the rains from Tropical Storm Ernesto meant there was "no golfing and no ocean to play in." The storm was not so difficult to bear for area merchants, who said they saw an uptick in the number of shoppers as the weather prevented people from partaking in the usual outdoor activities.
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"We're looking forward to a pretty nice weekend," said Ken Nason, director of sales and marketing for The Westin Resort on the island.

Occupancy rates for tourist rooms on the island are expected to be above 90 percent for Labor Day weekend -- the traditional final week in the summer season. The major resorts on the island expect to sell out at least one night.

The Marriott Hilton Head Beach & Golf Resort had a handful of cancellations, but most of those were quickly snatched up by other travelers. One group with 13 rooms that canceled ahead of the storm has rebooked for late October, said David Sulak, director of sales and marketing for the resort.

"It's virtually a nonevent," Sulak said of Ernesto.

Nason at the Westin said 20 room rentals were canceled at the 420-room resort, but he still expects to sell out Saturday night.

At the Crowne Plaza Resort, there were 11 cancellations at the 340-room resort. But Joe Kramer, director of sales and marketing, said a Saturday sellout is likely.

The early-bird tourists who came in Thursday seemed to arrive without problem, although Kramer acknowledges they may be a bit bored Thursday if they were hoping to hit the beach or play a round of golf.

Resort officials pointed to a forecast for this weekend that calls for temperatures near 90 degrees and some sun.

Hilton Head Island Airport and Savannah/Hilton Head Interna-tional Airport officials said there were no significant flight delays Thursday, and traffic levels on flights seemed normal.

"We've seen nothing at all," said Lori Lynah, Savannah airport spokeswoman, of Ernesto's impact.

Contact Jim Faber at 706-8137 or . To comment on this story, please go to islandpacket.com.