GENEVA-ON-THE-LAKE — The Lodge and Conference Center at Geneva-on-the-Lake survived a challenging year and turned a small operating profit: $145,035.
That profit was $20,000 less than what the lodge made in 2008 but still a significant accomplishment, considering the state of the economy and revenue challenges facing the operation. General Manager Jeannette Petrolia told members of the Convention Facilities Authority (CFA) Friday morning that 2009 revenues fell nearly $500,000 short of the lodge’s plan; however, only 16 percent of that ended up affecting the bottom line, thanks to implementation of efficiencies and belt-tightening on personnel costs.
The profit reported by the lodge does not include the debt that the county must pay, about $1.2 million annually, on the building and furnishings. Neither will the $145,035 profit come into county coffers. Commissioner Peggy Carlo said that money is retained by the lodge for operating expenses, as is the case with other county-owned “enterprise” operations.
The lodge posted excellent numbers compared with other northeast Ohio hospitality operations, Petrolia told CFA. For example, its revenue-per-available-room benchmark was $64 in October, while the average for all Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) properties was $48. The lodge had a 58.1 percent occupancy rate, while the ODNR average was 39.9 percent.
According to an industry report, the lodge’s occupancy fell off by 1.5 percent in 2009 as compared to 2008, but hospitality operations in the greater Cleveland area saw the rate fall by 9.3 percent in the same time frame.
Petrolia said the new year is off to a good start with group bookings up for the year and 855 rooms already booked. She said the lodge is a popular wedding destination and is booked already for every Saturday of the wedding season. The area’s wineries continue to drive traffic to the lodge’s front door, with 1,000 wine packages sold last year.
CFA member and Ohio Wine Producers Executive Director Doniella Winchell said culinary tourism is a strong drawing card for northeast Ohio, and “the wineries are creating the hook.” She said there’s also a great interest in local breweries, and the lodge will be hosting a beer weekend event in March to tap into that interest.
“I think this lodge is incredibly well-positioned to take advantage of this kind of explosion,” Winchell said.
Local News
GOTL lodge turns small profit in 2009
Money is retained by lodge for operating expenses
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