South Florida hotels prepare for Fourth of July with perks, not price cuts

As families get ready for a busy Fourth of July weekend, South Florida hotels are using perks, not lower rates, to attract guests, according to the Miami Herald.
Coming off a strong winter and spring at hotels in the area, has predicted a decrease in Fourth of July weekend travel this year over previous years.
To combat this, Broward County tourism chief Nick Grossman told the Miami Herald that hotels “are loading up the visits with value added. It’s either a free drink at the pool or it is a beach chair or it is a spa treatment or it’s kids eat free.”

The Ritz-Carlton in Fort Lauderdale, for example, is offering a package including a “room upgrade, $100 resort credit, free valet parking, a $25 gift card and a two-for-one savings at local attractions,” according to the Herald.
Travel sites have also started offering perks.

Expedia.com has allowed hotels to offer deals on their website while Expedia throws in a gas card to aid travel.
With so many opportunities for guests to save money, South Florida is preparing for a successful Fourth of July weekend. The Florida Keys tourism bureau reported that local hotels are already 90 percent booked for this Friday and Saturday night, and occupancy might approach 98 or 99 percent. [Miami Herald]