Hurricane Sandy

No Room At The Inn: Sandy Fills Hotels

Displaced residents and people tending to Hurricane Sandy recovery have filled hotels.

Among the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy since October 29, displaced residents and the onslaught of disaster relief workers to the area have had to face another difficulty – finding a hotel room. Sandy has led to full hotels in the Shore area and beyond as FEMA officials, insurance adjusters, utility crews, home remediation specialists and those displaced from their homes have made finding a room in Monmouth and Ocean Counties very difficult, despite the tourism season being long finished. “We are at 100 percent right now and closed to new reservations until January,” said Patricia Brecka, manager at the Comfort Inn on Route 37. Dana Lancellotti, director of sales at the Ramada on Route 9, noted the hotel is referring reservations …

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Toms River's Liquor Licenses Fetch $500K, Township Has 53 Total

Nothing available for restaurants, bars, stores or hotels

If you’re looking to obtain a liquor license in Toms River, you’re out of luck — they’re all taken. The township has a total of 53 liquor licenses in use, and according to Laurie Knemoller, of the township clerk’s office, there aren’t any more available. “That’s the number of active licenses right now. Some people have them in their back pocket and aren’t using them, but there isn’t currently anything available right now,” she said. According to the clerk’s office, there are seven “in pocket” licenses that have been sold, but are not currently in use. The town has 29 consumption licenses in use, with 11 distribution (liquor stores) licenses, eight club licenses (Elks Club, American Legion, etc.) and five hotel/motel licenses, all in use. …

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Hurricane Irene

Hurricane Sends Local Hotels on a Wild Ride of Cancellations and Reservations

Seaside and Route 37 hotels weigh in on impact of storm

With Hurricane Irene weekend followed by Labor Day weekend, it’s been a week of highs and lows for local hotels. The effects of a mandatory evacuation last weekend due to the hurricane were felt predominantly on the barrier island hotels and motels, who were faced with cancellations and the work of clearing out guests and shutting down the business. Bill Pettinelli from the Starlight Motel, Ortley Beach, said, “It’s killing us!” With the mandatory evacuation of the barrier island, the Ortley Beach section of Toms River began to clear on Saturday afternoon. “We have 47 rooms, 27 with kitchens; we fill every night in the summer,” said Pettinelli. Not last Saturday night, he said. Starlight offered refunds for guests.  “We don’t need anymore …

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