Return of snowbirds to Bradenton may be later this year because of COVID-19 pandemic
Not all snowbirds who make the Bradenton area their winter home are the same. Depending on the COVID-19 pandemic, and where they stay, their plans may be a little different this year.
Beachside resort operators are guardedly optimistic that their bookings will be similar to pre-pandemic days. But operators of trailer parks say many visitors are taking more of a wait-and-see approach.
“We are a manufactured home community and we’re pretty much booked. We have had a few cancellations,” said Paul Smith, community association manager for Tropic Isles Co-op, a 650-unit park at 1503 28th Ave. W., Palmetto., of snowbird activity this year.
Depending on the pandemic, Smith anticipates the bulk of snowbirds arriving later than usual this season, perhaps after New Year’s Day.
Tropic Isles typically draws from New England, New Jersey, New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio, as well as Canada.
“Obviously, the unknown is Canada with the border closing,” he said.
Maggie Scherette, general manager of the 400-unit Jet Mobile Home Park, 506 Fifth Ave. W., Palmetto, said her park caters to those 55 and older, among them residents who are in their 70s, one of the groups most at risk during the pandemic.
“I am not even taking new bookings,” Scherette said, adding that her goal is to protect her existing residents against the pandemic.
“All of our amenities are still closed except for our pool,” she said.
Northern visitors who might otherwise be arriving in time for Thanksgiving are calling and saying they might be back after Christmas or after New Year’s, Scherette said.
Melissa Burns, office manager of Palmetto Mobile Home Club, 1201 Eighth Ave. W., Palmetto, said she did not expect to see any Canadian visitors this year at the 480-unit park because of the pandemic.
It is a different story for resort rentals on Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.
“People are booking and are anxious to come back to Florida and enjoy the warm weather. When they call and ask what the weather is like, I tell them its much nicer than where you are at,” said Eric Cairns, manager of Cedar Cove Resort and Cottages in Holmes Beach.
Cairns looks for a “robust” season, similar to years prior to the pandemic, adding that resort rentals on the beach have a built-in advantage over those inland.
“People have been cooped up for months on end,” he said. One difference this season is that many guests who would normally take an airline to the Tampa Bay area are driving because of the pandemic.
Bonnie Wiedeman, Wagner Realty property manager for 120 rental units on Longboat Key, is seeing good demand from her regular snowbird customers.
Strongest demand is for January, February and March for visitors from the Northeast and Midwest, although the return of Canadians is iffy this year, she said.
“We are still very busy booking for seasonal rentals. We had probably our best summer ever with a lot of people doing staycations,” Wiedeman said.
Precisely predicting the behavior of snowbird visitors is difficult.
“We don’t track snowbirds. Never have because many of them are here for months,” said Elliott Falcione, executive director of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
This story was originally published October 1, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
