Tourists return to Southwest Florida

And, according to local hoteliers, there are lots of them this year.

This Thanksgiving holiday, hotel operators in Collier and Lee counties are thankful for the tourists who seemed to have disappeared after the events of Sept. 11, 2001. After two years of slow business and empty rooms, hoteliers say business is getting back to normal. Lobbies are filled with visitors carrying suitcases stuffed with swimwear, and credit card machines are being used as often as housekeeping replaces beach towels.

Some hotels, including the LaPlaya Beach and Golf Resort in North Naples, are sold out for the weekend.

"Hopefully, that's a sign of recovery," said Sean Mullen, director of sales and marketing for LaPlaya. "We're very encouraged about it."

LaPlaya's restaurant, Baleen, is also at capacity today. So, for the first time, the restaurant is offering turkeys to go for those unable to reserve their seats.

Mark Crabb, deputy director of the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau, said many of the hotels in Lee County are either full or close to being full this weekend.

"People are getting more comfortable with travel," Crabb said. "With the bad weather up North, it certainly helps to have nice weather down here."

Crabb said attractions geared to tourists include Thanksgiving packages and activities that some hotels, such as the Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Old Naples, are offering this year.

Those staying at the beach hotel this holiday weekend can learn golf, relax in yoga classes or enter a sand-sculpting contest.

Jim Gunderson, general manager of the beach hotel, said the hotel will be 90 percent booked this holiday weekend.

And so will the hotels on Marco Island.

Joyce Lyle-Freeman, director of operations for Radisson Suite Beach Resort, said that the restaurants are also expected to be packed with visitors ready for traditional Thanksgiving meals.

"Our Thanksgiving buffet will have 300-plus diners," Lyle-Freeman said. "We have a lot of people coming into town to visit relatives for the holiday. We are also looking good for Christmas time."

Jerry Atkinson, director of sales and marketing at the Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort, said that few of the 297 rooms at the Hilton will be empty. He credits the good business to the economy.

"Because of the economy we are moving forward; we are definitely moving in the right direction," Atkinson said.

Laurie Cardenuto of The Marco Island Marriott Resort is also expecting a crowd this weekend, but not just in the hotel rooms.

"The nice thing about our Thanksgiving dinner in the Tropiks is that it allows walk-ins -- no reservations are needed," said Cardenuto, director of sales and marketing.

A crowd is also expected at The Registry Resort and the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Naples.

Kerry Mitruska, area director of sales and marketing for the Registry, Edgewater and Naples Grande Golf Club, said the Edgewater is sold out this weekend and the Registry plans to serve 1,100 people Thanksgiving meals.

"We're actually up in both hotels, by about 20 percent at the Edgewater and 15 percent at the Registry," Mitruska said. "That's a significant increase from last year. People are just starting to travel."