NH restaurants, hotels look for ways to stay afloat over winter
Business owners join call with Sen. Shaheen to indicate what they’re looking for in new relief bill
MANCHESTER, N.H. -
New Hampshire's hospitality industry is looking for ways to survive the coming months.
Business owners who joined a call with Sen. Jeanne Shaheen on Friday provided a glimpse into the struggles they're experiencing and anticipating.
Shaheen said she wanted to get an idea of what the businesses are dealing with and their ideas for what would benefit them when it comes to the next relief package.
The call included owners of New Hampshire restaurants, hotels and performing arts centers that are looking for more Paycheck Protection Program funds, but also want changes to allow these businesses to get long-term, low-interest-rate financing.
Officials for hotels, which rely on business travel, are struggling and say they don't anticipate a rebound until 2023.
Restaurant officials said outdoor dining kept them afloat and now that that's over, the next three to five months look to be the toughest stretch yet.
"We are obviously very concerned about what that looks like for the industry as we see rising cases in all the states around us and to some degree, in New Hampshire. There's a great deal of concern there will be further restrictions," Mike Somers, CEO and president of the NHLRA, said.
"I can tell you, for example, the Grappone Conference Center in 2019, we did just under $3.5 million in business. This next year, we're projecting to do $600,000 total," Steve Duprey, of Duprey Companies, said.
Shaheen said the team that negotiated the PPP plans to meet on Wednesday of next week.
