New York – With three weeks to the start of Pesach (eve of March 29th), Jewish newspapers still featured advertising for one of the many programs all over the US. Sources say that an estimated 20,000 vacationers will spend the holidays in major hotels. But they also point out that there will be 1,500 fewer rooms than last year, namely as a result of the shutdown of five programs, three by the Smilow family. Guests who booked at some of these programs have scrambled to re-book in other programs.
One food distributor said that he believed that the programs were 20% ahead of last year when the recession first impacted the programs.
“It is really a consolidation that will in the end have more guests and less empty rooms,” he said. In other words, he points out, the operators will have less empty rooms.
There appeared to be some last minute bargains as several of the programs dropped prices in an attempt to fill their remaining rooms. The program operators had become accustomed to the last-minute bargain hunters who trade in the lower prices for some of the less desirable rooms.
Yitzchok Neger who operates a major program in Lancaster PA will have more than 1,100 guests in what he calls the “Wal-Mart model,” offering prices at around $1600 per person. He and several other operators who are also in that price range hope that volume will allow them to turn a profit even at the lower prices. Even some of the most successful programs still have 30-35 rooms to fill.
(Source: KosherToday)
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8 Responses
It’s about time that people stop identifying Pesach with luxury vacations. What happened to the simple life at home: chicken, mashed potatoes and a gezunte slice of pesach cake?
20,000 people and each one spending a minumum of 2,000 each.
And this they have money for but not tuition?
we can solve many problems over night if people would spend money wisely and budget themselves. i find it hard to believe that all 20,000 people can afford this.
and please don’t tell us that 15,000 are rich shvers taking out their kids for a fancy vacation.
Totally agree. Some schools are even asking, when you sign up your kid in a school if you go to a Hotel on Pesach. If you do then you can afford to pay full tuition. This whole thing is ridiculous. I would never spend so much money on a hotel stay and food etc. Waste of money.
To #1 , don’t be easy to condemn others for doing this. Some people are under medical care and davka want to go to a place where they won’t meet people they know. Some people who tell you they are going to a family member in another city or country are actually going to a hotel. Not because it’s their minhag but they have been told to go away. Chas V’Shalom you should be in the shoes of someone too weak to clean or prepare even a basic dish as mashed potatoes!
And to #2 some people are going with money that was collected for them. People donated willingly!!
Fargin and always be dan l’chaf zechus!
# 4 Please get real. Most are going to have a good time and don’t want to make yopm tov. From your second comment I realize you are being sarcastic.
Remember that the kashrus is more reliable at home.
Maybe Tomchei Shabbos should contribute The $2000+ for each guest that can’t afford the Pesach hotels!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#5 i am unfortunately too real and not sarcastic!
Did you take a survey to prove the most?
A lot of people who may go for a good time can’t handle the pressures mentally.
What people do with their money is their business.
And again, fargin and don’t jump to conclusions.
About the schools and tuition…look at the cars and homes some of the so called administrators drive. Look how they fly when they do.
They cream off the top and then say can’t pay the teachers. Let them pay the teachers first and get rid of too many machers!!