FORT MYERS, Fla.-- As people keep an eye on Hurricane Matthew's path, hotels in Fort Myers are preparing for an influx of visitors from the east coast of Florida. On Tuesday, staff from various hotels in the area said they are working around the clock to make sure rooms are clean and supplies is available for the potential thousands of evacuees looking for a place to stay.
"Yea, this morning I have been getting phone calls about the rates," said front desk manager Elsie Rodriguez.
The staff at the Super 8 in Ft.Myers said the amount of phone calls they've received is comparable to in-season. But just a few miles down the road at the Candlewood Suites, manager Micheline Lobdell said it's a totally different story.
"We started getting phone calls today, however we've been sold out for 2 weeks now," said Lobdell.
According to Lobdell, a Harley Davidson and Perfect Game event this weekend in Ft. Myers has the hotel at capacity. The hotel has been trying to recommend other nearby hotels but said it's proving difficult as callers tell them they are already running out of options.
"Unfortunately pretty much this whole area is sold out for those 2 events so it's been hard on everybody," said Lobdell.
However, as of Tuesday afternoon the Super 8 said they are still booking rooms.
"I hope everything goes well, but if they are worried about the storm coming and they need a room here we have plenty of rooms," said Rodriguez.
