GALVESTON, Texas -- It may not feel like spring, but Galveston Island is already waiting for its first wave of spring break visitors to arrive this weekend.
This spring break is a big change from last year, when Hurricane Ike overshadowed the vacation season.
Toni Vacker said she has been busy renting condos to visitors. Her company, Gulf Coast Concierge, oversees about 150 rental units on the island.
Last year, at this time, Vacker said she was catering mostly to families displaced by Hurricane Ike. This year, she’s got a much different story to tell, with about 90 percent of her units booked through spring break.
"It’s coming back. It’s strong. It’s stronger than ever. And, I’m real excited to see that, considering, you know what happened the past couple of years," said Vacker.
This week, the Galveston Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a $75,000 ad campaign, hoping to bring back vacationers it lost because of Hurricane Ike.
Hotels, like the Tremont House, hope it works.
The Tremont was one of several hotels still closed during spring break last year.
This year, it’s steadily filling rooms.
Its goal has been simply to let people know it’s open again.
The busiest week of spring break begins next Saturday, when most schools in the Houston area take their vacation.
