The COVID-19 pandemic has put a dent in what was supposed to be a lucrative year for Milwaukee.
It’s been a challenge to navigate a return for The Marcus Corporation, which has seen hotel rooms left empty, and movie theaters closed.
“The one thing we are seeing is business on the weekends,” said CEO Greg Marcus to WTMJ’s John Mercure. “It’s that consumer leisure who wants to get away. A staycation to just get out of the house.”
The Saint Kate Arts Hotel will reopen rooms Nov. 5.
Marcus says he’s hopeful hotel traffic will pick back up in the spring or summer of 2021.
The movie theater business has also been hit hard by the pandemic, but Marcus is optimistic about what lies ahead.
“At the end of the day, actually I’m pretty confident,” he said. “I don’t know about you, but I’ve been watching movies at home and it’s not the same…it just doesn’t compare to watching a movie in a movie theater.”
Marcus anticipates people to be eager to go out and do things when the pandemic subsides.
Click in the player above to hear the complete interview.
