Pretty funny that there's no mention of The Westin, even though they mention it's sister hotel, the W Hoboken which is in HOBOKEN, even though the title of the article says JERSEY CITY economy.

Did Tiger and The Barclays boost local Jersey City economy?
Mixed results, business owners say

by Paul Takahashi/ The Jersey Journal
Sunday September 13, 2009


Did Tiger Woods and The Barclays Golf Tournament rev up local economy? Verdict is mixed, according to local business owners.

The Barclays Golf Tournament brought thousands of visitors to Jersey City last month to watch stars like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson tee off at the Liberty National Golf Course.

But while Hudson County and Jersey City officials had hoped for a hole-in-one for the local economy, businesses are reporting both birdies and bogeys.

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Dan Delavega, owner of Edward's Steakhouse on Marin Boulevard thinks he probably had 20 extra customers as a result of The Barclays Golf Tournament

Hundreds of visitors crashed at area hotels, many of which were at full capacity during the four-day event held Aug. 27 to Aug. 30. The W Hotel in Hoboken, along with the Hyatt Regency and the Courtyard Marriott in Jersey City were at 100 percent capacity every night, hotel officials said.

"It certainly had a great impact," said Deborah Wanko, director of sales at the Courtyard Marriott, which has 187 rooms. "The tournament brought us into the sold-out status. It was fabulous."

But several local restaurants missed out on the tourist bucks.

Edward's Steakhouse at 239 Marin Blvd. in Jersey City offered free wine and an entree for ticket holders, but only two people took advantage of the offer, said owner Dan Delavega. He thinks his restaurant saw only 20 extra customers over the four-day stretch.

"It (the turnout) was a bit disappointing," Delavega said. "It's not the city's fault, since the PGA moved all the parking to Bayonne. But it hurt us...If you park in Bayonne, you're not going to drive to Jersey City to have dinner."

However, Delavega remains supportive of the event, especially since golfers Brian Gay and Davis Love III came to his restaurant.

"It's not a bad thing because the tournament appeared to be a success," he said. "It just would've been nice if we could have seen more business."

Mhairi Robertson, manager of Bistro La Source, 85 Morris St. in Jersey City, said the number of customers coming to her establishment remained flat.She blames soggy weather and the incomparable choices of restaurants just across the Hudson.

"Fans who came over from Manhattan were not hanging out in Jersey City," Robertson said. "But maybe people are now more aware of Jersey City, that it's actually quite a nice place."

Liberty House, a restaurant at 76 Audrey Zapp Drive in Liberty State Park, shared parking with the tournament, and as a result saw a significant boost in bar sales and dinner reservations.
"Sunday was the best day for us," said General Manager John Hanson.

"From walk-ins from the tournament, we had 100 additional dinner reservations... We definitely had an unique location in terms of the Barclays."

Zylos Steakhouse, located within the W Hotel in Hoboken, also had a "surge in business," according to manager Scott Aseltine.

"It (The Barclays) was good for the economy and local business," he said.
Jersey City anticipated a $3 million influx into local businesses as a result of the tournament, said Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy who was "thrilled" with the event.

"The exposure and marketing we got for our city is priceless," Healy said. "You can't put a price on positive coverage we got because of the Barclays." A full analysis of the economic impact of the tournament is being prepared, he said.

Despite two days of rain, The Barclays saw a 35 percent increase in ticket sales compared to last year's event in Paramus, according to Peter Mele, the tournament's executive director.

The tournament also realized a 40 percent increase in attendance from last year, attracting between 20,000 to 25,000 people each day, he said.

"The weather certainly had an effect," Mele said. "Ticket sales would've been higher and we would've had a larger attendance and more walk up business.

"But the intangible aspect is that Jersey City was showcased to the world for four days. Now people know what Jersey City has to offer."