Ocean City hotels, rentals ‘cautiously optimistic’ for 2024 season

OCEAN CITY, MD. – Hotels and Short-term rentals in Ocean City are gearing up for Memorial Day weekend, but while they are cautiously optimistic, the market may be softening on rental units and hotel room prices.

“We’ve had to discount quite a few things and it seems like we’re down about 20% from where we were last year at least. But again, the bigger properties are booking up pretty well,” said Todd Martinek of Martinek Properties, who manage rentals across Ocean City and Worcester County.

He tells us his best advice for a deal this summer is to be a small group during the week, as weekends and large groups are going quickly ahead of the summer season.

“I think it’s very weather-related. The 4th of July is booked, white marlin is pretty booked and then the weekends are filling up. So if you can fill the weekdays, that’s what I’m saying.  if I can get some people in there for some good discounts on weekdays, it makes a big difference for the owners and for the renters,” he said.

But that surge in reservations is not being reflected in the hotel rooms says OC Hotel Motel Restaurant Association, reporting a drop since 2023, “this season we are cautiously optimistic,” said OCHMRA President Susan Jones.

At the Residence In Marriot, General Manager Keith Weisenant tells WMDT rooms are filling up, especially for Memorial Day and on the weekends, but they feel lucky they are beating the citywide figures.

“We’re probably about 50 to 60% full,” said  Keith Whisenant adding “To be this far ahead, this far in advance, we’re very glad to be that way,” he said.

City-wide the Hotel Motel Restaurant Association says they are seeing a decline with shorter stay times and fewer tourists booking long in advance of their trips.

“I will say that people are looking, they are researching, they are engaging with the website. However, in terms of converting that into bookings, it’s still a little bit too soon to tell, we really have a lot of people who are shopping. So shopping is good, but that’s not yet converted into seasonal, you know, into rentals,” Susan Jones said.