Merchants rake it in for five days

Lolita Harper

They make their reservation lists and check them twice; making sure

each customer gets a great view -- for a price.

Area business officials have been planning for the 95th annual

Newport Harbor Boat parade for months now, knowing that the

nationally renowned event means additional business -- which means

additional profit. Yacht charters, catering companies and restaurants

arguably benefit the most, and representatives of each agree: the

five days of the boat parade require more planning, more manpower and

more trips to the bank.

“Oh, it’s crazy,” said Beverly Smith, an event planner at Pacific

Avalon Charters in Newport Beach. “We started booking for this time

of year well in advance -- like last year. We’re already booking

people now for next year.”

Pacific Avalon Charters has three vessels dedicated to the boat

parade each night that it runs, she said, offering full service event

packages for company parties and the like. The employees of the

company, including food servers, bartenders, cooks and party

organizers, have their hands full in December but manage to get

through, she said.

“We just work our people to death,” she joked. “But nobody seems

to mind the extra money.”

Plus, there is the added incentive of having an up-close view of

one of the most celebrated holiday traditions in the country, she

added.

“It is just a beautiful way to see the parade. It is gorgeous.”

Kathy Leek, a spokeswoman for Adventures at Sea Yacht Charters,

agreed that the best way to catch the floating parade is on the

water.

“Everybody wants some sort of vessel for the boat parade,” Leek

said. “People are just clamoring.”

While it may seem tough to be on the booking end, managers in town

said their scheduling practices and organizational skills must be

finely tuned to ready themselves for the boat parade.

Adventures at Sea recognized that it was not only big

party-planners that wanted to sail alongside the boat parade

participants but couples and singles as well. Rather than turn away

couples and single people who wanted to party on a yacht, they

created a dessert tour on the last night of the parade -- tonight --

for anyone interested who has $75.

“This way, everyone can enjoy the parade in the best possible

way,” Leek said. “And it’s a lot of fun.

Those at Villa Nova restaurant have also had to adapt to little

hurdles the boat parade might throw in their way. The Coast Highway

restaurant is always a hotspot for people to come, stay out of the

cold, have a nice meal -- maybe a cocktail -- and watch all the

pretty boats go by, manager Susan Emmett said. It was sold out long

before the parade began. But the restaurant is wildly popular

year-round, and has the luxury of having very loyal and consistent

regulars.

“It is a juggling act, because the seating for the parade is at

such a premium and we start taking reservations so far in advance,”

Emmett said. “Then about 5 p.m., we’ll get our regular Saturday folks

who come in looking for their same table, in their section, with

their favorite server, and I have to turn them away. We’ve had some

heart-breakers, like anniversaries and stuff.”

Most of the regulars are forgiving and realize their favorite

restaurant must capitalize on a money-making business venture, she

said.

“That’s the great thing about our customers,” Emmett said. “They

really do love us.”

And the business for the boat parade is wonderful, she said,

adding that it is far better to have it than not. The Villa Nova

opposed decreasing the number of nights of the parade because it was

so good for business.

“But if it makes a better parade, then of course, we understand,”

Emmett said. “The parade is really what it is all about, anyways.”

Bill Crowell, the manager at Newport Landing Restaurant, which

overlooks the Balboa Fun Zone, echoed the sentiments of his industry

colleagues.

“This week has been really strong,” Crowell said. “It is our

heaviest week of the year and even stronger than last year.”

In 2002, Newport Landing took in about $75,000 during the five

days of the boat parade, he said. This year, they are looking at

about $95,000, he said.

The restaurant also has its hands full with catering orders. While

the company does not send its employees aboard the vessels, they do

offer party packages, Crowell said. Appetizer trays are the big

thing, he said.

“Our kitchen has done a great job keeping up with the demand,”

Crowell said, adding that all the employees really rally around this

time of the year. “There is kind of a countdown to the end; we all

get a little tired. We love it, but we are glad when it is over.”

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Wednesdays and Fridays. She may be

reached at (949) 574-4275 or by e-mail at [email protected].