Hotels in Fargo-Moorhead, North Dakota hit hard as pandemic losses lead to closings
At least seven of the metro area s 60-plus hotels are now closed, but tourism officials say there s hope on the horizon for the rest of the year as the coronavirus pandemic is brought under control. Written By: Helmut Schmidt | ×
The Kelly Inn located at 4207 13th Ave. S. in Fargo is closed and is slated to be torn down. David Samson / The Forum
FARGO The hotel industry has been hard-hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and Fargo-Moorhead and North Dakota have not been spared.
At least seven hotels in the metro area are closed at this time, most of them victims of bottom lines that went into the red as people started hunkering down a year ago.
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Patel said he took part in the Paycheck Protection Program and has taken out disaster loans, which he’ll have to pay back.
A water tank had to be repaired, and the hotel is undergoing renovations even as it serves its guests.
Business has been slow, but it is picking up a bit as spring arrives, he said.
“Very much a hard time,” Patel said.
Other hotels in the metro area are in the same straits, some with parking lots so empty that if you didn’t try the door, you couldn’t be sure if they were open.
At least seven of the 60-plus hotels in the metro area were at least temporarily closed as of April 5-6, several of which had signs saying that COVID was the cause: