Local Hotels Offer 'Carmageddon 2' Deals

CREATED Sep. 28, 2012

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  • Palm Springs hotels are trying to cash in on LA's possible Carmageddon crisis. And they are hoping this is the start to their best season in over half a decade. Video by kmir6.com

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Palm Springs hotels are trying to cash in on LA's possible Carmageddon crisis.
And they are hoping this is the start to their best season in over half a decade.

Erin is soaking up the sun with her friend for their birthdays, but escaping Carmageddon 2 is a big bonus.
"We're really excited to just not be around all that this weekend, and just kind of avoid the madness," said Erin Haight, a Burbank resident.
And the Saguaro Palm Springs is one of many hotels hooking people up with deals.
"Carmageddon we think is a great opportunity for Angelinos to escape LA while the ten mile strip of the 405 is closed," said Saguaro Palm Springs general manager, David Curell.
They have Carmageddon 2 special rates this week, and entertainment including poolside djs.
"We've had really good response, I would say about 50 percent of our bookings are through that promotion," said Curell.
The Aloha Hotel says they are getting a lot of response from their ad to escape the possible freeway chaos in LA.
"We hope that everybody comes and gets a room at the Aloha Hotel Palm Springs, we're offering a great rate, 40.50 per night," said Aloha Hotel Palm Springs owner, Mona Verlengia.
The Hilton Palm Springs is expecting busy weekends ahead.
The first convention of the season is here this weekend, and in October, the largest convention ever is coming to town -- the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
"In fact the majority of hotels over that period of time are completely booked, they are taking a total of 7,500 room nights in our town," said Hilton Palm Springs general manager, Aftab Dada, who is also the chairman of PS Resorts.
So with big conventions on the way, there's plenty of promise for Palm Spring's fall season.
"We are looking for a great fall season, probably the best season October, November December since 2007," said Haight.
And Erin told us why she keeps coming back to visit Palm Springs.
"It's a good place to just hang out by the pool, and read, and have breakfast, and eat good food."
So this might be the first weekend we see more folks fleeing LA for the desert, but hoteliers said large conventions and new flights at the airport will keep this season sizzling.