When I first came up with the idea to blog about the effect of military presence on local businesses, the same story kept popping into my head. I used to be in the military and where I was stationed, there were at least 5 military bases within 20 miles of each other. When I would travel home to visit, an area in which there is little military, my mother would always say, "Let's use your military discount!" So off we went to utilize a discount program put into place by the local businesses to bring in additional customers. However, when she would come to visit me she would say, "Let's use your military discount!" At this point I would always laugh, because where I was stationed, no business was crazy enough to offer a military discount. If they had, they would probably all have gone bankrupt!
So this is what I am referring to, in a sense, when I talk about the effect of military presence on local businesses. Throughout the course of this blog, I will delve into the ups and the downs of having military around. Most would say, "Well, having military around increases the population of an area and so, by proxy, should increase the revenue for the businesses in that area, right?" One would think. But this is unfortunately not always the case.
As an icebreaker, or introduction to the topic, I have included a link to an article, which talks about the fierce opposition brought against a hotel that is supposed to be built in Fort Lee. I feel this article really shows the underlying concerns that most people don't realize arise when an area is swarmed with military presence. Even though the hotel is going to be built to house and support the military at Fort Lee, it really is shocking to hear what the local businesses have to say about it.
So I encourage you to read the article above, then leave a comment with your opinion about how the military, or lack thereof, in your area, either harms or helps the local businesses. Next time, I will try to find a more uplifting story, but I am not making any promises. So for now, all I ask is that you take the time to ponder the question at hand... Its all good... Or is it?
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The problem is that the local hotel's outcry is misplaced. If 70% of their rooms are vacant already, then they are the ones responsible for the market saturation. They are missing a key concept though. The Army is looking to house trainees (according to the article). Frequently these trainees are lower ranking and end up being required to stay on post, hence the need for a larger number of rooms available ON POST. The Army isn't going to adjust it's standards for billeting for lower ranking trainees and the local hotels have no way of filling that role on post. The Army nor the soldiers really has a say in whether they stay on base, it's mandated by regulation.
ReplyDeleteI think you slightly grazed another point; businesses in close proximity to military bases are usual pretty lazy from a marketing perspective. Being close means they usually charge higher rates and offer less amenities. The farther ones, even if they're the next town over, soak up the business because they're willing to put forth the effort to attract the business, not just "lay there" and expect the base population to patronize them.
Also, off base hotels frequently do not have a built in Dining Facility or affordable eatery. The billeting on post will give soldiers access to the DFAC, which is something they already pay for through the forfeiture of their Basic Allowance for Sustenance (BAS). Access to post facilities is a must for soldiers in training.
ReplyDeleteI think you make a lot of great points Josh. I will look forward to reading your comments on my future posts. Thanks for taking the time to read!
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