The annual State Games of Mississippi has long been a boon for area hoteliers. One certainty is when the State Games on the horizon, local hotel rooms are gone, gone, gone.

The spin-off spending helps other businesses, too, restaurants, gas stations and retail stores, and the public treasury from the subsequent taxes.

An economic impact study is done after every five years. The 2016 study will be completed sometime in August, however, the 2011 impact study showed the State Games visitors left approximately $6.5 million.

Meridian Tourism Director Dede Mogollon said the State Games has been a bonanza for the area.

“Our hotels have sold out every year during the State Games,” Mogollon said. “We’ve got a lot more hotels than previous years. People used to have to stay in Forest and Philadelphia,” Mogollon said. “The State Games has also done a better job at putting different sports on different weekends.”

Meridian has about 2,000 hotel rooms and occupancy hit 100 percent during the opening ceremonies of the State Games. The games began May 21 and concluded with the swimming competition on July 13. Hotel managers reported their properties were booked solid for most weekend events and visitors often book reservations a year in advance.

The 2016 State Games had more than 5,500 participants for the 25th edition, according to Krilecia Gianakos, the organization’s director of marketing and development. An estimated crowd of 8,000 attended the opening ceremonies downtown.

Mogollon said summer business appears to be going well for the city.

“Summer has been wonderful,” she said. “We’ve seen a huge request from families for family reunions and individual travelers coming and spending the night. We’re capitalizing at more people coming off the interstates. It’s estimated 41,000 cars pass through on Interstate 59 and 20 each day.”

Mogollon said the city’s effort to attract visitors through social media is reaping dividends.

“We’re taking advantage of social media marketing as much as we can and continuing to bring in more visitors,” Mogollon said.

Drury Inn is Meridian’s largest hotel with 180 rooms. General Manager Randall Sims said his property was mostly filled during the opening weekend of State Games.

“We were at 100 percent for Friday for the opening weekend,” Sims said. “That Saturday, we were at 90 percent occupancy.”

Country Inn & Suites, located at 538 Bonita Lakes Drive, has 64 rooms. Manager Candace McAfferty said the hotel stayed busy during State Games.

“We have groups of people coming in with the State Games months prior. On those weekends of the State Games, we do tend to sell out and have people calling us to see if any rooms are available,” McAfferty said.

“On one weekend, we had three groups come in and took 50 percent of the rooms,” McAfferty said. “Many other guests were with the State Games. Most of the rooms were booked months prior. The State Games brings in a whole lot of people. Events like that bring people in here from all over the state.”

There’s potential for growth, too. The city confirmed this week that an upscale hotel is planned on the site of the old Crescent City Grill, 519 Azalea Drive, near Bonita Lakes. That hotel would be at least the third hotel in the planning stages in Meridian. A Home2 Suites is being built near the IHOP and Holiday Inn and developers are working to renovate The Threefoot Building and transform it into a Courtyard by Marriott.

“We’re usually booked a year in advance of the games,” Comfort Inn manager Toya Dockery said. “The State Games bring in a lot of revenue to Meridian, not only for the hoteliers, but restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores. We wish the State Games could be year round.”