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Marco Island Hilton will remain closed until December 1 after fire

Posted at 7:13 PM, Jun 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-06-30 19:13:48-04

The Marco Island Hilton Resort and Spa in Marco Island will remain closed for repairs until at least December 1, after an electrical fire forced the hotel to shut down, according to a press release from a Hilton representative.

"It's going to hurt me for the summer," said Ron Hagerman of Ron's Awesome Everglades Adventures, which guides tourists on jet-skis out of Marco Island to view dolphins and other wildlife.

He said he normally takes out eight people every day in the summer,  but that the closing of the Hilton is hurting his business, much of which comes from Hilton guests.

"I'm not filling up like I would always fill up," Hagerman said. "I used to have people working for me. Now I am the only one."

With 287 rooms being unavailable for another 5 months, Marco Island Chamber of Commerce President Dianna Dohm said Hagerman's business won't be the only one on the island to feel the loss.

"The guests in all of the hotels really use all of our businesses, restaurants and shopping," Dohm said. "So it will have an impact on all of our businesses."

She said the Chamber of Commerce has been referring visitors to other hotels in Marco Island and even in Naples. But she's most concerned about the Hilton's employees.

"The Hilton has wonderful management so I am sure they are taking care of their employees," Dohm said. "But there are a lot of employees involved in 287-room hotel. I just hope they're OK."

Dohm said that despite the setback, the Hilton donated $1,000 to the island's July 4th fireworks fund.

Hagerman said that the temporary closing is just an economic road bump for the island.

"I look forward to the end of all this...the Hilton getting fixed," Hagerman said. "I look forward to the future."