CareerBuilder Challenge boosting foot traffic to local businesses
The CareerBuilder Challenge is kicking off Thursday and some local businesses are looking forward to a boost in foot traffic thanks to the tournament.
Businesses in La Quinta and Indio will be looking to putt for dough, as one of the desert’s premier golf tournament begins play. At the Roger Dunn Golf Shops location in Indio, staff say they’re expecting more customers than usual thanks to the CareerBuilder Challenge.
“People are coming in locally obviously because the tournament’s right down the street so we get some extra action, so it’s been good,” Channing Benjamin, general manager of the golf store, said.
He says they get an about 20 to 30 percent more people coming in to the store over the four days. Some of them, PGA TOUR players for equipment repairs.
“We really look forward to the tour coming here every year. There’s an excitement that we don’t get typically.”
Benjamin said on tournament days, it’s not the golf equipment that gets bought the most but actually these walking chairs.
“I guess you go out there and you got to sit down a little bit.”
An estimated 50,000 attended the CareerBuilder Challenge last year, according to tournament officials. Hotels like The Chateau at Lake La Quinta will have rooms fully booked during the tournament. Management there says they get about a 10 to 15 percent increase in foot traffic making it very busy.
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“Being a small boutique hotel in La Quinta, it’s always hands on deck,” Chris Cline, general manager of the hotel, said.
Cline says he anticipates a crowded restaurant and looks forward to the golf tournament every year.
“It’s just a fantastic way to shine a light on the city of La Quinta and all of its different businesses.”
A light these businesses say is bringing them many potential customers.
