Local businesses prepare for Notre Dame's Blue-Gold game

SOUTH BEND, Ind.- As the Fighting Irish prepare to take on themselves for the Blue-Gold Game. Businesses in Michiana are preparing to welcome fans into their establishments once again.

Management at the Inn at St. Mary’s tells ABC57 the hotel is ready to welcome the influx of people coming into South Bend this weekend to watch the scrimmage game, and revenue sales have already broken records.

“We have had a couple of sold-out weekends already this year. And actually, two record-breaking months for the Inn at St. Mary’s both March and April are going to break all-time records. So, we’re prepared for it, we’re excited for it,” Noor Hadzimesic, the Associate Director of Sales at the Inn at St. Mary’s said.

Hadzimesic mentioned the hotel is fully booked, all 250 rooms, for the next couple of weeks both at the inn and at its sister property, the Hilton Garden Inn, next door.

And with the nationwide staff shortage putting a strain on many hotels across the country, the Associate Director of Sales said she’s not too worried, as the staff is fully capable of handling these sell-out situations. But the biggest challenge has been keeping employees on staff.

“We’re trying to increase rates to try and offset the increase of wages, to keep our associates,” Hadzimesic said.