Visit Bend, Bend businesses are expecting to see an increase in customers for spring break

(Update: Adding video, comments from Visit Bend, Wild Flowers of Oregon)

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Winter in Central Oregon is typically a slower season for tourism (except on the slopes). Now, with warmer weather here and spring break on the way, businesses are excited for more customers. 

"January was pretty rough for industries, with all of the weather-related impacts," Nate Wyeth, Visit Bend's vice president of marketing and communications, said Monday. "Folks had to cancel their trips or delay them," due to the severe storms.

Winter was a difficult time for businesses. Now that the snow has melted, and the sun is out. More people are starting to venture outside and visit Central Oregon. 

Wyeth said, "Hotel occupancy numbers generally hover between 50 and 60% during spring break, but we normally see about a 5 to 10% increase during those spring break weeks."

Spending more time in the sun also means many businesses will benefit from spring break tourism.

Wild Flowers of Oregon's Owner and Lead Design, Sarah Swartz, told us about how spring break will help her business.

"With the sun being out, it's definitely picking up already, which is really nice," Swartz said "We have definitely seen an increase in foot traffic."

At Wild Flowers of Oregon, the business is seeing around 15 to 20 people a day, as well as an increase in calls. The business will be expecting 14,000 tulips, as well as peonies on the way. 

"It's really awesome to be able to share our passion, which is flowers, plants with anybody who -- you know, we get tons of people that know a ton about plants and and flowers, and then we get to educate people every day," Swartz said.

The University of Oregon's spring break starts on Saturday, and OSU-Cascades and COCC's starts next Monday.