Boston preps for wave of marathon visitors

BOSTON — With an expanded field of runners and the memory of last year’s bombings elevating interest in one of the world’s great races, the 2014 Boston Marathon could bring an unprecedented wave of visitors and an influx of tourism dollars to the area.

Race organizers, in the aftermath of the twin bombings that killed three spectators and injured more than 260 people, expanded the field of runners by 9,000, to nearly 36,000. The majority — more than 21,000 — hail from U.S. states outside New England. Another 5,330 or so will come from more than 70 foreign countries. The rest will come from Massachusetts and surrounding states.

More spectators are also expected to line the 26.2-mile course, which starts west of Boston in Hopkinton and ends downtown on Boylston Street. Some 500,000 spectators typically line the race route; this year, officials estimate the crowds might exceed a million Monday.

Nothing could keep Sarah Stenn, who lives in Sagaponack, N.Y., and finished last year’s marathon about 45 minutes before the bombs detonated, from returning.

“Last year, we all saw the worst of humanity, and it was met by the best of humanity,” said Stenn, who is making the trip with her husband, two daughters and her 87-year-old father. “I’m going back because I want my kids and everyone else to know that this race will continue to stand for all that is good and right in life, and that no person or act will every take that away.”

Patrick Moscaritolo, president of the Greater Boston Convention &Visitors Bureau, expects the marathon will generate more than $175 million in economic activity during about five days. That’s up from previous year projections of $130 million to $140 million.

“This is not a one-day race,” Moscaritolo said. “It’s never been, and I think this year it will be far from that. … For all sorts of reasons, people are coming out, and they want to stand with the runners and make a statement of support.”

Despite the likely economic boon, local businesses are not focused on the bottom line, officials say.

“It’s hard to talk about it in dollars and cents, because people’s lives have been lost,” Moscaritolo said. “The bottom line is that people had promised this race would come back bigger and stronger than ever before, and, by the looks of it, that is going to be the case.”

One clear sign of how busy the Boston area is expected to be this weekend is the pace for hotel bookings. Officials say this year’s demand has been the strongest since perhaps the race’s centennial in 1996.

Moscaritolo estimated earlier this week that the occupancy rate in the 23,000 or so hotel rooms in Boston and Cambridge was at nearly 90 percent. That’s up from about 83 to 84 percent for previous marathons, said Moscaritolo, adding that there are still plenty of options for last minute travelers, with some 27,000 more hotel rooms elsewhere in Greater Boston.

Officials at Marathon Tours &Travel, the official travel agency for the Boston Athletic Association, which organizes the race, say they are working with hotels south and west of the city to help meet demand.

“Most of the time, we’re usually looking at hotels toward the finish line because people want to finish the race and get right back to their room,” said Kelly McLay, the company’s sales and marketing manager. “But this year, we’ve seen an extension to ones along the course route.”

And it’s not just the marathon putting pressure on hotels, said Paul Sacco, of the Massachusetts Lodging Association. This year’s race comes at a busy travel time overall, coinciding with Passover, Easter and spring breaks.

Sheila Prevou, of Leavenworth, Kan., is running her sixth Boston Marathon. She and a friend were coming in Friday and planned to stay through Tuesday.

“You want a day to celebrate, and I think this year that will be especially important to do that,” she said. “Plus, you guys have such great restaurants. We’ll definitely be eating our way through the city.”