As summer ends and Labor Day a distant memory, the usual trend for tourists at such summer destinations as Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket is to stay home, or head south. But as the next big three-day weekend approaches, Columbus Day, hotels like the Sea Crest Beach Hotel in North Falmouth, the harbor View Hotel and the Kelley House in Edgartown, are reporting the best business they have seen in years. Robin Kirk, the president of Scout Hotels which operates the above mentioned properties, says that advanced reservations are up by between 15 and 20 percent over last year’s autumn bookings.

Paul Zuest, general manager of Chatham Bars Inn agrees. Not only are bookings up for Columbus Day weekend. Zuest says that reservations for the end of October and even November are improved over last year. Mark Snider of Winnetu Oceanside Resort on Martha’s Vineyard concurs, explaining that almost all of his 60 suites are booked for each weekend until October 21st.

Business leaders from the Cape and Islands attribute the good business to several factors, including the ease of finding off-season travel deals on the internet; the promotion by the local chambers of commerce of local cultural points such as art galleries, theater and festivals; and the moderate weather keeping people happy with a few more beach days before the cold and wintery weather really sets in.

Bill Zammer runs two hotels including the Coonamessett Inn and four restaurants and is the owner of the Cape Cod Restaurants Group. In his opinion the lengthening of this year’s tourist season is a sign of an improving economy.

“There are still people who are employed and who do want to take a break,” Zammer said. “It used to be the last one across the bridge shut off the lights on Labor Day.”