Drawing thousands to Selma annually, the Bridge Crossing Jubilee continues to be an immense success. Set for the first weekend in March, area hotels and event organizers have been preparing months in advance for the 47th commemoration of “Bloody Sunday.”

The St. James Hotel, Holiday Inn Express and Suites and Historic Selma Hotel said their lodging occupancy is “very high” during Jubilee weekend.

“We’ve been booked up for months now … we had a lot of time to prepare,” Holiday Inn general manager Natasha Davis said. “We’re making sure we have staff members to adhere to guests’ needs, making sure we’re having the best quality (and) making sure our inventory — from guest room amenities to breakfast, are taken care of. We’re making sure we have all we need.”

Extra inspection and regular maintenance have been routine for the Historic Selma Hotel staff, recently.

“We’re making sure everything’s okay,” said front desk manager Lula Wood. “We’re pretty much booked; we’re cleaning up, brushing up … we’re getting ready for them (the people).”

Stephanie Scott of the St. James Hotel said rooms for the Jubilee are currently full.

“We have 42 rooms total (and) we’re overbooked by five rooms,” Scott said. “We (also) have 70 people on the waiting list.”