WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, N.C. -- Wrightsville Beach is just one of many North Carolina beaches getting ready for thousands of people to make their way to the sand this Memorial Day weekend.

• One of the busiest holidays for the coast
• $1.3 million in room occupany tax last year
• Staffing increased at hotels and restaurants

It’s one of the busiest holidays for the coast and last year the tourism bureau in Wilmington collected $1.3 million in room occupancy tax during the month of May.

To prepare for Memorial Day, hotels and restaurants say they’re increasing staffing levels and re-stocking inventory.

"We have our staff in place. We also have to get our vendors geared up. Because even things like having enough sheets and toilet paper all count. So we have to get everybody in and all our deliveries in," said Laura Schauer, Summer Sands Hotel.

Wrightsville Beach Ocean Rescue will have lifeguards on the beach from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting this weekend.