It's time, people! It's time to warm up, thaw out, and sunburn ourselves as we wish. It's time for over-indulging on frosty drinks and grilled food. It's time for shedding clothes and getting your groove on.
It's time for Spring break!
Alberto Pomares | E+ | Getty Images
While filling a shopping cart with Banana Boat oil, aloe and condoms at a Manhattan Duane Reade (true story), Wall Street associate Madison Whitman eagerly said, "I've had it with this paralyzing weather. I'm headed to a warm, sunny beach in Florida and nobody is stopping me!"
(Read more: Warm weather travel spikes as ice, snow return)
Madison isn't alone. According to Visit Florida, the state's tourism-marketing machine, the Sunshine State welcomed a record 26.3 million out-of-state visitors during spring break 2013, representing a 36-percent increase from the 19.4 million visitors it had in 2000.
And they're anticipating another record-breaking season this year, said Paul Phipps, chief marketing officer for Visit Florida.
"This is going to be a very good year for spring break because of the weather that the Northeast has experienced for several months. There's pent-up demand, and it's the opportunity to go south and have a good time," said Phipps.
(Read more:Spring break escapes for grown-ups)
Oh, that nasty polar vortex. Frozen Americans are willing to push aside their fiscal woes and tell Mother Nature to take a hike, as billions of traveling dollars are expected to change hands between now and Easter.
For instance, South Florida's Broward County (which is Madison Whitman's spring break destination) is planning to host more than 1.2 million travelers, who are expected to spend more than $1.15 billion, according to the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau. As Ms. Whitman gleefully stated, "I have no budget for this trip, and still plan on exceeding it."
And, all those dollars result in healthy bottom lines for many travel and leisure companies. Powerhouse organizations like Hyatt, Marriott, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines are expecting a windfall of cash over the next five-week period, and Wall Street has already taken notice.
Year-to-date, the stocks of those four companies have returned an average of just over 17 percent, including an average gain of 9.63 percent over the prior one-month rolling period. And the good times don't appear to be ending soon.
(Read more: Phone calls on planes? Your last chance to comment)
The secret sauce of hotel analysis is the infamous "revenue-per-available room' metric," and Hyatt and Marriott are publishing eye-popping data. In its latest earnings report, Hyatt had an increase of 7 percent in U.S. full-service hotels opened at least one year, and Marriott reported a 4.7-percent increase. And with most hotel properties nearly filled or fully booked for Marriott and Hyatt in sunny Florida, it's safe to say both companies will be seeing what I would call a "spring break premium."
In addition, increased demand with less supply can mean only one thing for Hyatt and Marriott: Higher room rates. Both companies are reporting increases of 3.5 percent, on average, in their preceding quarters; and these numbers are only expected to pop for properties in southern traveling cities.
The news is even better for the airlines: Airfares are expected to increase an average of 35 percent for flights to Spring Break destinations, resulting in billions to the bottom lines of companies like Delta and Southwest.
I would be amiss, too, if I didn't mention those lovely airline fees. 15 U.S. airlines reported revenues of $2.6 billion from baggage fees and $2.1 billion from reservation-change fees during the first three months last year, according to the Department of Transportation.
Fees, fares, hotels, meals all equate to profits, which equates to shareholder value. Wall Street is ready for an econothaw, and spring breakers seem to be the group to help get the party started!
— By Todd M. Schoenberger
Todd M. Schoenberger is the managing partner of hedge-fund firm LandColt Capital LP, and serves as Portfolio Manager of the LandColt Onshore and Offshore Funds. Follow him on Twitter @TMSchoenberger.