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**optormtix** · 07-28-2010, 05:05 AM

Obviously, Fox News wants to paint a different picture, but the hotel business in Arizona is hardly thriving. The Arizona Republic reports that the gains being touted this year are compared to 2009, which was a devastating year for the Arizona hotel industry, with record-low occupancy rates. Compared to most years, this year would be a painful one.

The Republic also notes that most of the convention and conference business that has pulled out of Arizona in reaction to the law will not affect this year's business cycle, as those events are typically booked two years in advance with little flexibility for changes because of the size of the events. Conferences and conventions are indeed cancelling at a significant rate, but those cancellations will play out in 2011 and 2012.

Link: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...w-tourism.html

Most of the groups had no choice but to come this summer and fall because the last-minute cancellation fees "would have probably put a lot of these associations in a very difficult situation," said Leo Percopo, general manager of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.
For 2011, the Sheraton's lost business currently stands at just under $2.5 million, he said. From 2012-14, the total is between $4 million and $5 million. All had been on the verge of signing contracts.

"You're not going to start to see the impact, in my opinion, until the mid- to late first quarter of 2011," Percopo said.

07-28-2010, 05:05 AM	#3
optormtix Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 485 Senior Member	Obviously, Fox News wants to paint a different picture, but the hotel business in Arizona is hardly thriving. The Arizona Republic reports that the gains being touted this year are compared to 2009, which was a devastating year for the Arizona hotel industry, with record-low occupancy rates. Compared to most years, this year would be a painful one. The Republic also notes that most of the convention and conference business that has pulled out of Arizona in reaction to the law will not affect this year's business cycle, as those events are typically booked two years in advance with little flexibility for changes because of the size of the events. Conferences and conventions are indeed cancelling at a significant rate, but those cancellations will play out in 2011 and 2012. Link: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepu...w-tourism.html Most of the groups had no choice but to come this summer and fall because the last-minute cancellation fees "would have probably put a lot of these associations in a very difficult situation," said Leo Percopo, general manager of the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel. For 2011, the Sheraton's lost business currently stands at just under $2.5 million, he said. From 2012-14, the total is between $4 million and $5 million. All had been on the verge of signing contracts. "You're not going to start to see the impact, in my opinion, until the mid- to late first quarter of 2011," Percopo said.
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