Leisure/hospitality sector picking up

Pasadena Star News 
By: Cynthia Kurtz
Posted 5/15/2013  

When the temperature hits 100 degrees, we all start thinking about vacation - where to go and what to do. Being a tourist is great fun. 

Tourism also provides a big boost to the local economy. It is an industry that brings dollars into a city and region and creates jobs without being a big drain on local services. Yes, a big event requires extra police and fire but most large events cover those costs not the local budget.  

When the recession hit in 2008, hotel and tourist spending took a huge plunge. With dwindling discretionary dollars, families decided to travel less and recreate closer to home. The "staycation" was invented. Conferences and travel were the first line items to get axed from business budgets. But recent economic studies show that individuals and businesses “can’t wait to get back on the road" again. That is good news for the San Gabriel Valley.

Half of the new jobs created in the San Gabriel Valley in 2011-2012 were in the leisure and hospitality sector - 3,000 new jobs. Retail trade, which also benefits from tourist spending, was second adding 1,800 positions.

Last week the Pasadena Center Operating Company (PCOC) released a report that demonstrated how important tourism is to our local city economies. PCOC oversees Pasadena's conference center, visitors’ bureau and historic auditorium. They hired an independent hospitality consulting company (PKF Consulting) to look at the economic impact from overnight visitors.  

PCOC was interested in whether tourism was rebounding and if their expanded convention center which opened in 2009 was having a positive economic impact. The answer to both questions is a resounding yes.

PFK Consulting found that in Pasadena between 2009 and 2012, occupied hotel and motel room nights jumped by 15.5 percent, number of nights out of town guests stayed in private homes grew by almost 10 percent, and total visitors days increased by just under 13 percent.

Translating those visits into dollars and cents creates some big numbers. Direct visitor spending in 2011 equaled $365.7 million. The total economic impact of tourism to the City of Pasadena is estimated to have been $475 million.

Congratulations Pasadena and PCOC. Keep up the good work.

With summer almost here and everyone thinking about fun and vacations, you can find out what is happening at the Pasadena Convention Center and venues around the San Gabriel Valley by logging onto www.DiscoverSGV.com. The calendar will guide you to the best of the best activities for you, your family, and your out of town guests.  And you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are helping the local economy.