Businesses in downtown Phoenix are hoping for a recovery in 2022 from the pandemic
Downtown Phoenix relies on business travelers to go to conventions, fill hotels, and eat in restaurants – however, COVID-19 has put a heavy toll on business. There was excitement about getting back to normal earlier this summer, but instead, companies are seeing more cancellations.
PHOENIX – Downtown Phoenix relies on business travelers going to conventions, filling hotels and eating in restaurants – but COVID-19 continued to put a significant damper on business as a rebound was expected.
There was excitement about getting back to normal earlier this summer, but instead, companies are seeing more cancellations.
Business leaders in the state have learned that things can change quickly during a pandemic. While hopes of an almost complete return of business travelers have been high this summer, cancellations are on the rise.
Jerry Harper of the Phoenix Convention Center says, “The rise in these cancellations coincided with the rise of the Delta variant, as I’m sure you can understand.”
With six cancellations by the congress center, there are only 32 congresses this year. They hit an average of 68 in 2019 due to the pandemic, then only 19 in 2020.
There is still hope because by 2022 they believe they will have 68 conventions.
“But I think another positive thing is the fact that they want to rebook for the next few years – it really still speaks for the excitement for this destination,” said Harper.
Jeremy Wilhide of the Kimpton Hotel Palomar Phoenix also says he’s hopeful.
“Looking ahead, we believe that next year will be about 60% of what 2019 was,” he said.
50% of hotel occupancy comes from business travelers and had to be canceled as these six events were canceled.
“It harms all of us and the local businesses that depend on it. With more bars and restaurants open today than before the pandemic, this extra support will help them recover as much as we did, ”said Wilhide.
Of those six cancellations at the Phoenix Convention Center, it’s not that they’ll go away, as three have already been rebooked for the next year or beyond.
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