SAN DIEGO (KGTV) – The San Diego Tourism Authority’s most up-to-date report on forecasting lodge occupancy is elevating some eyebrows in a great way.
“To have the ability to do the numbers that we did this summer time, it was extraordinarily, pleasantly stunned,” Julie Coker, President & CEO of San Diego Tourism Authority, stated.
That shock for Coker is the summer time 2021 lodge occupancy figures being on par with pre-pandemic figures.
“This previous summer time, we have been seeing 2019 numbers. So, there have been weeks in July and August that our numbers exceeded what numbers we have been in a position to obtain in 2019,” Coker stated.
Whereas figures as an entire are nonetheless under pre-COVID exercise, the company is saying that the journey sector for the area is in the midst of a powerful restoration in the course of the pandemic as that hole closes.
“The entire surveys that we present by way of traveler’s sentiment is a larger stage of confidence based mostly on vaccination charges,” Coker stated.
“So, the truth that San Diego was in a position to do such an awesome job with getting as much as over 80 % undoubtedly helped.”
Different issues like advertising and San Diego being a high vacation spot helped lots too.
The hope is that this restoration will roll into 2022 with having extra confidence from worldwide vacationers, attendance at conventions and getting extra of the conventions themselves serving to San Diego’s journey sector.
“I feel what we thrive on is the conference enterprise,” Rick Bates, Analysis Analyst Unite Right here Native 30, stated.
One thing native hospitality union members agree will assist additionally deliver the workforce again to pre-pandemic ranges.
“That’s the place the cash actually flows into the resorts and conference facilities,” Bates stated.
“I don’t assume we’re going to have employers deliver everyone again immediately till that beings to essentially occur.”
Corker informed ABC 10News that an entire calendar 12 months of pre-pandemic ranges for the journey sector could not occur till a minimum of 2023.
However, exhibiting how robust 2022 might be may hinge on how the vacation season shapes out.
“If we don’t see the rise in hospitalization circumstances, then I do assume 2022 will likely be a greater 12 months for enterprise journey,” Coker stated.
“I additionally assume that ship a sign to conferences and conventions that it’s time to come back again in particular person.”
The tourism authority additionally credit the success of different main occasions just like the U.S. Open, Breeders’ Cup and marathons being carried out safely encourages vacationers to come back right here and assist with the restoration.
