San Diego hotel business tourism still recovering from pandemic

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While this new national report finds that San Diego hotel and business tourism is expected to decline this year, recreational tourism is still going strong here.

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, California – A new nationwide study finds that the COVID-19 pandemic is still affecting the San Diego hotel industry, especially when it comes to business tourism.

This American Hotel and Lodging Association report predicts a more than 75% drop in sales in this space.

While this new national report states that hotel business tourism is expected here in San Diego and across the country this year compared to 2019, other studies show that San Diego is performing better than expected in recreational tourism.

“It’s in and out … hit or miss,” said Elias Bäumeni, manager of Gaslamp BBQ on Island Avenue in the Gaslamp Quarter, “but business is slowly but surely coming back.”

Moroci said business tourists are returning but not the same as pre-pandemic levels.

“Tourism is there, but not as much as in 2019,” he added.

A new report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association confirms this assessment.

It turns out that most business travelers are either canceling or postponing trips due to ongoing concerns about COVID-19, and it predicts that San Diego hotel business travel revenue will decline 75% this year compared to 2019.

According to the study, that’s an estimated $ 1.2 billion loss in business travel revenue in San Diego.

Nationwide, California hotel losses are estimated at $ 9.8 billion, while nationwide business travel revenue is down more than $ 59 billion compared to 2019. That prediction comes after hotels across the country lost $ 49 billion last year.

While hotel business travel revenue is expected to decline this year, San Diego is still one of the top three vacation travel destinations in the country and number one in the western region, according to the San Diego Tourism Marketing District.

“I definitely think it will get back to normal,” said tourist Crystal Dusinski.

She and her husband Jason are visiting San Diego this weekend for business and pleasure. For them, traveling feels safe, from the airport to their hotel’s COVID logs.

“Extra cleaning … you can really smell the Lysol,” said Jason, “really spray everything down.”

“I think everyone does their part to make everyone feel good,” added Crystal.

Companies like Gaslamp BBQ hope this translates into even better business over the next year.

Elias Morocco says he is optimistic.

“If it’s not 100%, we should be close to 80 or 90%,” Moroci told News 8.

This new national report also predicts that overall business travel will not hit pre-pandemic levels before 2024.

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