Arizona Immigration Law Killing Tourism, Costing State Millions

AP/Huffington Post - Strong feelings about tough immigration laws are costing Arizona millions according to resort and hotel operators.

Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association chief executive Debbie Johnson says the state has lost about 40 conventions and $15 million so far. And she says that's "a lowball guess."

Johnson says if there's one bright spot, hotel bookings are up from last year.

Convention organizers say it will take a lot of work to rebuild the state's tattered image over immigration.

The Hotel and Lodging Association says tourism pumps $2.4 billion into Arizona's economy each year through state, local and federal tax revenues.

Here's a slideshow chronicling key developments in the ongoing saga related to Arizona's new immigration law:

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Law Killing Costing State Millions Of Dollars

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Strong feelings about tough immigration laws are costing Arizona millions according to resort and hotel operators. Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association chief executive Debbie Johnson says the state has lost about 40 conventions and $15 million so far. And she says that's "a lowball guess." Johnson says if there's one bright spot, hotel bookings are up from last year. Convention organizers say it will take a lot of work to rebuild the state's tattered image over immigration. The Hotel and Lodging Association says tourism pumps $2.4 billion into Arizona's economy each year through state, local and federal tax revenues. Here's a slideshow chronicling key developments in the ongoing saga related to Arizona's new immigration law: -- AP 8/3/2010

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Strong feelings about tough immigration laws are costing Arizona millions according to resort and hotel operators.

Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association chief executive Debbie Johnson says the state has lost about 40 conventions and $15 million so far. And she says that's "a lowball guess."

Johnson says if there's one bright spot, hotel bookings are up from last year.

Convention organizers say it will take a lot of work to rebuild the state's tattered image over immigration.

The Hotel and Lodging Association says tourism pumps $2.4 billion into Arizona's economy each year through state, local and federal tax revenues.

Here's a slideshow chronicling key developments in the ongoing saga related to Arizona's new immigration law:

-- AP 8/3/2010

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Comments

[awarg]

10:29 AM on 08/31/2010

Well, now the newly jobless can find work doing what the illegals left behind. Working in the fields, lawnscaping, ass-busting work. Isn't this what you wanted all along- no more illegals?!

[JerryAguy]

11:47 AM on 08/27/2010

Killing tourism? how about the actual American citizens killed by illegal immigrants.

[quillerm]

11:21 AM on 08/27/2010

The Illegals in Arizona are costing the State Billions and have resulted in the crime rates going through the roof. The new law will save billions and reduce crime which is worth the loss of a few million in hotel reservations. How about the millions lost in California when Arizonan's canceled their hotel reservations in protest? Why won't the media report on that issue?

[comicpro]

02:59 PM on 08/25/2010

AZ: about to surpass SC as the dumbest state in the country and lets be honest that is no easy feat!!!!!

[quillerm]

11:24 AM on 08/27/2010

Since when is obeying the laws of our country dumb? The Security of our Nation is at stake and we owe Arizona a great deal for helping secure our borders. The violent bombings on the Mexico side of the border will end up in our cities if we don't take border security seriously. The Cartels are moving billions in drugs into the US we need to stop this trade.

[comicpro]

12:25 PM on 08/27/2010

They have been doing this for years under three of four different administrations on both sides of the aisle. Its now a political move more than anything and i have followed this for years. The last administration actually tried to get something going to no avail as it was one of those things to be tucked away as we were busy falsifying data to start two wars. So I am not saying they dont have a right to protect themselves. I am saying there is a better way of doing this besides Gestapo/Nazi tactics that profile people who just happen to look a little browner than you.

[rayzrface714]

07:03 PM on 08/29/2010

Dumbest state in the Union? I've got news for you,how about N.Carolina? When my sister was 14 she and a28 year from connecticut eloped and tried to get married in CT. his state of residence. A judge told him to get the hell out of his courtroom! So where did they go? North Carolina where the legal age of marriage was "TWELVE" years old! At that point we could do nothing and they bought a house and settled in for a life of happily ever after. My sister was riding a ten speed 6 months later when a car hit her and she BLED to death.He remarried and I've worked through my feelings to the point where i am saffe from any impulsive BAD decisions regarding the entire matter.Still some residual emotions regarding the state of N. Carolina. Life goes on as must we all!

[SyphonFilter]

04:05 PM on 08/19/2010

Folks this isn't about racial profiling, nor is it about the government not doing it's job to enforce it's borders. The bottom line is that this is all about money, and about the Republicans changing the real issues to distract you from asking them about Jobs, the Economy, and health care. And we fall into their trap. Mr. Pierce and Ms. Brewer have already been exposed that they have received money from the privatized prison contractors who are in their administration, and help write the SB1070 law. Today, several high ranking police officials are under investigation for faking and inflating the kidnappings in Phoenix so that they can receive more stimulus money. Politically they don't want to straight up accept Obama's stimulus money, but rather lie and do criminal acts to receive the stimulus. What solutions have the Republicans offered in fixing the economy? What have they offered to help drive the cost down of health care? What have they done for climate change? These acts of intolerance are to deceive you because it's easier to join an already established Lynch Mob than to discuss real issues that will and can affect every single American.

[quillerm]

11:36 AM on 08/27/2010

Republicans have offered a excellent alternative to Obama's failed spending our Nation into prosperity policy. They propose to do what has helped in every economic decline, lower taxes, cuts in government spending and programs, repeal of cap and trade, replace Obamacare with a less expensive program, end government bailouts of private companies, end government takeover of private companies. As far as climate change, realistically evaluate wind power as a high cost option with little if any impact on climate. Concentrate on propane as a major source of fuel to cut down on oil. Take into consideration that we may be entering a cooling cycle and to stop the politicization of climate to retain power.

[Schalaine]

09:45 PM on 09/13/2010

Un huh. Boy have you fallen for their line of bull. They will do no such thing. They only care about the rich getting richer. Probably start another war or two. That's money for their base. You know, the rich folks.

[Armando Olmos]

11:00 PM on 08/16/2010

The Arizona Immigration Law SB 1070 will racially profile Hispanics born in the United States. Arizona is a police state it harasses its citizens, it focuses on citations, and incarceration for profit. In Arizona The Republican Party promotes hatred against people of color as a distraction away from the important and serious issues that they refuse to tackle. To allow them to focus on their corporate agenda of cheat labor and profits. At the expense of our citizens and outsourcing our jobs. These Republican’s are truly un-American, they’ve have no respect for our founding fathers, and they would love to change our constitution to due away with civil rights for people of color. How disgusting and how pathetic these people are; they call themselves American’s and true Christians.

[quillerm]

12:28 PM on 08/27/2010

What does religion have to do with enforcing Immigration Laws? Christians and Americans support LEGAL Immigration they do not support Mob rule and Open Borders.

[wolf58]

09:04 AM on 08/16/2010

yes but the private prison corporation that run Arizona prisons is booming thanks to Brewer and her advisors who are tied to the prison corporation. Follow the money.

[Master Sensei]

08:46 PM on 08/15/2010

Yeah, I highly doubt this report. I'm in Arizona for business all of the time in the high tech arena, and I am not seeing that. The shows and conventions I work, are well attended.

[desertman]

12:18 AM on 08/16/2010

To be effective the majority of the US population would have to be in disagreement with Arizona and this simply is not the case.

[ranchero42]

04:22 PM on 08/15/2010

Well, I thought it was pretty obvious from the start Arizona was angling for the "ideologically pure" tourist anyhow.

[desertman]

12:19 AM on 08/16/2010

Obvious to you perhaps yet incorrect.

[ranchero42]

01:04 AM on 08/16/2010

My cousin just returned from a month long tour of the desert southwest with his girlfriend. They spent about half an hour driving through Arizona and didn't spend a nickel.

How many of these vote-with-their-feet incidents can "Blanca-Zona" absorb?

It's all about perception. In this particular instance; "perception of intent".

And I haven't even started on the purported influence peddling that seems to be flowing between the governor's mansion and CCA.

Was that the discussion of Correction you were fishing for?

[Phil11514]

02:19 AM on 08/27/2010

It's not "incorrect" at all. It is completely correct.

If you go over to the http://www.AzCentral.com website and browse their discussion boards, you will find postings from white supremacists openly boasting that "it's a great day to be White." They are there. I have seen them myself.

The only responses (not even "negative" feedback) I have seen in response to these kinds of racially charged comments are ones which basically say "It's a great day to be a LEGAL American." But nobody on the Arizona boards is condemning the postings of very obvious and blatant white separatists and white supremacists.

Just how comfortable does the climate for racism have to be in Arizona, pray tell, in order for white supremacists to openly post anti-minority comments on Arizona bulletin boards without displaying even a trace of shame, and without attracting ANY critical response from others?

However comfortable a political climate has to be in order to blithely tolerate openly expressed racism, it is pretty apparent that Arizona has reached that point. Because, it's there. It's definitely there.

[treeshack]

02:04 AM on 08/14/2010

$15 million is nothing compared to the money AZ will save on social services for the illegal aliens who have moved out of state.

[desertman]

12:20 AM on 08/16/2010

California will accept them with open arms.

[wolf58]

09:06 AM on 08/16/2010

This is not about reform, it’s about money for the private prison system in Arizona. Brewer has two on her staff who pushed for her to sign off on this law that are tied to the prison corporation that stands to make millions off of this new law. Many current and past lawmakers are also tied to lobbyist or are lobbyist for the prison corporation that currently makes 11 million dollars a month just for one prison that deals with federal prisoners which illegal are held. Prior to signing this law her poll numbers were in the tank and she played on peoples fears to raise support for her. Those who support this law have been played, they have been mislead and lied to and have allowed their fears to be used against them. Brewer and her administration are corrupt as well as the law makers of Arizona. To bad the so many are to blind and ignorant to see that

[treeshack]

10:51 AM on 08/16/2010

You don't live in an area with a lot of illegal immigrants, do you? I've been wanting them all deported since I moved to LA 20 years ago..

[JBoy]

03:26 AM on 08/12/2010

"Johnson says if there's one bright spot, hotel bookings are up from last year."

So even though they've lost 40 conventions and $15 million, it's still a better year than last year.

Ok, it appears that a boycott has had an effect, but a rather marginal effect so far.

[desertman]

05:35 PM on 08/15/2010

Oh yeah we are really suffering.... not..

When the next Snowmageddon hits the hapless east coast, the boycott will be a distant memory.

[Phil11514]

02:27 AM on 08/27/2010

Yes you are indeed suffering. You are merely too clueless and stoopid to realize it.

Your convention center business has lost dozens of convention and trade show bookings, for YEARS to come.

Your population is steadily declining and taking millions and millions of dollars' worth of economic purchasing power out of Arizona for good. That money is not being replaced, either.

Your perennially lousy schools (which are lousy because nobody down there is willing to pay their fair share of taxes to support them) are on the brink of collapse, and had to hold a special levy recently just to keep the doors open and the lights on.

Your school system is losing highly qualified teachers to other states and communities, for the obvious reason that you openly despise public workers and don't want to pay them what they're worth.

You have virtually no industries or major employers in Arizona, other than Wal-Mart and some tattoo parlors. You produce virtually nothing that anyone outside of Arizona wants.

Your apartment complexes are falling into disrepair as tenants move away. Weeds and dirt suffocate swimming pools, maintenance people are nowhere to be seen, homeless people congregate in and sometimes burn down abandoned & vacant properties.

Your commercial sector is doing no better; boarded-up, vacant storefronts are everywhere, and land values are falling.

It's a great thing that you love ghost towns down there, because you're about to get a whole lot more of them.

[alex61]

06:39 PM on 08/11/2010

Illegal immigrants kill Americans, cost state hundreds of millions of dollars.
Choose.

[Phil11514]

02:29 AM on 08/27/2010

Prove it or else kindly withdraw your false and lying claim.

[kjg25171]

01:59 PM on 08/11/2010

Jan Brewer should have seen the film "9500 Liberty" by Annabel Park (founder of coffeepartyusa.com) about what happened to a city in Prince William County, Virginia after they enacted a law similar to Arizona's. The city council overturned it

[Richard Abbott]

10:46 PM on 08/11/2010

This is either a dull short film or 90 minutes of atrophying brain death.

[Phil11514]

02:30 AM on 08/27/2010

Spoken by someone apparently incapable of understanding it and following along.

Perhaps you should stick to watching movies that have plentiful supplies of bikinis, car chases and automatic weapons.

[yadontgetit]

12:03 PM on 08/08/2010

ahaha this is a joke. The only people maybe noticing even a little is the hospitality jobs.

hmmm who could that be? boycott away! and for gods sake please dont move here

[jadeba]

06:06 PM on 08/15/2010

Happily, I'll stay out of Arizona - and Texas - just do me the favor of not stepping foot in Colorado.

[gogogadget]

02:00 PM on 08/19/2010

hahaha...Colorado is next ..then states will step in line one at a time. 22 states are currently on the move to follow Arizona. Any state that doesnt will be invaded and destroyed economically and with crime.

[Max is Back]

08:51 AM on 08/07/2010

I guess Arizona found the perfect way to make enemies and alienate people. Sounds like the approach of applying discriminatory measures to 1/3 to 1/2 of the state population has worked for many states in the past to achieve this aim. South Africa and the states of the confederacy during the era of Jim Crow come to mind.

Joe Arpaio has already been ignoring the Judge's ruling and detaining US Citizens of latino descent to comply with Jan Brewer and Russell Pearce's goal of creating Aryanzona from the smouldering ruins of Arizona...

[Richard Abbott]

10:47 PM on 08/11/2010

Hmm- by enforcing a federal law that the feds refuse to enforce. Enforcing laws always annoys people - but it annoys the right people.

[Max is Back]

05:24 PM on 08/12/2010

How on earth is violating the bill of rights and therefore the constitution by illegally detaining US citizens in any way an "wnforcement of the law"?

On what planet does violating the law equal enforcing it?

[treeshack]

02:03 AM on 08/14/2010

Is that all you do is play the race card?

Jeez... Like a broken record, you are.