As COVID-19 vaccinations rise and case numbers fall, industry officials believe tourism is likely to be part of the recovery from the pandemic.
BOISE, Idaho – Vicki Carley saw a change. Instead of busy weekdays and crowded conference rooms, the hotels she works with hosted different types of visitors.
Gone were the business travelers who were in Boise during the week. The leisure seekers came who were looking for a short vacation.
“The whole market has turned,” said Carley, regional director of sales and marketing for The Grove Hotel, Marriott Boise Downtown’s Courtyard and Hotel 43.
After a year of fewer hotel guests and events, Carley is optimistic about what’s to come. As COVID-19 vaccinations rise and case numbers fall, industry officials believe tourism is likely to be part of the recovery from the pandemic.
When and how is to be determined.
“It’s kind of a wait and see where we are,” Carley said of the return of business conventions.
The combination of positivity and uncertainty is widespread in tourism circles. Idaho’s economic recovery was on among the best in the nation. However, tourism is inextricably linked to other places where restrictions may be stricter and people may not travel as comfortably.
While the pandemic has taught people that planning ahead can be difficult due to ever-changing rules, Carley has taken “many” calls from people wanting to host events again. The upcoming spring and summer will allow visitors to take advantage of nature. And the rest of the year will likely mean an industry-wide transition.
“We are all very optimistic that we can resume operations as usual by 2022,” said Carley. “It’s difficult to judge. I didn’t know it would take that long. “
Pre-pandemic Boise has been listed as a must-see travel destination in a variety of publications, including The New York Timeswho announced the convenience of the city in their travel series “36 Hours” in 2018.
Boise hotel occupancy fell from 70.4% in 2019 to 53.1% in 2020, according to Smith Travel Research.
Boise Airport recorded 48% of passenger traffic in 2020 compared to 2019, said Sean Briggs, the airport’s business development manager.
After spending $ 5.7 billion in Idaho in 2019, travelers spent 29% less in 2020, according to the US Travel Association. That’s a loss of around $ 1.75 billion.
But once people are ready to travel again, Carrie Westergard, executive director of the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau, believes the floodgates will open.
“What really opens the eyes,” said Westergard, “is nothing that replaces personal interaction.”
At the end of the college basketball season, the ExtraMile Arena hosted hundreds of fans for the Boise State University men’s and women’s basketball games. Attendance at the five games averaged 639. It was far less than before the pandemic, but the events shed light on what is possible for events that used to attract out-of-towers.
Pod seating was used in the arena, meaning fans were assigned specific seats in small groups and separated from other small groups. Arena staff have also worked on hygiene practices for some time over the past year and recently received accreditation from the Global Biorisk Advisory Council, widely regarded as the gold standard for cleanliness in facilities such as arenas and hotels.
“These restrictions will currently allow us to move forward for other events,” said McQ Olsen, ExtraMile Arena associate marketing director. “It’s important to follow these face mask or pod seating restrictions in order to stay in your pods and anything connected with them.”
The Ford Idaho Center in Nampa has also hosted high school state tournaments in recent weeks, and General Manager Andrew Luther viewed the events positively. The venue typically has an average of 130 events per calendar year, and Luther expects that number will be hit in 2021. The change is that the events may take place a little differently or with less capacity.
Luther pointed to professional sporting events in some of the country’s largest cities that are starting to allow fans. For him it is a sign of improvement. And at the Ford Idaho Center, events like Professional Bull Riding on April 23 and 24 and the Snake River Stampede from July 20 to 24 are on the calendar.
Historically, the five-day rodeo drew 60,000 people and had an economic impact of $ 5 million to $ 10 million. according to information from Stampede officials. This year it will be decided how many people will be allowed to participate.
“That’s the million dollar question,” said Luther.
According to Jennifer Hensley, executive director of the Downtown Boise Association, Boise may be better positioned to relax than larger cities as it is considered safer to travel to due to its medium-sized status.
Based on DBA’s observations, 16 downtown businesses had pandemic closings. However, 43 new stores were opened during the same period.
Hensley is saddened by the lost business and sees these numbers as an expression of the city’s resilience. However, there are still restrictions in place that limit restaurant capacity to 50%, leaving them with a mixture of optimism and caution.
“People are happy to be outside again. They look forward to revisiting their favorite spots down here, ”said Hensley. “But we are also very happy that they come under the aspect of still trying to maintain security.”
Earlier this month, the Big Sky Conference announced that it would continue to host its men’s and women’s basketball conference Tournaments at Idaho Central Arena in downtown Boise through 2026. Carley said this is a “big win” for The Grove Hotel, which is attached to the 5,000-seat arena formerly known as the CenturyLink Arena.
After only a few hundred fans were admitted to the Games this month, Carley is hoping the stands will be full by 2022. Forecasts across the industry suggest that a full recovery will take years, but there is room for improvement in the short term.
“I see light at the end of the tunnel,” said Carley.
In 2020, Boise State University only hosted three football games. Fans were allowed to visit two of them. Each time there were only 1,100 fans at Albertsons Stadium with a capacity of more than 36,000 spectators.
Typical game day weekends drew crowds of people from all over the state. The Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau has estimated approximately $ 2.2 million the local economy every home game.
On Wednesday, BSU announced More than 5,000 fans will be able to take part in the team’s spring soccer game on April 10th. This is a sign that the fall can have more fans than last year and that tourism is increasing as the year progresses.
In the past few months, Boise Airport has announced plans for new flights to New York City;; Atlanta;; Chicago;; Austin, Texas;; and Nashville, Tennessee.
Briggs, the airport’s business development manager, said Boise’s connectivity is stronger than ever due to the large hubs that planes fly to. This is another tangible reason people in the industry believe in the recovery.
“We’re seeing airlines invest in Treasure Valley and Boise Airport,” Briggs said. “And usually when they do that, it’s because they see passenger traffic coming back.”
While the declines in travel have not been as great here as elsewhere, hesitation remains. The Boise region will continue to rely on people from elsewhere. And these locations may have tighter restrictions and reluctance to travel.
A national concert tour is like a large tapestry, said Luther of the Ford Idaho Center. Cities like Seattle, Portland, Oregon, and Spokane, Washington may have different attendance capacities that organizers must adhere to. This makes it a challenge for tour operators and may not be financially viable.
“I don’t think it will be like a light switch,” said Luther, “and one day it will be turned on again.”
While the near future remains uncertain, the leading companies in the tourism industry have reason to believe.
Paul Schwedelson covers Growth, Nampa and Caldwell. Follow him on Twitter @pschweds.
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