Common Assembly of Tourism makes comeback in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara – South County

SANTA BARBARA, Calif .– The annual general meeting and tourism celebration lost their annual designation during the pandemic cancellation last year, but made a comeback on Wednesday in Santa Barbara.

The people who run tourism businesses are still understaffed, but they managed to take the time to attend the event at the Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort.

Visit Santa Barbara Kathy Janega-Dykes, President and CEO of Santa Barbara, gave the industry update.

Janega-Dykes said 640,000 hotel nights were lost, costing the industry $ 170 million in revenue. At the lowest point, the occupancy rate fell to 13 percent in the second week of April 2020. She called it one of the hardest hit industries with 50 percent unemployment.

Although it may be too early to party, things are looking up. Hotels and restaurants are hiring.

Southwest Airlines took off non-stop from Oakland, Denver and Las Vegas.

Southwest’s Steven Swan said he’s got a lot of good feedback from locals who use the airline.

Warren Nocon, general manager of the California hotel, said locals could help by making stays and inviting family to visit.

We’ll have more about the tourism industry in the news tonight.

California / Health / Money and Business