Jobs in Phoenix Supported by Tourism Industry
If you’re wondering what kind of job Phoenix might have to offer, you may want to check out opportunities in the city’s leisure and hospitality industry.
A recent survey from the Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau found that the city’s tourism industry is extremely important to the local economy. The industry as a whole is responsible for employing several local workers as well as supporting those with jobs in other industries.
“Tens of thousands of Arizona jobs are directly related to tourism – the majority of them right here in the Valley,” Mayor Phil Gordon said. “But teachers, police officers, firefighters, utility companies and bankers are no more than one degree of separation from the tourism industry. Because tax revenues generated from the industry go toward our schools, public safety, libraries, pools, parks and streets.
“Whether we know it or not, we all have a direct stake in tourism,” he continued. “It matters how many visitors we get. It matters how many conventions we host. It matters how many meetings are scheduled for Phoenix and the Valley. Whether you work at the airport or at a flower shop 300 miles from the airport, you are one of the faces of tourism.”
In particular, the survey found that hotels throughout Phoenix accounted for several jobs and paid more than $166 million in combined property and sales taxes during 2008. This translates to a gross tax yield per hotel room of more than $6,300.
“Hotel property taxes are approximately 27 percent of this total, or over $45 million,” GPCVB President Steve Moore said. “This equates to $1,710 per room, which is 8 percent greater than the median Phoenix household property tax, yet a hotel room is much smaller than a house. When one considers that a visitor uses a fraction of the government services provided to residents, this is a great investment for the state, county and city.”
“The hotel industry is proud to be one of the state’s largest employers and also one of the largest contributors to city and state tax revenues,” Debbie Johnson, president and CEO of the Arizona Hotel & Lodging Association, said. “Our many hotels and resorts are known for providing visitors and Arizona residents endless dining, golfing and recreational activities, but it’s important that we also recognize the economic impact that our industry has and communicate that when the tourism industry is strong, Arizona residents benefit with lower taxes and more job opportunities.”
These findings are supported by a recent Oxford Economics study, which found that there is a clear link between business travel and business growth. That study found that for every dollar invested in business travel, businesses see an average $12.50 in increased revenue and $3.80 in new profits.
