SB 1070 boycotts cost Arizona dozens of meetings and $15M

[pinboy3niner]

SB 1070 boycotts cost Arizona dozens of meetings
Aug. 3, 2010 11:20 AM
Associated Press


Strong feelings about tough immigration laws are costing the state 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.


Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/08/03/20100803arizona-immigration-boycott-costs.html#ixzz0vaH4SGMu

[aquart]

1. How do they plan to reassure foreign tourists they won't be arrested?

"We'll check your passport and release you immediately!"

[Oceansaway]

2. LOL...n/t.....

[blondeatlast]

3. I said it at the beginning--hit the tourist industry and things get done. It worked

the early '90s and I am pleased as punch to see the racist nutjobs in my state get bitten on the behind again by a friendly, but powerful dog.

[pinboy3niner]

4. I remember you said it right here, at the VERY beginning

And you were right.

Weeks ago, 19 business groups in Arizona appealed to the President for comprehensive immigration reform. That was a significant (and largely overlooked) development that I believe was directly attributable to the boycott. Even before there were tangible effects, the ANTICIPATION of negative effects on business had an impact.

As much as I admire Rep. Grijalva, despite his call to end the boycott, the boycott goes on and will go on until Arizona politicians abandon their anti-immigrant initiatives. I may disagree with Grijalva on this point, but I salute him as one of the few AZ dems who has the cojones (to borrow a word from Sarah Palin--thankyou, ex-Guv) to tell the truth to Arizonans and call out the racists in their midst.

[blondeatlast]

5. Grijalva is a reliable friend of the people; I support him strongly but he's wrong

about the boycott.

I suspect some AZ Dem party pressure there.