Official: Immigration fallout could cost Phoenix about $90M in lost hotel, convention business

Phoenix could lose $90M from immigration fallout

PHOENIX — A city official says Phoenix could possibly lose hotel and convention center business worth about $90 million over the next five years because of fallout from Arizona’s new immigration law.

The law has attracted international attention as well as calls for tourists and businesses to boycott Arizona.

A deputy city manager who is monitoring the issue — David Krietor — says city and tourism officials in Phoenix have compiled a “watch list” tracking the potential fallout. The list includes four organizations that have canceled events and more than a dozen groups that have expressed concerns about the new law.

The $90 million figure represents the estimated amount of money that those groups’ members would spend in the region. Some events are scheduled to take place this year, while others are booked as far out at 2015.

Information from: The Arizona Republic, www.azcentral.com