On Wednesday, May 7, hoteliers in Tucson, AZ, came together to oppose a sudden proposal that could have profoundly impacted the hospitality industry — a $1 increase to the hotel-motel surtax intended to help cover the city's general fund deficit.
Among those leading the charge was Southwest Region AAHOA Ambassador Jigar "Jay" Desai, who joined forces with the Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association and local hotel owners to advocate against the unexpected tax hike. The delegation made a clear case to city leaders: solutions to budget gaps shouldn't come at the expense of small business owners and local tourism.
At the same time, the group strongly defended the existing $1 tax that funds Visit Tucson, a key economic engine that supports tourism and job creation in the region. Removing or redirecting that tax could have unintended consequences on the local economy.
This gathering was a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when hoteliers and industry advocates unite.
Check out the video of Jay speaking
here.
