After immigration law, Phoenix gets quieter: Hospitality business in Arizona feels boycott effects

[marmar]

After immigration law, Phoenix gets quieter
Hospitality business in Arizona feels effects from nationwide boycotts

By Russ Britt, MarketWatch


GOODYEAR, Ariz. (MarketWatch) -- Bartenders are scurrying around, the tequila is flowing and the customers are boisterous at Macayo's Mexican Kitchen in suburban Phoenix.

The place is nearly full -- not bad for a Wednesday night -- except there's one problem. It's Cinco de Mayo, and casual customers still can stroll in and find a seat at the bar. Normally, there would be a line out the door, patrons say.

The crowd is jovial as they root for "Los Suns," a moniker adopted by pro basketball's Phoenix Suns in protest of the state's controversial new law to clamp down on illegal immigration. But many locals say there's not a lot to be proud of on this annual celebration of Mexican pride. Some say they're embarrassed by attention the new law has drawn. Others contend it has fostered divisiveness.

"I honestly think the only thing that's holding this town together is that basketball team," said Daniel Fairbanks, a Phoenix resident.

After struggling through a difficult recession, the state's $18.5 billion hospitality industry and its 200,000 tourism employees face potential new headwinds as boycotts of Arizona are organized by critics of the new law.

Hitting tourism

It's already having an effect on tourism, officials say, and it could get worse as time goes on. Within two weeks of the immigration bill's passage, 23 large groups of conventioneers had canceled plans to come to Phoenix, costing the city as much as $10 million in business, says Kristen Jarnagin, spokeswoman for the Arizona Hotel and Lodging Association. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.marketwatch.com/story/phoenix-hospitality-business-is-hit-by-boycotts-2010-05-18

[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. Any good brewer would tell you, never diss the customers.

Except the AZ brewer is pissing on a goodly sized percentage of the nation's population.

[Skip Intro]

2. I feel for the workers in AZ's tourism/hospitality industry.

Doesn't seem right to attack their ability to earn a living and put food on the table.

Yeah yeah...whatever.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

4. believe me, they will make their voices heard.

And the GOPers are going to be shaking in their shorts.
November will be a time of major league exciting time. For the GOP.

Remember that famous chinese curse?

[Skip Intro]

6. In the meantime, what? Waiters and waitresses, hotel staff, etc - how do they pay their bills? nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

7. it impacts the top dog bizniz folks the same way.

And they have one, no two, advantages.
1) they still have some bucks, which means the GOP listens when they talk
2) they have access to the top, and when they are pissed, the GOP sits up and offers to shake, roll over, beg, bark, or stay.

[jillan]

8. Thank you. The jerks who passed this bill won't feel a thing. It's the rest of us that

are going to be hurting.

[EFerrari]

10. Right, attacking a worker's ability to earn a living and put food on the table

is a terrible thing. I hope it's over soon.

[laughingliberal]

3. Way to go!

Showing them bigotry doesn't pay!

[elias49]

5. I'd like to see Mexican immigrants go on strike

Best medicine I can think of for AZ's (mental) illness.

[EFerrari]

9. I believe a "Day without Mexicans" is planned for later this month.

It's a day that Mexican nationals have been asked not to cross the border to shop.

[Brickbat]

11. Many of them are union workers. I have mixed feelings about this.

Mr. Brickbat's union is holding its annual convention in Phoenix after much discussion among members and with unions representing workers in Phoenix. I respect their decision.