Reopened hotel swimming pools drawing more ‘staycationers’

PHOENIX — Even with the coronavirus pandemic ongoing, Phoenix metro’s hotel industry reports taking in more guests in recent weeks.

Credit goes to Arizona’s “staycationers” wanting to get out of their homes after stay-at-home orders.

“People want to stay close to home for their first couple of trips,” Debbie Johnson, director of the Arizona Dept. of Tourism, said.

“Our purpose is just to get Arizona residents to get out and about and enjoy Arizona.”

Johnson reports hotel occupancy at 42.5% in Phoenix metro. Memorial Day weekend occupancy dropped 27% year over year, but rose between 10 and 13% from the week before.

“We’re still in a fairly good season at least through May and even our early summer is a really strong season,” she said.

Johnson also credits swimming pools reopening at resorts for drawing Arizonans to them.

“Those people were able to get out, as hotels were able to reopen even at a smaller occupancy level,” she said. “It gives people a chance to get a little getaway.”

The Dept. of Tourism also reports Revenue Per Available Room, or RevPAR, for the week in Phoenix also improved but is still down 38% over the same holiday period last year.

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