Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/129161
•pg_3-13__BMT_pg3-58 5/7/13 3:57 PM Page 9 local governments and individuals seeking a better community through the visitor industry. Tourism is the San Diego region's third largest industry and generates $16.5 billion in total economic impact and $7.5 billion in direct visitor spending to the region's economy. Tourism employs 163,000 local residents, which accounts for 13% of the jobs in the county. More than 30 million visitors travel to San Diego annually to enjoy the region's diverse offerings. Often rated one of the top travel destinations in North America, San Diego recently ranked as one of America's top 10 favorite cities, according to Travel + Leisure magazine's 2012 "America's Favorite Cities" survey. For more information on San Diego, visit www.sandiego.org. TRAVEL CONTINUES TO LEAD IN THE JOB RECOVERY; REGISTERS HIGHEST LEVEL OF EMPLOYMENT SINCE 2008 David Huether, senior vice president of research and economics at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on the recent Labor Department announcement that the U.S. economy added 236,000 jobs in February: "The travel industry continued to expand in February and has now added jobs in 10 of the past 12 months. Direct travel employment, now at 7.7 million, stands at its highest level since September 2008. "However, after adding an average of 8,000 workers per month in 2012, travel industry employment growth has slowed so far in 2013, with the 1,000 jobs added in February closely mirroring a similarly modest gain of 3,000 in January. To some degree, the travel industry has been impacted by the short-term effects stemming from social security taxes being returned to their historic rates, which depressed disposable income growth early this year. More concerning is the potential negative impact on travelers to and within the United States from automatic budget cutbacks on March 1, also known as the sequester. DAVID HUETHER "Despite these challenges, the travel industry has been a consistent leader in the economy recovery to date. Since the recovery began in early 2010, the travel industry has created employment opportunities at a nine percent faster pace than the rest of the economy, added nearly 351,000 jobs and made up three-quarters of the jobs lost during the recession compared to two-thirds for the rest of the economy." WALT DISNEY PARKS AND RESORTS RECEIVES HOSPITALITY AWARD On March 13 the Destination & Travel Foundation honored Walt Disney Parks and Resorts with the Spirit of Hospitality Award, recognizing Disney's longtime advocacy for travel and tourism and its commitment to social responsibility. Craig Davis (left), president and CEO of Visit Pittsburgh and Chair of the Destination & Travel Foundation presents the Spirit of Hospitality Award to Randy A. Garfield, CTC, executive vice president, Worldwide Sales & Travel Operations, Disney Destinations, and president, Walt Disney Travel Company. Destination & Travel Foundation, formerly DMAI Foundation, is a combined effort of the U.S. Travel Association and Destination Marketing Association International. The mission of the Destination & Travel Foundation is to enhance the destination marketing and travel professions through research, education, visioning and development of resources and partnerships for those efforts. www.destinationtravel.org Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) protects and advances the success of destination marketing worldwide. DMAI's influential membership includes nearly 600 destination marketing organizations (DMOs), from nearly 20 countries, which command US$1.5 billion in annual budgets. As the world's largest and most reliable resource for DMOs, it provides more than 3,500 individual members – professionals, industry partners, educators and students – the most innovative and relevant educational resources, networking opportunities and marketing intelligence worldwide. www.destinationmarketing.org B M & T ••• March/April 2013 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 9