Was Live Friday, Jun 23, 2023 | 11 am PT
Guest Speakers:
- Cassandra Costello, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy and External Affairs Officer, San Francisco Travel Association
- James Altucher, podcaster and author of: “New York City Is Dead Forever.”
- Dr. Frederic Dimanche, Director, Ted Rogers School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Toronto Metropolitan University
- Iuliana Popa, Doctoral student faculty, Conrad Hilton College of Global Hospitality Research, University of Houston.
Event Overview
During the Covid-19 pandemic, most of the world shut down its doors and tourists stayed home. The United Nations estimates the pandemic cost the global tourism sector $2 trillion in lost revenue in 2021 alone.
But tourism is expected to rise by 30% this summer from pre-pandemic levels, though the sector will not fully recover until 2027. And – even amid unprecedented levels of street crime and homelessness – New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles are among the top five tourist destinations on many travel lists.
Speakers this week will address the questions of whether tourism can revive failing downtowns; whether much of the US tourism market is fueled by international travelers, primarily from Mexico, China, and India; and whether the industry can continue on its rosy growth trajectory and the factors allowing it to do so.
