Matt Sanford
Economic Development Manager
City of Carlsbad

A year after devastating economic blows, our tourism industry is on the ropes. But it’s by no means a TKO.

The sector is slowly regaining its footing. Every week, attractions and hotels are safely welcoming back more visitors — an encouraging sign of economic recovery.

On an average year, Carlsbad attracts about 4 million tourists, the equivalent of the entire state of Oregon. That generates more than $1.5 billion in local sales and provides about 13,000 jobs, making the sector an economic powerhouse for our community. What’s more, our 42 hotels and resorts generate $28 million in transient occupancy tax (TOT) revenue, which in part funds the high quality of life we enjoy here in Carlsbad — from our beautiful parks to our well-maintained streets.

Simply put: the hospitality industry is part of our secret sauce.

So, if there’s ever been a time to support our local hospitality industry, it’s now. Many of our attractions and resorts will have lower-than-normal capacity this summer. That’s an opportunity for us locals to pop-in for a meal, a spa treatment or a happy hour. Collectively we can help revive this vital part of our economy.

“This is also probably the safest time ever to enjoy a resort,” added Thomas Lee, Area General Manager for Cape Rey Carlsbad Beach, a Hilton Resort and Spa. “We’re taking extra precautions and rolling out the red carpet.”

At Cape Rey, they’ve even pivoted to offer ‘elopement packages’ as couples opt for small weddings due to COVID. They’re also making accommodations for socially distanced private events and business meetings. And of course, they’re reinstating their wildly popular beach concierge service.

Over at Grand Pacific Palisades Resort & Hotel, staff has used the pandemic downtime to revamp amenities and offerings. Both of its restaurants — Twenty/20 Grill & Bar and 7 Mile Kitchen —have several new menu items. The spa and much of the property have also been spruced up, too.

“Though 2020 was a hard year, we used the opportunity to really step things up,” said Tim Stripe, Co-President of Grand Pacific Resorts, which owns the property. “This pandemic has deepened our appreciation for the Carlsbad community, and we want to make everyone feel more welcome than ever.”

The way I see it: whether you’re a visitor from far away or a visitor for the day, let’s go safely support our local attractions and hotels. You’ll be helping Carlsbad rebuild its economy while rekindling some of that summertime fun.