Covid-19

Past Updates:

3-30-21

COVID-19 CARES Act Relief Resources

The CARES Act, the largest economic relief package in our nation’s history, was signed into law on March 27 and includes major provisions U.S. Travel fought for to deliver economic support to travel businesses, travel workers and their families.

Learn what the different parts of CARES Act mean for you and your travel business with the guides below:

Small Business Administration Business Interruption Loans (Paycheck Protection Program)
Small Business Administration Coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDL)
Small Business Administration Express Loans
Emergency Stabilization Fund (Federal Reserve Facilities and Programs)
Small Business Administration Debt Relief for New and Existing Loans
Economic Relief for Airports and Tourism and Delay on REAL ID Enforcement
Business Tax Provisions

Click hereto find lenders available by state and region from the Small Business Administration.

Highlights of the CARES Act include:

$377 billion in loans and loan forgiveness for small travel businesses: The bill provides small travel businesses (500 employees or less), self-employed individuals, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits with enhanced and expedited Small Business Administration (SBA) loans, which will be made available quickly through community banks. Loan recipients can receive tax-free forgiveness on a portion of the loan, equal to eight weeks of payroll and other expenses.
$454 billion in federally backed financial assistance for impacted businesses: The bill provides $454 billion through the Treasury Department and Federal Reserve to assist impacted travel businesses and governmental entities through secured loans, loan guarantees and other financial measures. The broad eligibility under this program ensures any impacted organizations can access a liquidity lifeline to keep workers employed and stay afloat through the worst months of this crisis.
Tax relief to mitigate losses and allow businesses to use cash to pay employees and keep the lights on: The bill allows affected businesses to temporarily defer tax liability, access an Employee Retention Tax Credit, delay or eliminate estimated quarterly tax payments and filings deadlines, and allow for a carryback of the Net Operating Loss (NOL) Deduction.
Grants for impacted tourism businesses and airports: The bill provides $10 billion in airport grants to support vital operations and provides $6.5 billion in Community Development and Economic Development Administration grants for economic injuries caused by COVID-19, including the tourism industry.
The CARES Act is an important step forward toward delivering broad-based relief across our industry, but there’s more work to do as Congress prepares for another legislative relief package. We will continue to fight to ensure every segment of our industry gets the help it needs.HOSPITALITY FOR HOPE

In an effort to support communities across the country during this unprecedented public health crisis, AHLA announced a new initiative – Hospitality for Hope – to connect hotel properties with the health community, struggling to find housing and support as the COVID-19 public health crisis grows.

Hotels interested in joining AHLA's Hospitality for Hope can volunteer HERE.

AzLTA is committed to providing our members with up-to-date resources, webinars, information and recommendations from our state and national partners. Daily updates will be shared on our website so please reference it often and share it with your network.

3-24-20

Dear Industry Partners and Friends,

While COVID-19 issues dominate nearly every aspect of our personal and professional lives, we’re proud to be working to support the needs of our industry across the state.

Help for Hospitality Workforce:

The Arizona Office of Tourism is partnering with the Arizona Commerce Authority Office of Economic Opportunity to connect our displaced hospitality workforce with industries that are urgently hiring during the COVID-19 crisis. Go here for information and please share with your HR Directors and displaced employees as soon as possible. If you have any questions or need the assistance of our team, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at djohnson@tourism.az.gov or Becky Blaine at bblaine@tourism.az.gov

3-17-20

We are learning more about COVID-19 (formerly known as the novel coronavirus) in the news and around the travel industry. The US Travel Association and the Arizona Office of Tourism are reminding travelers that there are no restrictions on travel in the US and no indication that travel plans here should be altered for any public health reason.

As the news of the COVID-19 outbreak continues, we want to assure you and your clients that Discover Flagstaff is proactively taking the steps necessary to help people feel confident about travel to Flagstaff or attending an upcoming event. U.S. public health and security officials have been clear in stating that the threat of COVID-19 in the United States remains low and Arizona health officials are in communication with the CDC and are taking precautions to ensure public safety is a top priority.

We encourage you to consider the following safety precautions:

Increase the frequency of cleaning throughout your business using approved disinfectants.
Increase or add hand sanitizer dispensers at your place of business, and frequently monitor them to ensure they are refilled and operating correctly.
Communicate to your clients or visitors that you have taken the appropriate precautionary measures.
Consider staff policies for those who are traveling to work remotely during the CDC’s recommended incubation period.
As you communicate with your visitors or meeting attendees, please share these protective measures to minimize the risks of illness:
Wash hands often and limit touching your face.
Cover your mouth when coughing.
Stay home or in your hotel room when sick to prevent spread of illness to others.

Please review the CDC’s website, which extensively covers COVID-19 and includes detailed information, situation updates and even offers an event planner checklist for the pandemic flu. Meetings Mean Business, the meetings arm of the U.S. Travel Association, has also prepared resources for meeting planners planning during this outbreak. In addition, Coconino County Public Health and the Arizona Department of Health Services are updating their websites regularly to keep locals and businesses informed of any state-wide and county changes.

As an industry, we should prioritize calming the fears of the traveling public and encourage smart, guided travel planning. The best way to achieve this is through education and reassurance from trusted sources. Our concern is for all who are affected by this health challenge, and we are hopeful for a swift resolution that keeps travelers to and within America safe and secure.

If you have any questions, or would like to keep us informed, please contact me.

Sincerely,
Trace Ward,
Discover Flagstaff CVB Director

Covid-19

Past Updates:

Local Recovery Industry Roundtable Meetings: