This opinion column by Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden originally in The Phoenix Business Journal. 

As an Arizona sports fan, I can鈥檛 help but lament that in , we鈥檝e lost our place among the handful of markets that could claim a franchise in the highest levels of football, baseball, basketball, and hockey. There was a sense of civic pride 鈥� at least for those of us who care about sports 鈥� for being part of such an exclusive club.  

As the leader of a business organization, I鈥檓 disappointed about the loss of a prominent business. We don鈥檛 often think of our sports franchises when we think of leading job creators, but we should.  

Not only do our teams employ well-compensated athletes and front office staff, but they鈥檙e also the enterprises behind stadium and arena workers鈥� jobs. They add to concessionaire and restaurateurs鈥� bottom line. They move merchandise for our retailers. Maybe most of all, they鈥檙e an integral part of the state鈥檚 brand beyond our borders. 

When your team is on national TV 鈥� like the , or the Suns in the playoffs 鈥� it鈥檚 publicity that even the best tourism marketing campaign can鈥檛 buy. 

Few markets have as much to offer as Phoenix and all of Arizona.  

We have outstanding MLB, NFL, and NBA franchises that are contributing to the Valley and state鈥檚 economic health. Consider the new multimillion-dollar Suns practice facility and the Mercury鈥檚 new , also home to the teams鈥� new offices.  

We鈥檝e rightly earned a sterling reputation for hosting mega events like Super Bowls, college football bowl games, World Baseball Classics, All-Star games, two NASCAR weekends and, as we proved earlier this month, . The Footprint Center will host the women鈥檚 edition in 2026. This summer, Phoenix is home to the WNBA All-Star Game, and will host the NBA All-Star Game in 2027.  

All of that鈥檚 on top of our annual Cactus League that welcomes fans from all over the country to 10 modern stadiums all within a 45-minute drive of one another, and signature PGA Tour and PGA Champions Tour events like the WM Phoenix Open and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship.  

It all adds up to hundreds of millions of dollars in positive economic impact and created by sports and sports tourism. 

Arizona has been on the receiving end of teams that relocated. Now we鈥檙e the ones saying goodbye. Some markets have gotten a team back. The NHL returned to Winnipeg, for example, after shipping the Jets to Phoenix in 1996, but another market 鈥� Atlanta 鈥� lost a team for that to happen. Other markets haven鈥檛 been so lucky, just ask fans of the Hartford Whalers or Quebec Nordiques. Does anyone think the NFL will return to St. Louis?  

Don’t let the D-backs slip away

To ensure we don鈥檛 find ourselves in this predicament again, there are a few things that we as a business community need to commit to doing: 

It鈥檚 not a guarantee, but I鈥檓 going to assume that the hockey ownership group will win the auction in June for the land where it wants to put a new arena. Once that鈥檚 done, the cooperation from the city of Phoenix must be seamless. We can鈥檛 afford to slow-walk permits or bog the project down with needless studies and analyses. Where there鈥檚 red tape, it has to be cut. 

Take nothing for granted. We鈥檝e lost a franchise. Don鈥檛 think it can鈥檛 happen again. Just ask Oakland and San Diego what happens when teams start looking for the exit. It鈥檚 demoralizing and leagues get skittish about placing another team in a soft market.

With that in mind, let鈥檚 get serious about finding a solution for the Diamondbacks, whose . Whether it鈥檚 a modernization of the downtown ballpark or a new home, we can鈥檛 let them leave. Let鈥檚 not delude ourselves into thinking Salt Lake couldn鈥檛 pick our pocket again.

The D-backs are the type of corporate citizens other communities would welcome with open arms. Who wouldn鈥檛 want a business responsible for contributing more than $85 million to charitable partners and whose most recent post-season success generated more than $100 million in positive economic activity?  

Maricopa County voters in 2000 passed Proposition 302, which established the mechanism that allowed State Farm Stadium to get built and maintained. We should at least consider the best model for a stadium solution for the Diamondbacks. 

Lawmakers and the governor should commit to recapitalizing the mega events fund, the account that helps host committees put together the bid packages to lure big events like Super Bowls and college championships.  

Our sports franchises are important members of the Arizona business community and an immense point of pride. Let鈥檚 resolve to secure another NHL club and ensure that our current teams know they鈥檙e welcome and valued.

Danny Seiden is president and CEO of the Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry.

Photo Picasa

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The Phoenix Airport system has a positive economic impact of more than $44 billion per year according to from the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University. 

The system, which in addition to Phoenix Sky Harbor includes airports in Deer Valley and Goodyear, supports more 246,000 direct and indirect jobs with a payroll of nearly $15 billion annually. 

The study captured data from 2022, when domestic and international travel was still very much in pandemic recovery, and yet the study shows upticks in economic output, worker wages, and visitor spending compared to a previous study in 2016. 

By the numbers 

• Visitor spending: increased 12% from 2016 to 2022, or $5.8 billion to $6.5 billion.
• Spending by domestic visitors: An estimated $831 per visitor per trip.
• Spending by international visitors: $1,002 per visitor per trip.
• Jobs at Sky Harbor: More than 47,000
• Domestic destinations from Sky Harbor: More than 120.
• International destinations from Sky Harbor: 25.

From the Mayor鈥檚 Office 

鈥淭he Phoenix Airport System is a critical asset to our community and state, and this new study underscores how vital it is to our economy,” Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. 鈥淧hoenix is thriving in no small part thanks to our airports, and our continued investment in them creates jobs, supports both local and global businesses, connects Phoenicians to worldwide opportunities, and leaves visitors with a desire to come back to the Valley.鈥� 

From the business community 

• 鈥淎rizona has all the bragging rights when it comes to its flagship international airport,鈥� Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry president and CEO Danny Seiden said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 modern, convenient, affordable, and offers destinations across the country and around the globe. Sky Harbor and the Phoenix Airport system is an indispensable part of the Arizona economy.鈥� 

• 鈥淎s frequent travelers know, we鈥檙e so fortunate to call Phoenix Sky Harbor International our home airport. But we鈥檙e not the only ones who think so,鈥� Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association President and CEO Kim Sabow said. 鈥淚n The Wall Street Journal鈥檚 of best airports, Sky Harbor landed in the no. 1 slot, and for good reason. With comparatively few delays, great service and amenities, and plenty of destinations, what鈥檚 not to like?鈥� 

Bright horizons ahead 

• During her State of the City address last week, Gallego said Phoenix is in the planning stages for a brand-new terminal.
  
• In May, a new nonstop flight between Paris and Phoenix will join London and Frankfurt among the nonstop routes to Europe.

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Monday night鈥檚 NCAA Men鈥檚 Basketball Final Four championship game in Glendale marks the culmination of a whirlwind four days of events in the greater Phoenix area that will deliver an estimated $250 million-$300 million positive economic impact according to a from the Common Sense Institute. 

This is the second NCAA Men鈥檚 Final Four held in Arizona, solidifying the state鈥檚 place as a major destination for sports tourism and events like the Super Bowl, the Waste Management Open, and various golf, fencing, and other major championships. Thanks to the Diamondbacks, Phoenix has also hosted World Series games. 

鈥淗osting the NCAA Men鈥檚 Final Four is a monumental task that requires the cooperation of countless stakeholders, from local businesses to government agencies,鈥� Arizona Lodging & Tourism Association President and CEO Kim Sabow said. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 tournament is not only showcasing Arizona鈥檚 world-class facilities and hospitality but is also reinforcing the state鈥檚 reputation as a premier destination for major sporting events.鈥� 

Key findings from the report include: 

• $250-$300M: Estimated combined economic impact of activity at Arizona鈥檚 four days of Final Four events.
• $20 billion: Contribution of the combined Sports and Tourism sector to Arizona鈥檚 Real Gross Domestic Product in 2024 (+8.6% year-over-year).
• $12.7 billion: Estimated direct sales by Arizona鈥檚 hotels, casinos, sports and other professional performance venues, and other components of the state鈥檚 Sports and Tourism sector in 2024.
• 320,000: Number of people directly and indirectly employed by Arizona鈥檚 Sports and Tourism sector, or 10% of the state鈥檚 total workforce.
• 3.5%: Projected average annual growth rate of the sector over the next decade

Big visitor numbers

The average attendance at the Final Four games between 2010 and 2019 is 72,733. Attendance has been recovering slowly since 2020. In 2022, average attendance per-game was 69,800, and in 2023 attendance was 72,400. 

The average attendance for a concert at State Farm Stadium over the same period has been about 52,000, which means basketball over these last few days will have delivered an additional 20,000 more fans to Glendale to eat and drink at restaurants, shop, and spend money on recreational activities before and after the main event. 

CSI estimates that 150,000 people will attend the Men鈥檚 Final Four and surrounding events in Phoenix over three-and-a-half days beginning April 6th, with 58,500 (39%) of those attendees visiting from out of state. 

Given historical average expenditure data, these visitors spend:

• $73 million on hotels and lodging in Phoenix
• $12.9 million on meals
• $2.4 million on drinks
• $29.6 million on transportation and airfare
• $43.7 million on game tickets over the course of the event weekend

鈥淭he NCAA Final Four is a catalyst for economic opportunity,鈥� said Kamryn Brunner, research analyst at CSI Arizona. 鈥淥ur findings are once again showing the vital role that sports and tourism play in Arizona’s economy, contributing billions in GDP and supporting thousands of jobs across the state.鈥� 

CSI estimates that this new spending will result in approximately $15 million in new sales tax revenue for state and local jurisdictions. 

The Purdue Boilermakers and the University of Connecticut Huskies, both no. 1 seeds, tip off at 6:20 pm tonight at State Farm Stadium.

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Advocates for workers who rely on tips for much of their earnings urged members of the state House Commerce Committee on Tuesday to act to preserve the workers鈥� livelihoods. 

If passed by the Legislature, SCR 1040, The Tipped Workers Protection Act, would ask voters in November to decide whether the state constitution should be changed to protect tipped earnings and increase the guaranteed base wage for servers.

Advocates for tipped workers say the change is necessary as activists nationwide pursue policies that would eliminate the so-called 鈥渢ip credit,鈥� which allows employers to pay their tipped workers less than the mandated hourly wage since workers who earn tips often take home far more than they would if they were regular hourly workers. 

Under The Tipped Workers Protection Act, tipped workers would be guaranteed to earn at least $2 more than the minimum wage. 

In Arizona, the state minimum wage is $14.35 per hour and is adjusted upward every January depending on the rate of inflation. 

Anti-tipping advocates backed by organized labor, however, are gathering signatures to put their own proposal on the Arizona ballot in November to eliminate the tip credit. 

But as lawmakers heard Tuesday, the consequences could be severe, driving up labor costs for employers in sectors like dining and hospitality, which in turn could lead to lower earnings for previously tipped workers due to reduced hours and shifts. 

Small, independent restaurants in rural parts of the state, which already operate on extremely thin margins, would likely struggle the most. 

Patrons would likely see an impact, too, with higher menu prices, as well as fewer staff members and diminished service levels as restaurateurs pivot to less labor-intensive technology like app-based ordering to offset the higher labor costs. 

Tip credits have been eliminated in other states and the District of Columbia, where a National Restaurant Association survey of 1,000 D.C.-area adults found that more than half are dining out less because of higher prices and, when they do, are more reluctant to leave an additional tip for their server due to higher prices or mandatory service charges. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 unfortunate that this bill is necessary, but anti-tipping advocates are doing all they can to undermine a pay model for servers that for decades has proven successful,鈥� Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry Vice President of Government Affairs Courtney Coolidge said. 鈥淏y making it more expensive to hire servers, the anti-tipping crowd is hurting the very people they claim to want to help.鈥�

In addition to the state chamber of commerce and local chambers, many organizations representing servers support the bill, including the Arizona Restaurant Association and the Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association.

Sultan Stipho, a server who testified before the committee, said earning tips is his profession鈥檚 鈥渦pside,鈥� allowing servers to make a significant amount of money in a relatively short period of time. 

Stipho said he entered the field because of its flexibility and its potentially unlimited earning potential, comparing tips to commissions in sales. 

鈥淚 urge you all to think about the people here who are actually working in the industry,鈥� he said. 

The bill passed the Commerce Committee by a 6-3 vote. If approved by the full House, the measure would head to the state Senate for a final vote. If passed there, it would head to the November ballot.

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American Airlines recently announced new international service to Tijuana, Baja Calif., Mexico. The route joins several others offered by American and other carriers from Phoenix to Mexico, but it鈥檚 the first to Mexico鈥檚 second-largest city by population, an emerging tech and industrial hub.

鈥淧hoenix and Mexico share strong trade and tourism connections, and this new direct route to Tijuana further reinforces our partnership,鈥� Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. 鈥淲e expect the new flight to generate $10 million in economic impact every year and ultimately help us on our mission to diversify and fortify Phoenix鈥檚 growing economy, particularly in the manufacturing industry. I want to thank the great Aviation Team and American Airlines for all of their hard work to make today鈥檚 announcement possible.鈥�

Phoenix serves as the sole United States destination for Tijuana, with TIJ Airport ranking among Mexico’s most well-connected hubs, offering flights to more than 40 domestic destinations.

Phoenix Sky Harbor now includes Tijuana as its 14th Mexican destination served by American Airlines. The presence of international flights holds significant economic advantages for the local community. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, these international flights contributed an annual economic impact of $3 billion.

鈥淭his new air service to Tijuana strengthens our mutually beneficial economic ties to Mexico, opening even more avenues for trade and travel. Phoenix continues to be a destination of choice for investment and leisure, and we are providing yet another opportunity鈥� Phoenix Councilwoman Ann O鈥橞rien said.

The announcement coincided with a visit to Arizona by Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar 脕vila Olmeda and Kurt Ignacio Honold Morales, the state鈥檚 secretary of the economy. 

In a roundtable with business leaders and representatives of the Arizona Commerce Authority, including ACA President and CEO Sandra Watson, Del Pilar touted Baja California as a destination for nearshoring, as manufacturers reconsider manufacturing in Asia and look for operations closer to the U.S. with more resilient supply chains. 

Baja California has the largest concentration of aerospace companies in Mexico, and the state touts more than 80 companies in life sciences, with the San Diego-Baja California region contributing more than $250 billion in the sector, which includes medical devices, biotech, and pharmaceuticals.

Honold said Baja California, Sonora, California, and Arizona should be thought of as a mega region of more than 50 million people that 鈥渃an win the race for nearshoring and the future.鈥�

In addition to the roundtable, Del Pilar met with representatives from the state鈥檚 three public universities, executives at Footprint, which has operations in Mexicali, and with Gov. Kaite Hobbs.

鈥淚t is a strategic goal of our government to consolidate a strong relationship with our neighboring states to strengthen supply chains in priority economic sectors such as semiconductors, medical and aerospace among many others,鈥� Del Pilar said on social media.

Photo courtesy Gov. Del Pilar Facebook

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It wasn鈥檛 just the Super Bowl that went into overtime on Sunday. The WM Phoenix Open also ended in thrilling fashion with two playoff holes. Here鈥檚 the rundown of the event and a look at some of the business that got done, too.

CEO Forum
Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry President and CEO Danny Seiden was joined by senior leaders from the Arizona Commerce Authority, semiconductor supplier EMD Electronics, and software firm Cognite as a panelist at the annual CEO Forum that gave business leaders from outside Arizona a chance to learn more about what makes the state one of the country鈥檚 best places to do business.

鈥淭his was a great opportunity to share with CEOs from around the country what we鈥檙e doing in Arizona and how a competitive tax climate, easy-to-navigate regulations, and a robust talent pipeline have combined to attract job creators from a wide variety of industries,鈥� Seiden said. 鈥淲e had the chance to talk with leaders from companies in cybersecurity, electric vehicles, and semiconductors, all of whom are now better informed about our value proposition and have a better understanding about why their peers are choosing Arizona.鈥�

The winner: Nick Taylor
Canadian and part-time Scottsdale resident Nick Taylor, the 2023 runner-up, won the tournament after besting Charley Hoffman following two playoff holes. Taylor forced the playoff with a birdie on the final hole, and then rattled off another two birdies in the playoff to take the win. 

The runner-up: Charley Hoffman
Hoffman, who is sponsored by tournament sponsor WM, went 7-under on Sunday. He had the lead going into the 18^th hole in regulation and matched Taylor with a birdie on the first playoff hole, but Taylor nabbed a birdie on the second playoff hole to knock Hoffman into second place.

Another top performance for Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler, who won the tournament in 2022 鈥� also in a playoff 鈥� and last year, came just short of making it three in a row, taking third place at 18-under. He looked like he could top the leaderboard again with a fourth round that included four consecutive birdies on holes 2-5.

The weather
Any myths that it doesn鈥檛 rain in the desert got debunked this year. The Wednesday Pro-Am was called off due to heavy rain, and rain on Thursday prevented most players from completing their first round, which caused knock-on effects throughout the tournament and forced the third round to finish on Sunday. After a short break, golfers began the fourth round and somehow finished 鈥� including two playoff holes 鈥� before play was stopped for darkness, avoiding a Monday finish.

The crowds
The rain left some parts of the course a muddy mess, giving the tournament鈥檚 huge crowds less room to roam. In fact, things were so congested that law enforcement and tournament organizers on Saturday stopped allowing patrons into the TPC of Scottsdale and cut off alcohol sales.

The prize money
Taylor won just shy of $1.6 million for his efforts. Runner-up Hoffman won $959,000 and Scheffler and Sam Burns won $519,000 in their tie for third.

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Customs and Border Protection on December 4 announced the closure of an international bridge in Eagle Pass, Texas spanning the Rio Grande and a land port of entry at Lukeville, Arizona. Days later CBP closed a pedestrian crossing in San Ysidro, the border community south of San Diego. Just recently, CBP suspended rail crossing operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, Texas. CBP has closed other bridges at times throughout 2023, each closure more disruptive than the next.

These closures are in part a consequence of the inability or unwillingness of successive Congresses and administrations to reach a durable agreement on immigration and border security.

But the blame for today鈥檚 debacle rests in the epic mismanagement by the current administration of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It’s not just Republican governors and members of Congress voicing criticism. It’s a growing list of prominent Democrats.  

The closures are unacceptable. They damage cross-border trade. They cause shipping delays and cost increases, which get passed along to consumers in the form of higher prices on store shelves. They make travel more difficult for folks who want to visit friends and family or simply run errands, and they cut off small businesses from their customers.

It鈥檚 clear that many on Capitol Hill and the current White House don鈥檛 understand cross-border trade and travel鈥檚 importance to every border community. Eagle Pass and Lukeville rely on trade and travel just as much as behemoths like Detroit or Laredo, Texas or San Ysidro, Calif. For the people who live and work in the affected areas, the ports are essential to their livelihoods.

When it comes to beer imports, no one is bigger than Eagle Pass. A little over two hours south of San Antonio, the city sits across from Piedras Negras, Coahuila, and the nearby town of Nava, where Constellation Brands brews beers like Corona and Modelo. The annual value of beer imports at Eagle Pass is more than $3.5 billion. Eagle Pass is also a major import point for kitchen appliances, clothes, and vehicle parts.

Lukeville serves as the main port for travelers to and from Arizona and the beach community of Puerto Pe帽asco, or Rocky Point. It鈥檚 also isolated. CBP suggests travelers instead go west and use the San Luis port south of Yuma or go east and cross at Nogales. It鈥檚 an approximately three-hour drive from San Luis to Puerto Pe帽asco, nearly five hours via Nogales. It鈥檚 no wonder that in what should otherwise be a busy holiday travel season, merchants in Puerto Pe帽asco their community 鈥渓ike a little ghost town.鈥�

CBP says the closures are necessary to shift personnel to assist with the migrant surges on the Mexican side of the border, which have become a humanitarian calamity. Border Patrol agents and CBP officers have an already difficult job made even more challenging by Washington鈥檚 ineptitude, and, as a result, the country鈥檚 legal trade and travel corridors are shut down, while illegal migration only grows.

The story of immigration reform in Washington is a long and frustrating one. Over the years, some members of both parties have negotiated in good faith, but many haven鈥檛, preferring instead to demagogue an issue where real action is needed.

Here are some recommendations:

• Bridge and port closures are intolerable. The consequences of a mismanaged border and of unscrupulous smugglers who lie to migrants should not be borne disproportionately by the American people. The processing of legitimate trade and travel should take priority over migrants with dubious amnesty claims.

• The administration needs to get the border under control, and agency staffing levels at the U.S.-Mexico border shouldn鈥檛 bear the entire burden. To deal with migrant surges, Border Patrol agents and CBP officers should be shifted from locations other than the Southwest border.

• The president should signal he鈥檚 ready to bargain and give congressional Republicans most of what they want. A bill like H.R. 2, the heavy enforcement bill House Republicans passed earlier this year, may not include the type of policy the president would prefer, but he should at least be willing to cut a deal for its political value. One look at his poll numbers and it鈥檚 obvious that immigration could sink his campaign.

• There is an emerging solution to be had if members of both parties will take yes for an answer. Senators like Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., and Tom Tillis, R-N.C., stayed in Washington before the holiday recess to negotiate an immigration deal that could reform our amnesty laws, allow for more expedited removals, and clean up the parole system that releases some migrants from U.S. custody. Party leaders should encourage their rank-and-file members to study the proposal before criticizing it.

These are recommendations for the near term. We and our colleagues in the business community for more than a decade have urged Congress and the White House to reach an agreement that can meet the country鈥檚 border security requirements, that reflects the realities of our economy, and that encourages cross-border commerce. But right now, our states鈥� international borders are in crisis. Washington needs to fix the damage it鈥檚 inflicted.

Danny Seiden is the president and CEO of the Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry. Glenn Hamer is the president and CEO of the Texas Association of Business.

Photo courtesy . CC BY-NC 2.0 DEED Attribution-NonCommercial 2.0 Generic

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The Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association will honor the memory of an Arizona business community leader at its annual golf tournament this week while also encouraging the next generation of tourism talent. 

The Doug Yonko Memorial Golf Tournament honors the longtime Hensley Beverage Co. public affairs executive who passed away in September 2020. Yonko was an Arizona business community stalwart, having served in several leadership positions, including as chairman of the Arizona 七彩直播 of Commerce & Industry Board of Directors from 2012-2013, and as chairman of the Arizona Hispanic 七彩直播 of Commerce. 

At the time of Yonko鈥檚 passing, then Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey commended Yonko for 鈥渉is immense business acumen, civic engagement and generous willingness to give back to the state he loved so much.鈥� 

Sponsored by HSL Properties, the golf tournament will also feature the announcement of the latest AzLTA scholarship winners. Nine college students from Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University, Grand Canyon University, and Scottsdale Community College will be recognized, one of whom will be awarded the Doug Yonko Scholarship in the amount of $7,500. A portion of the funds raised from this year鈥檚 tournament will go toward future scholarships. 

鈥淒oug was a tireless advocate for Arizona tourism and the opportunities it offers the professionals in our field,鈥� Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association President and CEO Kim Grace Sabow said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a fitting tribute that one of our scholarships is named after Doug.鈥�   

In addition to its annual scholarships to support students planning on careers in tourism, the AzLTA recently launched a new digital tourism jobs hub in partnership with PipelineAZ. brings together students, job seekers, and employers across every part of Arizona鈥檚 vibrant hospitality ecosystem to grow the industry鈥檚 talent pipeline and to meet the demands of the industry into the future. 

鈥淭ourism is an essential part of Arizona鈥檚 success and our brand identity,鈥� Sabow said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 our biggest export, it鈥檚 a job creator, and it generates billions for our state鈥檚 bottom line. The industry is thriving, but to remain strong and vibrant, we must ensure that we’re cultivating the talent to keep pace with our growth. I would encourage anyone who wants to learn more about the exciting career opportunities that are possible in the tourism industry to visit azhospitalitycareers.com.鈥�

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Phoenix Sky Harbor international airport was named the nation鈥檚 best airport by the Wall Street Journal in its latest rankings. Perks include a solid variety of flights and airlines, plenty of amenities, and a lack of weather-related flight cancellations.

This honor comes from the Wall Street Journal鈥檚 of the country鈥檚 busiest airports. Sky Harbor was also named best airport in 2019. This year PHX scored a 63.4 out of 100, the best out of any airport. 

The report by The Journal evaluates the top 50 U.S. airports using 30 criteria split into two traveler-centric categories: one assessing reliability and the other focusing on value and convenience.

鈥淚鈥檝e been at the airport dozens of times over the last year and a half for major announcements 鈥� the opening of the new Eighth Concourse; the opening Stage 2 of the PHX Sky Train庐; the launch of mobile ID for Apple Wallet, the launch of Waymo, new air service announcements, Dementia-Friendly initiatives, and making burgers with Bobby Flay,鈥� Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. 鈥淎ll those announcements and the hard work of the Sky Harbor team have been adding up. Their dedication and devotion earned us this recognition from the Wall Street Journal, and we couldn鈥檛 do it without our amazing Aviation team and everyone who makes the airport run.鈥�

Each category contributed equally to an airport’s total score, with 10 reliability measures, encompassing factors like Transportation Security Administration wait times and duration on the tarmac. Ultimately, the main concern in travel revolves around on-time arrivals.

鈥淲hat an asset for the Valley and the state to have a modern, convenient, traveler-friendly airport offering flights all over the country and to Europe, Canada, and Mexico. Sky Harbor definitely enhances Arizona鈥檚 tourism environment,鈥� Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association President and CEO Kim Grace Sabow said. 鈥淲hen we welcome travelers from all over the world, Arizona makes a great first impression.鈥�

Sky Harbor experienced minimal flight cancellations compared to other major airports, boasted shorter delays, and notably reduced wait times on the tarmac before takeoff or reaching the gate. On average, the duration for planes to taxi out 鈥� from gate departure to takeoff 鈥� clocked in at under 15 minutes, a stark contrast to JFK’s average of 26 minutes.

American and Southwest airlines, which have major operations at the airport, accommodate nearly three-quarters of all passengers and proved to be consistently dependable. Sky Harbor also exhibited good performance in financial aspects such as airfares and Uber expenses to downtown, along with impressive amenities like efficient baggage claim and well-equipped car rental services. However, it showed a downside in rental car expenses during the November weekend in which the pricing study was conducted. 

Airport director Chad Makovsky said, 鈥淎t the end of the day, we鈥檙e trying to keep the stress down for customers.鈥�

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