Subject: FW: McCrory’s Tourism Report Leaves Out $200M Lost to HB2
From: "Jefferson, Deshundra" <[email-masked]>
To: Comm_D <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 2 May 2016 13:45:23 -0700

From: Dave Miranda [mailto:[email-masked]]
Sent: Monday, May 02, 2016 4:45 PM
To: Dave Miranda
Subject: McCrory’s Tourism Report Leaves Out $200M Lost to HB2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 2, 2016
CONTACT: Dave Miranda, 919.408.7430
or [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>

McCrory’s Tourism Report Leaves Out $200M Lost to HB2

RALEIGH, N.C. – Gov. Pat McCrory today released a report on North Carolina tourism, but failed to include the fallout from his job-killing discrimination bill, HB2. HB2 is expected to cost the state more than $200 million in tourism revenue if it is not repealed.

“HB2 has cost North Carolina dozens of events, concerts and conventions, and North Carolinians who work in the hospitality industry are going to be hurt by McCrory’s discriminatory law,” said North Carolina Democratic Party spokesman Dave Miranda. “McCrory himself admitted yesterday that his bill is costing jobs. The $15 million North Carolina’s tourism industry has already lost is a drop in the bucket compared to the more than $200 million HB2 will eventually cost the state if McCrory doesn’t repeal it.”

Immediately after HB2 was passed, more than a dozen conventions announced they were canceling plans to come to North Carolina. Several concerts and shows also canceled, including Bruce Springsteen, Ringo Starr and Cirque du Soleil. More recently, the Kellogg Foundation canceled a major conference in Asheville because of HB2, costing North Carolina an estimated $1.5 million in lost economic activity.

Speaking with a group of local pastors in the Outer Banks on Thursday, Gov. McCrory acknowledged the economic impact of his job-killing law. “The travel and tourism industry,” he said, “is getting hit hard. It’s costing jobs. But who gets hurt? It’s the working man and woman.”

“They’re the ones getting punished,” added McCrory.

The state’s latest report on tourism activity does not mention the tens of millions of dollars lost as a result of HB2.

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ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND

GOV. MCCRORY IN HIS OWN WORDS ON HB2: “THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM INDUSTRY IS GETTING HIT HARD. IT’S COSTING JOBS.”

McCrory On April 28: Because Of HB2 Backlash, “The Travel And Tourism Industry Is Getting Hit Hard. It’s Costing Jobs.” “Citing what he saw a concerted media and activist campaign against HB2, McCrory observed, ‘When you read the national media, they say we're encouraging discrimination. But we're not encouraging discrimination of any kind.’ He added that ‘this is about privacy and security.’ ‘The travel and tourism industry,’ he said, ‘is getting hit hard. It's costing jobs. But who gets hurt? It's the working man and woman — who probably agree with us, but they're the ones getting punished.’” [Outer Banks Sentinel, 4/29/16<http://www.obsentinel.com/news/governor-meets-with-local-pastors-in-manns-harbor/article_e71e9a1e-0e1e-11e6-ac69-339f936af937.html>]

HB2 COULD COST NORTH CAROLINA $200+ MILLION IN TOURISM REVENUE IF NOT REPEALED

Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority: HB2 Could Cost Charlotte $86,474,178 In Tourism Revenue. “The group said 36 events are hesitant about coming. That means 111,775 room nights could be lost. Bottom line here could be $83,934,385 million. Add all that up, the CRVA calculates HB2 could cost Charlotte $86,474,178 million.” [WBTV, 4/15/16<http://www.wbtv.com/story/31739571/crva-calculates-events-business-lost-over-hb2>]

The NBA May Move The All-Star Game, Which Is Estimated To Inject $100 Million Into The Charlotte Economy. The Charlotte Observer reported “NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that if North Carolina’s LGBT law remains unchanged, the 2017 All-Star Game would have to be moved from Charlotte.” WTVD reported, “Other regions in the state also say the impact is being felt. The Charlotte Regional Visitor's Bureau estimates the city could lose $100 million should the 2017 NBA All-Star Game be moved from Charlotte.” [Charlotte Observer, 4/21/16<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article73086142.html#storylink=cpy>; WTVD, 4/12/16<http://abc11.com/politics/nc-cities-say-theyre-feeling-impact-of-hb2-backlash/1287518/>]

Greater Raleigh Convention And Visitors Bureau Estimated $36 Million In Visitor Spending In Jeopardy Because Of HB2. The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau reported that 12 groups have canceled events in Wake County, where Raleigh is located. Another 31 are reconsidering their plans to hold events, the bureau said; that puts nearly $36 million in visitor spending in jeopardy.” [Associated Press, 4/27/16<Read%20more%20at%20http:/www.wral.com/fallout-from-north-carolina-lgbt-law-worries-small-business/15667427/#wh1zUs68l9RzgLZF.99>]

HB2 HAS ALREADY COST THE TOURISM INDUSTRY AT LEAST $15 MILLION

HB2 Has Already Cost North Carolina’s Economy At Least $15 Million In Tourism And Event Visitor Revenue.  If the economic impact of every confirmed cancellation is added up, HB2 has cost North Carolina’s economy at least $15,053,659.64 in lost tourism and event revenue, with hundreds of millions in jeopardy as of May 2, 2016. See below for a list of confirmed HB2 cancellations.

The Raleigh Area Lost An Estimated $3.5 Million Because Of HB2. [Associated Press, 4/27/16<http://www.wral.com/fallout-from-north-carolina-lgbt-law-worries-small-business/15667427/#hD1VWvVoYkc2kFxh.99>]

Seven Events Canceled On Charlotte Because Of HB2, Costing 1,635 Hotel Room Nights, A Total Economic Impact Of $226,857 With Food And Attractions Included. [WBTV, 4/15/16<http://www.wbtv.com/story/31739571/crva-calculates-events-business-lost-over-hb2>]

Bruce Springsteen’s Cancellation Caused Greensboro Coliseum To Lose $100,000. [News & Record, 4/9/16<http://www.greensboro.com/go_triad/music/bruce-springsteen-cancels-greensboro-concert-over-hb/article_f05ed50f-0c58-5bf6-8d53-da0bc87891ce.html>]

The Southern Sociological Society’s Cancellation Of Its Planned Conference In Charlotte Will Cost The Westin Charlotte $180,000. [Charlotte Observer, 4/8/16<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/article70867152.html#storylink=cpy>]

A Crystal Coast, NC Realty Company Reported Loss Of At Least $50,000 Revenue Due To House Bill 2. [WITN, 4/18/16<http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/Tourism-group-says-Crystal-Coast-losing-bookings-because-of-bathroom-bill-376105651.html>]

The B Corporation Convention—Canceled Pending Repeal Of HB2—Was Expected To Generate $1 Million For Local Hotels, Restaurants And Businesses In Durham. [News & Observer, 4/18/16<http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/community/durham-news/article72206272.html>]

Denver-Based HW Home’s Decision Not To Attend The High Point Market Alone Cost North Carolina $5,000 In Rental Cars And Restaurants, And $1 Million That The Company Would’ve Spent On Products. [Charlotte Observer, 4/16/16<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/politics-government/article72244177.html>]

Greensboro Convention And Visitors Bureau President Estimated Greensboro Lost $6 Million Due To HB2. [TWC News, 4/19/16<http://www.twcnews.com/nc/triad/news/2016/04/19/greensboro-tourism-leaders--city-has-lost--6-million-in-revenue-because-of-hb2-fallout-.html>]

Cirque De Soleil’s Cancellation Cost The Greensboro Coliseum $68,000, While Boston’s Cost $20,000. [News & Record, 4/24/16<http://www.greensboro.com/news/local_news/travelers-advisory-hb-will-reduce-tourism-for-years-officials-say/article_2c453f30-827d-5d02-b3cb-57f6314b196a.html>]

National Organization For Victim Assistance Canceled Charlotte Event Because Of HB2, Causing Loss Of 1,516 Room Nights In The City—Which Charlotte City Center Group (Comprised Of Local Business And Government Officials) Says Average $124.54—Totaling A $188,802.64 Loss. [Charlotte Observer, 4/21/16<http://www.charlotteobserver.com/news/business/article73023232.html>; Charlotte Center City Partners, accessed 4/14/16<https://web.archive.org/web/20160414175057/http:/www.charlottecentercity.org/business/data/>]

Kellogg Foundation Canceled Major Conference In Asheville Because Of HB2, Causing An Estimated $1.5 Million Economic Impact. [WLOS, 4/25/16<http://wlos.com/news/local/asheville-conference-estimated-to-have-15-million-impact-canceled-due-to-hb2>]

Pearl Jam’s Decision To Cancel Their Raleigh Concert Cost Four Hotels A Total Of $60,000. [News & Observer, 4/25/16<http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/counties/wake-county/article73773097.html>]

Winston-Salem Hotel Losses “Could Have Been In The $160,000 To $250,000 Range Locally.” [Winston-Salem Journal, 4/30/16<http://www.journalnow.com/news/local/house-bill-casts-shadow-over-winston-salem-tourism-future-sports/article_a27066f3-76ef-524e-8f13-4e70d84b2458.html>]

Wilmington Lost $995,000 Of Spending From The American Institute Of Architects Convention. [WECT, 5/1/16<http://raycomgroup.worldnow.com/story/31822568/architect-conference-cancellation-due-to-hb2-to-cost-wilmington-nearly-1-million>]

The North Carolina Democratic Party (NCDP) is the North Carolina affiliate of the Democratic Party. NCDP works to elect Democratic public officials, encourages North Carolinians to become involved in Democratic politics, and fights for equality, opportunity and prosperity for all North Carolinians.

Dave Miranda
Communications Director
North Carolina Democratic Party
Email: [email-masked]<mailto:[email-masked]>
Phone: 919.821.2777

Visit www.ncdp.org<http://www.ncdp.org> to make a secure online contribution or mail contributions to PO Box 1926 Raleigh, NC 27602