White Party Boosts Downtown Palm Springs Economy

The action in the hotel may draw people into the white party, but outside the walls of the Renaissance, there is still more to see and do.

“We have a very diverse crowd. Families, people here for the White Party and also just for vacation,” Ace Hotel general manager Jason Dibler said.

Local businesses said the white weekend does wonders for sales.

“We’ve more than tripled our business. The influx of the guys, the partying going on, the revenue, the tripling of the staff, big time. We’re all celebrating and appreciate it,” Craig Dunham, a bartender at Spurrline said.

“Probably about 20 to 30 percent better than last year,” Dibler said. “Being Saturday and Sunday sold out, compared to last year we were a little softer.”

While people said they see a significant increase in crowds all over downtown Palm Springs, they said a lot of people come specifically to Arenas Road.

“It’s the gay mecca of Palm Springs,” Steven Cagle, the manager of Score, said.

Businesses say the white party falling on Easter weekend only helps.

“We were worried that people might not come and not visit the desert because it is a holiday, but we’re actually getting a lot of families here for Easter,” Dibler said.

“You’re going to get a lot of non-gay tourists come to town because it’s Easter weekend, it’s a three-day weekend. But, then you have the added benefit of the gay crowds coming in as well,” Dunham said.

Whether it’s hotel parties or lunches in downtown — the weekend rakes it in for the valley.