Palm Springs sees spike in tourism, creates new tourism committee

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. (KESQ) - Palm Springs has reported a spike in tourism, with hotel bookings increasing 2.7% since last year, according to Visit Greater Palm Springs.

“We were pleasantly surprised. This quarter one for us has been the best we've seen since we've been open, which is almost nine years,” says Christine Delgado, director of sales for the Kimpton Rowan Hotel in Palm Springs.

There is also a 12% increase in the revenue generated from hotel bookings. General manager of the Rowan Hotel Peggy Trott says Februrary and March are their busiest months due to rolling spring breaks.

"For Q1, we're running in the mid-to-high 80%. So that that means so certainly there are days that we are fully booked, but most of the days we're over 80%,” Trott says.

The city has also put together a new tourism advisory committee comprised of various local business leaders from hotels, restaurants and shops to help boost tourism further. Some committee members include executives from the Kimpton Rowan Hotel, Boozehounds and Greater Palm Springs Pride.

“We're looking at how we can enhance that tourism experience, that travel experience for our guests. And then we're also looking at how can we create new and exciting reasons for people to want to come to Palm Springs,” says Delgado, a member of the committee.