COVID-19 dealt a “devastating blow” to Centre County’s tourism and hospitality industry in 2020, with hotels seeing a nearly $50 million drop in revenue from a year earlier and the resulting local hotel occupancy tax falling by $2.7 million, Happy Valley Adventure Bureau President and CEO Fritz Smith said.
But Smith and others are hopeful that they are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel and that optimism was on display Thursday as the Adventure Bureau awarded the second round of 2020 tourism grants to six events and projects planned for 2021.
“It was great to see the Palmer Museum of Art opening yesterday,” Smith said. “It’s great to see the students returning to campus. It’s great that we’ve held a couple of basketball tournaments over the last couple of weeks and that has helped elevate the hotel occupancy in the area. We were almost halfway full in our hotels this past weekend. After a very dismal December and January, it’s great to see some progress in
Gather information and images for
up to three items of fine & decorative arts, furniture, jewelry, silver, watches & coins and much more. Send an email with the information and images at newyork@skinnerinc.com, maine@skinnerinc.com or at the buttons below.
Maine Monday | February 22
Regional Director of Northern New England Beth Turner will be on hand to evaluate items via email and accept consignments for upcoming 2021 auctions.
Westchester Wednesday | February 24
Regional Director of New York Katie Banser-Whittle will be on hand to evaluate items via email and accept consignments for upcoming 2021 auctions.