Feb. 25 editorial, and March 8 editorial.
The recent attacks on the Gaylord Rockies Hotel and Conference Center undermine the very foundation of economic development and regional cooperation in Colorado. This is a policy issue with much broader statewide implications. If the state can renege on its commitments to the city of Aurora, every city in Colorado is vulnerable to this type of contract infringement.
Hoteliers challenging the Gaylord project are misrepresenting the facts about the incentives. To be clear, the incentives are funded by tourists spending money at the Gaylord. No state or local subsidies have been granted to the project up-front. Every penny of the tax revenues that make up the incentives will be generated by the project itself, so if there is no project, there will be no incentives.
We know that the Gaylord would not be built without incentives. To be approved, every Regional Tourism Act (RTA) project undergoes a rigorous independent analysis and thorough vetting by the Colorado Economic Development Commission to conclusively prove its regional benefits and the necessity for incentives. The Gaylord will bring 450,000 new tourists and $273 million annually to the state. It will create 10,000 construction jobs and 2,500 permanent jobs.
All of the attacks on the project raise a basic question of fairness. While there was ample opportunity to voice concerns publicly through the RTA process, opponents chose not to do so, but now, three years later, they even question the legality of the RTA itself — threatening all current and future RTA approved projects.
The local hoteliers’ campaign of lawsuits, lobbying and misinformation to discourage outside competition creates the impression that doing business with and in the state of Colorado is risky and uncertain. When a project like Gaylord, which has substantial amounts already invested in plans and contracts, can be hindered by unethical tactics, what company would want to invest in Colorado?
This is much bigger than Gaylord or Aurora. This is about Colorado’s reputation and our ability to attract business.
Steve Hogan is mayor of Aurora.
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