In Minnesota, travel and tourism generates more than $16 billion in gross sales, which is equivalent to more than $44 million every day. It also accounts for 11 percent of total private sector employment. Yet no sector has been hit worse during the COVID-19 pandemic than hospitality.

Throughout the Minneapolis and St. Paul region, employment in this sector, which includes arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodations, and food services, dropped 54% from March to April. Within this industry sector, employment at full-service restaurants dropped 74.1% from 60,098 in March to 16,671 in April.

On Friday, June 12, the Twin West chamber of commerce hosted its monthly Issues & Insights event, this time via Zoom. I moderated a panel discussion on how COVID-19 has impacted Minnesota industries in retail, restaurant, hotel and resorts & campgrounds. Attendees heard from the leaders who are managing a never-experienced-before economy, and coping with the potential health-related impact on its members and customers. The panelists were:

Liz Sheridan Rammer, president & CEO of Hospitality MN

Ann Kirby McGill, director of strategic alignment, Hospitality MN

And Bruce Nustad, president and CEO of the Minnesota Retailers Association