In celebration of Tourism Day and the $5+ billion generated annually by the New Mexico tourism industry, leaders of the industry, both public and private, will join in a press conference in celebration of Tourism Day at the Legislature, Tuesday (February 3, 2009), 2 p.m., in the Rotunda at the New Mexico State Capitol in Santa Fe.

Steve Paternoster, owner of Scalo Northern Italian Grill in Albuquerque, will be the industry spokesman, joining representatives of the Tourism Association of New Mexico, New Mexico Restaurant Association, New Mexico Lodgers Association, New Mexico Bed & Breakfast Association, Ski New Mexico, the Greater Albuquerque Innkeepers Association and New Mexico Golf Destinations. Michael Cerletti, Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Tourism Department and representatives of the New Mexico Tourism Commission also plan to attend.

The purpose of the press conference is to highlight the importance of tourism to the New Mexico’s economy, specifically:

In 2008, tourism remained the second largest private sector industry in New Mexico, welcoming 12 million visitors who contributed more than $5.5 billion to the state‘s economy;
New Mexico’s Tourism Industry is the state’s largest private sector employer, with more than 90,000 employees and a payroll of more than $1 billion; and
Tourism in New Mexico in 2008 resulted in $351 million in state tax revenues, $34 million in lodger’s tax revenues and $85 million in local tax revenues. 

WHEN: Tuesday (February 3, 2009), 2 p.m.

WHERE: Rotunda of the State Capitol in Santa Fe, 490 Old Santa Fe Trail

www.tanm.orgFor more information contact  Sharon S. Schultz, CEO of the Tourism Association of New Mexico, 6121 Indian School Rd, NE, Suite 216, Albuquerque, NM 87110, 505-345-5553, or

Additional New Mexico Information

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