Above is a rendering of what the Gaylord Resort would look like in East Mesa if Proposition 300 passes. I can assure you that this is only half the picture.
As I have mentioned in previous posts I have stayed at two Gaylord Resorts, and while both may have started like this picture represents, they did not stay that way for long. Gaylord’s have a reputation of springing up commerce all around them. Malls get erected, restaurants are built, shopping centers and entertainment opportunities sprout all around the complex up to support the tourists. Yes the Gaylord has all those things and more, but sometimes you just want to get away after being there for a conference all day and this brings even more opportunity and more tax revenue.
Not only will this bring more revenue, it will bring thousands of new jobs and new opportunities for home buyers and sellers alike. Houses in East Mesa, Gilbert and Queen Creek that currently empty will all of a sudden have new value and a new demand as more people will want to live closer to the new jobs.
Does Mesa need to give up some of the bed tax it would collect from the Gaylord to get it here? Yes, but here is the part you don’t hear often. If there is no Gaylord, there is no bed tax to collect in the first place.
Is this a savior for Mesa? Maybe not, but it will go a long ways towards helping. We lost out on bringing the Cardinals here, and look what it did for Glendale. Let’s not lose out again.
