Utah hotel industry lost 8,770 jobs; without more help, number could rise

Utah hotels lost 8,770 jobs through September from the affects of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Before the pandemic, the industry had 23,109 employees working directly for hotels, it said. Without congressional action to extend PPP loans and/or expand the Main Street Lending program, Utah has the potential for the job-loss figure to reach 16,932.

 The number of direct hotel jobs and jobs supported by hotels in Utah before the pandemic was 88,463, but the jobs lost in that category through September totaled 19,972. Without congressional aid, the potential job loss is 36,908.