Gem show infuses $100 million into economy

When it comes to fueling the Southern Arizona economy, the event that brings sparkling results is the annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase. More than 50,000 visitors from around the world will start rolling into Tucson this week for the show that starts Saturday and runs through Feb. 17.

Last year, the Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau updated its economic analysis of the event, estimating its economic impact to the region is now $100 million. An example of what contributes to that, the bureau said last year’s show accounted for 195,000 nightly hotel stays, at an average of $130 per night.

Tucson Mayor Robert Walkup, who is scheduled to cut a precious gem at 1:30 p.m., Feb. 4, at a learning center in Tucson Electric Park (TEP), says the annual showcase is vital to the economy.

“It is the highest revenue generating event we have all year,” he said. “They fill up all the hotels but it adds about 50,000 to 60,000 cars to our roads every year.”

A new wrinkle this year for gem show attendees is the construction project widening Interstate 10 through downtown Tucson.

“I’m forecasting that number one, the impact of the Interstate 10 modification will have no impact on the gem and mineral show,” Walkup said. “We’re using more park and ride. It has taken people a while to catch on to that but I think they really enjoy the park and ride.”

Al Sargent, event coordinator for the TEP show, said he thinks traffic will actually encourage participants to his activities.

“We’re away from the construction so I don’t think we’ll be adversely affected, if anything I think it will draw people towards us,” he said.

Sargent said he expects about 250 vendors at his location. He said he has used local businesses and labor to construct about 120,000 square feet of tents.

“If the weather is good, we get jam packed,” Sargent said. “It’s free admission, free parking, wholesale and retail and opened to the public. On a busy Saturday afternoon at noon, when the weather was very nice, we were getting 1,500 people an hour.”

All types of merchandise will be available for purchase.

“Just about everything from finished jewelry, gold silver down to rough rocks right out of gem shafts from all over the world,” Sargent said. “If it comes out of the ground, we have it here.”

Businesses throughout the city are gearing up for increased volume as well.

“The gem show is busy across the board in Tucson,” said Marcus Flores, manager at El Charro Caf/, 311 N. Court Ave. “Last year with the economy, I know a lot of people were disappointed with the sale.”

Allison Baron, manager at Hotel Arizona, 181 W. Broadway, said some rooms were booked as much as one year in advanced and the hotel is entirely booked up for the duration of the show.

“Most of our hotel guests have been staying with us five-plus years,” Baron said. “I think the longest guest, this will be his 18th year with us. Most of our customers have preferences when it comes to rooms and will book for next year before they leave.”

At Club Congress in Hotel Congress, 311 E. Congress St., bar manager Aaron Defeo said he’s rolling out a new cocktail menu to coincide with the gem show. It features specialty cocktails ranging from $6 to $8 made with exotic liquors such as elderberry cordials and with fun names like the artini, gin blossom or peach royale.

“I redid the entire drink menu that we have specifically to be unveiled for gem show,” Defeo said. “It features some pretty unique drinks you’re not going to find in a lot of places.”

Kelly Mahoney is a reporter for Inside Tucson Business.

Details

By the numbers

The Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, scheduled for Feb. 2 -17, by the numbers:

$100 million economic impact

50,000+ visitors from around the world

53rd annual event

47 shows at 44 venues

9 GemRide shuttle routes serving 37 strops run daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ($5 for parking but unlimited shuttle rides are free)

2 cornerstone shows at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 S. Church Ave.: American Gem Trade Association show for wholesalers only, Feb. 6 - 11, and Tucson Gem and Mineral Show open to the public Feb. 14 - 17.

Web site: www.visitTucson.org/gemshow