{"id":2456575,"date":"2020-03-31T22:32:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-01T04:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/answers-on-covid-19-economic-crisis-from-aspens-chamber-president\/"},"modified":"2020-03-31T22:32:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-01T04:32:00","slug":"answers-on-covid-19-economic-crisis-from-aspens-chamber-president","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/local-news\/answers-on-covid-19-economic-crisis-from-aspens-chamber-president\/","title":{"rendered":"Answers on COVID-19 economic crisis from Aspen\u2019s chamber president"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image p402_hide\">\n<div class=\"caption-container\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"558\" height=\"697\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/CoronaACRA-atd-040120.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/CoronaACRA-atd-040120.jpg 558w, https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/CoronaACRA-atd-040120-240x300.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 558px) 100vw, 558px\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Aspen Times posed questions to Debbie Braun, the president and CEO of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, about what the organization is doing during the COVID-19 crisis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">The Aspen Times: What is ACRA currently doing for the Aspen business community related to the COVID-19 crisis?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">Debbie Braun: ACRA is running local advertisements and social messaging the business community to know that we hear them, and look forward to supporting recovery efforts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">We created a robust resources page, which includes everything from a business impact survey, mental health resources, delivery and takeout food options, and more.<\/p>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col\">\n<div class=\"row at-donation p-0\">\n<div class=\"col-xl-4 p-2\">\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png)\" class=\"p-0 mt-2 mb-2 h-75 text-center rocket-lazyload\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/AT-logo-white.png\" class=\"logo m-0 p-0 invisible\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-bg=\"url(https:\/\/cdn.aspentimes.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2020\/03\/at-banner-paypal.jpg)\" class=\"col-xl-8 p-3 text-center rocket-lazyload\">\n<h3 class=\"d-inline mr-3\">Support Local Journalism<\/h3>\n<p><button class=\"btn d-inline\" type=\"button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/donate\/?utm_source=website&amp;utm_medium=news%20article&amp;utm_campaign=donation\">Donate<\/a><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">You can also find a business recovery toolbox on <a id=\"N0x1b9b5d0N0x1d6f6e0:N0x1b9b5d0N0x1d03540\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspenchamber.org\/COVID-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.aspenchamber.org\/COVID-19<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i> providing resources and information on economic disaster loans and grants for the business and nonprofit communities.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Our general message is that we support the aggressive tactics to keep the public safe and that when appropriate, we plan to deploy equally aggressive measures to support our local business community and overcome this unprecedented event.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Our Aspen chamber social media channel is also being used to amplify messages from around the valley, reposting important public health information, ways to volunteer and ways to support local businesses, how to enjoy the outdoors while social distancing responsibly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">AT: Is ACRA working on a new marketing plan for summer 2020 given the cancelation of major events like Food &amp; Wine and Aspen Ideas Festival? Is it moving toward focusing tourists on enjoying our national environment?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">DB: Currently we are focused on \u201ckeeping the dream alive\u201d from a travel perspective and bringing Aspen to people\u2019s living rooms.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">We have delayed the start of all advertising for spring\/summer\/fall, but when it is appropriate to start marketing the destination we will be ready to do so with a focus on regional drive markets to begin with, and then as air service and national travel opens back up, once again on our direct fly markets.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">We will focus on the rejuvenating power of nature, value proposition (luxury for less) and having people enjoy the simple pleasures in life that they may have taken for granted previously.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">AT: How hard did ACRA work to find an alternative date for Food &amp; Wine?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">DB: ACRA worked diligently and closely with Food &amp; Wine in regard to the possibility of rescheduling. ACRA reviewed the summer\/fall events calendar to identify dates that may have been a possibility noting events currently scheduled for 2020, as well as referencing calendars over the past several years to identify events that have historically taken place. We consulted with our lodging partners and the research indicated, as Aspen\u2019s summer\/fall season traditionally offers many experiences, available rescheduling dates were limited. In addition, ACRA along with DevINC, connected with other local partners to explore the possibility of activating on alternative dates. Food &amp; Wine also took into consideration the current landscape of the culinary world and availability of event partners overall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">AT: How is ACRA funded? How much revenue comes from the city\u2019s lodging and sales taxes? Is ACRA readjusting its budget due to the lost revenue as a result of the virus crisis?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">DB: ACRA is a membership organization funded by 760 member businesses. We administer a contract for service with the city of Aspen to provide destination marketing services for the community. The funds we receive reflect 1.5% of the 2% lodging tax.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The 2020 ACRA Destination Marketing Budget is around $2.3 million. We do not receive sales tax. The city of Aspen and ACRA finance committee are working on budget forecasting through the end of 2020.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">ACRA has a reserve fund in place to help offset revenues and keep programming as we shift from reaction to action.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">AT: How many employees does ACRA have? Is ACRA adjusting staffing levels as a result of COVID-19?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">DB: ACRA is a small employer in Aspen with 15 full-time employees and 10 part-time. We\u2019ve furloughed 11 employees to date.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">AT: Is there any message you\u2019d like send to the Aspen community and business community?<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText BoldIntro\">DB: In the last few weeks Aspen has been forced on its heels reacting to a world health crisis and economic spiral that is rapidly changing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Business owners are doing their best to stay in business and take care of valuable employees. Many will not have the financial resources to survive on their own without customers, they need help. Please visit our recovery toolbox at <a id=\"N0x1b9b5d0N0x1d6ff20:N0x1b9b5d0N0x1d041a0\" href=\"https:\/\/www.aspenchamber.org\/COVID-19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">http:\/\/www.aspenchamber.org\/COVID-19<\/a><i class=\"fas fa-external-link-alt\"><\/i>. It is full of information on economic disaster loans and grants for you, the Aspen business community. We\u2019ve got your back, we\u2019re in it together.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/local\/answers-on-covid-19-economic-crisis-from-aspens-chamber-president\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: The Aspen Times<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Aspen Times posed questions to Debbie Braun, the president and CEO of the Aspen Chamber Resort Association, about what the organization is doing during the COVID-19 crisis. The Aspen Times: What is ACRA currently doing for the Aspen business community related to the COVID-19 crisis? Debbie Braun: ACRA is running local advertisements and social [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2456575","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-local-news"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-08-18 06:51:42","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSPN The Valley&#039;s Quality Rock","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456575","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2456575"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2456575\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2456575"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2456575"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kspn\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2456575"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}