In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports on an artificial intelligence incubator the owners of downtown Santa Cruz’s Pleasure Pizza are cooking up, an internet accessibility milestone for Cruzio, September’s hotel occupancy numbers and more.
tourism
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Business owners’ input sought ahead of 2026 sporting events; Seabright Social files for bankruptcy
In her weekly survey of local business, Jessica M. Pasko notes Santa Cruz County’s efforts to attract some of the visitors headed to nearby Santa Clara for next year’s Super Bowl and World Cup, bankruptcy for a business affected by the Murray Street Bridge closure and much more.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz sees a dip in summer tourism – blame politics
Early numbers from Santa Cruz summer tourism suggest that tariffs, immigration politics and Donald Trump’s feud with Canada are all having a dampening effect on the volume of out-of-town visitors.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Local tourism organization preps for subdued season
In her weekly look at local business, Jessica M. Pasko reports that Santa Cruz County’s tourism nonprofit sees some choppy waters ahead. She’s also got news on downtown development, comings and goings and events to get on your calendar.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Santa Cruz County officials prepare for tourism pivot amid tariff and immigration concerns
With Visit California forecasting a 9.2% decline in international visitors over 2024 and a 0.7% drop in visits overall, Santa Cruz County’s nonprofit tourism marketing organization is bracing for the impact even as it sells the area as a destination beyond county – and country – borders.
Posted inBusiness & Technology
Tourism drives February job growth in Santa Cruz County, but federal policies cast shadow
Santa Cruz County added 700 jobs in February, the first full month of the new Trump administration. But the region’s tourism shows warning signs as hotel revenue drops and forecasters predict a decline in international travelers to the U.S.
Posted inPolitics & Policy
Santa Cruz County moves to rein in vacation rentals
Santa Cruz County supervisors voted Tuesday to back a slate of new rules designed to cap vacation rentals and expand hotel capacity in the region. The effort, which still requires additional layers of approval, is a bid to preserve housing for local residents in the country’s least affordable rental market.
Posted inScotts Valley
Scotts Valley City Council backs efforts to make community more autism-friendly
Scotts Valley officials voiced support for a plan to allocate funds for autism certification training for local businesses and community organizations, joining a broader movement to make Santa Cruz County more welcoming to neurodivergent visitors and residents.
Posted inLatest News
This week in Santa Cruz County business: Tourism’s hot summer; Joby’s air taxi gets $500M more from Toyota
In Santa Cruz County business news this week, Jessica M. Pasko reports on a strong summer for local tourism, thanks in part to high temperatures inland. Toyota is investing big in Joby Aviation’s air taxi, and local firm Parallel Flight Technologies has landed a Department of Defense program grant.
Posted inLatest News
High temps drove strong summer Santa Cruz tourism season
High temperatures drove growth in tourism for Santa Cruz County this summer, as inland California residents fled to the coast.