Thousands of tourists flock to Minneapolis and St. Louis. Paul International Airport has long taken for granted the ability of rideshare drivers to pick up passengers and transport them around the Twin Cities at the touch of a smartphone.
After a month, that option may no longer be available. Local tourism industry leaders are feeling some trepidation.
“It's crazy to even think about it,” said Angie Whitcomb, CEO of Hospitality Minnesota, a nonprofit that represents restaurants, lodging and resorts in the state.
Minneapolis hospitality and tourism companies are hoping for a resolution to a dispute over driver pay with the Minneapolis City Council and two ride-hailing giants who have said Uber and Lyft will depart from Minneapolis on May 1. However, I am worried about the future without ride-sharing services.
Adam Duyninck, president and CEO of the Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, said that would leave a gaping hole in the local transportation system and hurt the already struggling hospitality industry, especially hotels. He said it would cause even more damage.
“We need to build business and we can't afford to lose any more business,” he said. “We need to find more ways to move people downtown, not less.”
According to Meet Minneapolis, there were approximately 1.9 million hotel stays in Minneapolis in 2023, an increase of 15% from the previous year. This year is off to a busy start for the travel industry, with 49,190 people passing through Transportation Security Administration checkpoints on March 21st, the second busiest day at MSP since the pandemic began. Ta. The busiest day during this period was his MEA week last fall.
The hospitality industry itself is supported by many workers who rely on ride-sharing to get to work after working late shifts. “Our businesses are open with extended hours, and there is no guarantee that public transportation will be at your doorstep to get you home safely at 2 a.m.,” Whitcomb said.
According to data shared by the rideshare company, many of Lyft's primary pick-up and drop-off locations are hospitality and tourist venues, including the Hilton Minneapolis, Minneapolis Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, and Huwing Hotel. . Lyft has said it will only exit the Minneapolis market, while Uber has said it will exit the Twin Cities market entirely.
Duyninck criticized the Minneapolis City Council's decision to not provide a plan if Uber and Lyft follow through on their exit promises.
“It's like the airport shutting down Delta and telling you to fly American or Spirit,” he says. “It is irresponsible and will impact our city, events and tourism.”
Large events rely on rideshare options for attendees. Lauren Bennett McGinty, executive director of Explore Minnesota, said in a statement that ensuring seamless transportation is essential to improving the overall experience for participants and making Minnesota a premier travel destination. said it is essential.
“Ensuring a variety of transportation options is paramount to remaining competitive in Minnesota, especially in a metropolitan area like Minneapolis,” she said.
Without options, the millions of dollars the state has invested in revitalizing downtown Minneapolis post-pandemic and after the killing of George Floyd could be at risk, just as momentum toward recovery is building. Yes, Whitcomb said.
“We're finally getting meeting planners across the country to seriously consider events and conventions in Minneapolis, and they're looking at costs from a holistic perspective,” Whitcomb said. “And if rideshare becomes more difficult to access or becomes the most expensive in the country…that's going to impact their decision to come here.”
Looking forward to state-wide ride-sharing plans
Still, industry leaders are counting on fair wages and assurances that travelers and industry workers will have access to transportation that meets their needs.
MeetMinneapolis spokeswoman Kathy McCarthy said in a statement: “We believe that a solution will have a negligible impact on rideshare users, including out-of-town visitors, convention attendees, and tourism and hospitality workers. I hope it will be found.” .
The hospitality industry will never be on the wrong side in wanting people to have the ability to earn a living wage and take care of their families, Whitcomb said. It's solved and I don't care if it causes a lot of other problems. ”
Whitcomb and Duyninck said they hope the Legislature and Gov. Tim Walz can resolve the dilemma and allow Uber and Lyft to continue operating. Mr Duyninck said it was a real open question how people, especially visitors with little knowledge of local routes and areas, would travel efficiently.
“We need to solve this problem,” Duyninck said. “That's not good for our city.”
