Jul. 16--Pueblo's first-ever Wild Wild West Fest helped propel hotels and restaurants to sales gains in May. Other areas of the local economy struggled, sales tax data from the city of Pueblo shows.

In May, hotel sales rose 8 percent while restaurants reported a 2 percent gain, based on the city's June sales tax report. The June report is based on May sales.

Major department stores also reported sales gains in May.

Other sectors struggled. Among them: Auto sales were off 26 percent from May 2008 levels; furniture stores were down 37 percent and building materials were off 17 percent. Overall, May sales were down 4.7 percent from a year ago, a narrowing of the gap from April's drop off of 7.4 percent but still a significant decline. Sales for the year were down 7.4 percent.

The West Fest, featuring a Professional Bull Riders stop, took place May 14-17. The city's annual Bluegrass on the River festival also took place in May and drew large crowds.

Pueblo and PBR leaders went into West Fest uncertain about how many would attend the inaugural event but turnout exceeded expectations with tens of thousands converging in Downtown.

"I think the Wild Wild West Fest, being a new event, had some positive impact. The Bluegrass on the River also was very well attended," Greater Pueblo Chamber of Commerce President Rod Slyhoff said.

For the year, Pueblo's convention and tourism numbers "appear to be holding their own compared to a year ago and also other parts of the state that have been seeing a decline," Slyhoff said.

Other tax data also point to the resiliency of local tourism. Lodging tax revenues jumped 6.8 percent in May and moved slightly ahead for the year, up 0.7 percent, the city said.

Tourism spending carries a major impact on Pueblo's economy, Slyhoff said.

"Visitor spending is almost like primary job spending.

"It's revenue that's been generated in another economic basic, whether from Colorado Springs or New York City, that people bring and leave," Slyhoff said.

Pueblo City Council and the business community, citing the economic benefits of the convention and tourism industry, asked voters in November to allow for the existing vendor's fee subsidy of the Pueblo Convention Center to help pay for an expansion, but the measure was defeated.

ddarrow@chieftain.com

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