Tucson, Arizona (AZ), USA
Tucson bed and breakfast stays in a go-ahead high-tech city
Tucson bed and breakfast businesses tend to attract manly people who are in town to visit the Army Intelligence Center (Fort Huachuca at nearby Sierra Vista), the Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, or who have come to see students, faculty or staff at the University of Arizona. These are the three main employers in Tucson and several B&B establishments, inns and lodges have emerged to serve the visitors to these institutions. But many Tucson bed and breakfast guests are also in town to do business with the high-tech firms that have developed as a result of the military bases.
Today there are more than 1 200 businesses employing over 50 000 people in the high-tech industries of Southern Arizona. There are advanced technology companies like Raytheon Missile Systems, Texas Instruments, IBM, Universal Avionics, Intuit Inc. and Bombardier. About 150 Tucson companies are in the optics industry. But Tucson also attracts tourists and a lively resort, bed and breakfast, inn and lodge industry has developed to welcome visitors from across the United States and other countries. Tucson’s closely proximity to the Mexican border makes it an attractive shopping destination for well-to-do Mexicans who can buy goods in Tucson that are not readily available in their own country. The bed and breakfast industry caters for the Sonorans as well. In addition to vacationers, a significant number of winter residents or “snowbirds” are attracted by Tucson’s milk winters. Many people come to spend winter in Tucson bed and breakfasts.
There are many annual cultural events and fairs held in Tucson. These include the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (February), the Tucson Rodeo (also held in February) the Tucson Folk Festival (May), the two Fourth Avenue Street Fairs (held in December and March) and the Tucson Meet Yourself. Every October for the past 30 years this festival has presented the faces of Tucson’s many ethnic groups. For one weekend, dancing, singing, artwork and food from more than 30 different local ethnic groups are featured in the downtown area. Finally there is the All Souls Procession Weekend, which has been held since 1990 on the First Sunday in November since 1990. It is modeled on the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) and combines elements of Anglo, African, Celtic and Latin American culture. The purpose of the festival is to acknowledge, mourn and celebrate deceased loved ones, and the "grand mystery" of death. If you intend to be at any of these festivals be sure to make your Tucson bed and breakfast reservations well in advance.
