LAYTON -- The bottom to the nation's economic fall has been found, and it does not consist of a dirt floor, according to Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, who spoke Wednesday morning with state hoteliers at the annual Utah Hotel & Lodging Association convention.
The convention was held at the Davis Conference Center in Layton on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Bell serving as keynote speaker.
In relating a story to the group, Bell spoke of being called upon as a Farmington resident to respond to the cleanup of a 1983 Memorial Day flood that knocked several homes off their foundations, while filling others with rocks and mud.
Bell said the group he was working with had been assigned to clean out the basement of an older home filled with mud.
"We started digging, and cleaning, and we couldn't find the floor," Bell said, recalling the effort.
Only then did the homeowner inform the cleanup crew that his basement had only a dirt floor.
Bell, the former mayor of Farmington, drew a parallel between his 1983 experience and the current economic downturn.
"Hopefully, we have found the floor," Bell told the group of 40 hoteliers gathered for the event.
Bell said the hope of state leaders is that the government will be there to help those in need by creating an alliance with the private sector.
Local hoteliers must also continue to capitalize on in-state travelers vacationing closer to home to save money, he said.
"Sun Tzu, a Chinese military strategist, said every battle is won before it is fought," Bell said.
And now is the time, he said, for businesses to create cash flow and, like the Bee Gees' song, just keep "Staying Alive."
"You're doing something by being here," he said. "You're comparing notes."
Bell said he also recommends businesses avoid debt as much as possible, a philosophy the state is adhering to.
"Utah is a well-managed state. We are keeping our debt low," he said.
To avoid adding to the economic burden individuals and businesses are experiencing, Bell said, the state has no plans for a tax increase.
In addition to Bell's remarks, the Utah Hotel & Lodging Association presented its "Stars of the Industry Awards" on Wednesday.
Award winners were Jamie Leatham and Shanelle Finnegan, of the Homestead Resort, for lodging employee of the year and outstanding manager of the year, respectively.
Joe Hickey, of ProcessPoint, was named allied member of the year, while Jennifer Jarrett, Shannon Jennings and Mara Christensen, of University Inn & Conference Center, respectively received food and beverage service employee of the year; small property lodging employee of the year; and small property outstanding manager of the year.
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