Economic Analysis

City of Mesa — City Council (2026-09-14)

View PDF Meeting page

Extracted text (via pymupdf) 23125 characters
ECONOMIC AND REVENUE IMPACTS 
OF CANNON BEACH HOTEL 
IN THE CITY OF MESA, AZ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
AUGUST 2026 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11209 N. Tatum Boulevard, Suite 225 * Phoenix, AZ  85028 * 602-765-2400 tel * 602-765-2407 fax

ii
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
 
 
 
1.0 INTRODUCTION  ............................................................................................................  
1 
 
 
PROJECT DESCRIPTION ..................................................................................................  
1 
 
 
APPLIED ECONOMICS BACKGROUND ............................................................................  
2 
 
 
2.0 IMPACT SUMMARY  .......................................................................................................  
3 
 
 
3.0 ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS  ......................................................................................  
5 
 
 
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS .............................................................................................  
5 
 
 
OPERATIONS IMPACTS ..................................................................................................  
5 
 
 
 
VISITOR SPENDING IMPACTS .........................................................................................  
6 
 
 
 
4.0 REVENUE IMPACTS ........................................................................................................  
8 
 
 
GROSS PROJECT TAX REVENUES ....................................................................................  
8 
 
 
SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT.........................................................................................  
9 
 
 
 
SUMMARY .....................................................................................................................  
10

1
1.0 INTRODUCTION 
 
The City of Mesa retained Applied Economics to perform an economic impact analysis of a 
proposed hotel at Cannon Beach.  Cannon Beach is a mixed-use development built around the 
Revel Surf Park and will include a four-star hotel, restaurants, retail, and entertainment. This 
analysis is limited to the hotel.  The project would be located on a 1.3-acre site on the east side 
of the Revel Surf Park, near the intersection of Power Road and Warner Road.  
 
The proposed development includes a 148-room hotel, lounge, and restaurant with a variety of 
amenities as required in the development agreement. The development agreement for this 
project requires a minimum of 130 rooms, various amenities including a rooftop deck and event 
space, a ground level pool, hot tub, and lawn area, a bar and lounge connected to an outdoor 
terrace overlooking the surf park, and a 7,000 square foot or larger upscale full-service 
restaurant.  This analysis provides a framework for understanding the impacts that the project 
could have on the City, and a third-party review of the sales tax reimbursement terms.  
 
The development agreement includes a reimbursement of 100% of the non-dedicated 1.2% 
construction sales taxes, and 50% of the non-dedicated 1.2% retail sales tax on all other project 
sales tax up to a maximum reimbursement cap of $950,000 for specified public improvements 
completed by the developer and dedicated to the City.  The economic incentive period begins at 
completion of construction and extends for ten years.  State statutes require that any proposed 
tax incentive is expected to generate more revenues than the incentive amount over the duration 
of the agreement.  Additionally, sales tax incentives offered to retail businesses must be only for 
reimbursement of public infrastructure construction.  All calculations and estimates presented in 
the report are based on the project parameters provided by the City and the developer.   
 
Project Description 
 
The proposed hotel includes 108,000 square feet with 148 rooms. Total estimated construction 
costs are $51.7 million, including land, hard costs, soft costs, and FF&E.  The developer has 
already spent approximately $10.3 million in site improvements and design costs that are not 
part of the reimbursement agreement. The hotel, lounge, restaurant, and event center could 
create 162 estimated full-time and part-time jobs, based on information provided by the 
developer (Figure 1).  The hotel could reach a stabilized occupancy rate of 75% by the third year 
of operations, with an average daily rate (plus resort fee) of $257. Additional estimated taxable 
sales associated with the restaurant and events start at $99 per occupied room night. 
 
FIGURE 1 
DEVELOPMENT ASSUMPTIONS 
 
Square 
Feet
Stabilized 
Occupancy Estimated Jobs
Construction 
Cost (millions)
Hotel (148 keys)
108,000
75%
71
$51.7
Restaurant & Event Center
7,000
na
91
na
Total
115,000
75%
162
$51.7

2
Applied Economics Background 
 
Applied Economics LLC is an economic consulting firm, based in Phoenix, Arizona, specializing in 
economic development, economic and fiscal impact assessment, incentive analysis, 
socioeconomic modeling and urban planning.  Applied Economics is frequently called upon by 
local governments to provide a third-party evaluation of incentives, including sales tax 
reimbursement agreements. The principals at Applied Economics have worked together for more 
than 30 years and are very experienced in working with local and regional planning and 
development issues.

3
2.0 IMPACT SUMMARY 
 
The construction of a new hotel at Cannon Beach could create a variety of economic and fiscal 
impacts in the City.  The developer is seeking a sales tax reimbursement for public infrastructure 
improvements to Warner Road.  The following section describes the impacts of the project to the 
City of Mesa. 
 
 The Canon Beach Hotel could create a total economic impact of $281.6 million on the 
Mesa economy over ten years (Figure 2).  Economic impacts measure the effects of 
economic stimuli or new demand for goods and services in the local economy.  The hotel 
could directly and indirectly support 223 jobs and $84.9 million of labor income in Mesa 
over ten years.  The total economic impacts of these developments include direct impacts 
of jobs and payroll at the hotel and indirect and induced impacts elsewhere in the City. 
 
 The guests at the hotel would spend money in the community on retail, food and 
beverages, local transportation, and recreation/entertainment.  This spending could 
create an induced output impact of $58.6 million over ten years and support an estimated 
52 jobs in Mesa and elsewhere in the County. 
 
 The project would also generate construction impacts.  Total estimated construction costs 
are $51.7 million, including $23.4 million in site work and hard construction not yet 
completed.  This $23.4 million in construction activity at the site could generate a total 
economic impact of $57.9 million over approximately 15 to 18 months.  Construction 
could directly and indirectly support 260 estimated total jobs and $21.8 million in total 
labor income.    
 
 The new hotel could generate a sizeable amount of new city tax revenues estimated at 
$9.4 million over ten years.  Estimated gross non-dedicated sales and hotel taxes could 
total $2.1 million over ten years, including sales taxes from both construction and 
operations.  There could be additional dedicated sales and hotel taxes estimated at $7.0 
million over ten years.  The hotel could also generate $0.3 million over ten years in 
estimated secondary property taxes to the City. 
 
 The City will reimburse the developer a portion of General Fund sales tax from 
construction and taxable sales at the site.  The maximum cost of public infrastructure 
eligible for reimbursement is $950,000.  The developer must obtain permits and begin 
construction on public improvements within 18 months of the effective date of the 
development agreement, complete the public improvements within 18 months of 
obtaining a permit, and the hotel must be operational within 36 months of the effective 
date of the agreement.  The reimbursement could begin in 2028 based on the developer’s 
anticipated timeline, or upon completion of the Conditions Precedent. The maximum 
reimbursement could occur by 2035, based on the assumptions used in this analysis.  The 
developer would receive 100% of the non-dedicated 1.2% construction sales tax and 50% 
of the non-dedicated 1.2% retail and hotel sales tax.

4
FIGURE 2 
SUMMARY OF RESULTS 
CANNON BEACH HOTEL 
(Millions of Dollars) 
 
 
 
 
Project Details
   Hotel Rooms
148
   Restaurant Space
7,000
   Full and Part Time Employees
162
Economic Impact of Hotel Operations (10 Years)
   Output
$281.6
   Labor Income
$84.9
   Jobs
223
Economic Impact of Visitor Spending (10 Years)
   Output
$58.6
   Labor Income
$20.8
   Jobs
52
Economic Impact of Construction (1.5 years)
   Output
$57.9
   Labor Income
$21.8
   Jobs
260
Gross City Tax Revenues (10 Years)
$9.4
   Non-Dedicated Retail, Hotel & Construction Sales Tax
$2.1
   Dedicated Sales and Hotel Taxes
$7.0
   Secondary Property Tax
$0.3

5
3.0 ECONOMIC IMPACT ANALYSIS 
 
The economic impacts of the proposed Cannon Beach hotel include both the one-time 
construction impacts and on-going operations impacts.  These impacts are quantified in terms of 
direct, indirect, and induced jobs, labor income, and output that could be generated by the 
project.  Indirect and induced impacts represent multiplier effects that capture supported 
supplier and consumer businesses in Mesa that could benefit from the new hotel.   
 
Construction Impacts 
 
The total capital investment for this project includes land, hard costs, soft costs, and FF&E totaling 
$51.7 million.  The completed and projected hard costs and site work, estimated at $32.5 million, 
have the potential to generate local economic impacts. Construction is expected to occur over a 
period of approximately 15 to 18 months.   
 
The multiplier effects of this construction spending could result in a total increase in economic 
output of $57.9 million during the construction period (Figure 3). The construction activity could 
support an estimated 260 total jobs and $21.8 million in labor income.   
 
FIGURE 3 
CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS 
 
 
Operations Impacts 
 
Once construction is complete, the hotel could create economic impacts through direct 
operations, local supplier purchases, and employee spending.  Direct impacts include 
employment, labor income and output at the hotel.  The hotel could make local supplier 
purchases, and its employees could make consumer purchases that are captured in the total 
impact estimates.   
 
The hotel could directly support 162 full-time and part-time jobs and $4.4 million in direct annual 
labor income starting in 2028, based on the assumptions used in this analysis. The multiplier 
effect of this increase in jobs and labor income could result in a total output impact of $281.6 
million over ten years in 2026 dollars (Figure 4).  The total output impact represents the annual 
gross revenues created by the hotel, plus the increase in sales at local suppliers and local 
establishments where employees shop.  During the ten-year term of the development 
agreement, the hotel could directly and indirectly support an estimated 223 jobs and $84.9 
million in total labor income. 
Construction
Labor
Labor
Expenditures
Jobs
Income
Output
Jobs
Income
Previously Completed
$9.0
41
$3.8
$16.1
72
$6.0
Projected Hard Costs
$23.4
106
$9.8
$41.8
188
$15.7
Total
$32.5
147
$13.6
$57.9
260
$21.8
Direct Impacts
Total Impacts

6
FIGURE 4 
ANNUAL ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF THE HOTEL 
 
 
The differences between direct and total economic impacts are called multiplier effects.  
Multiplier effects are a way of representing the larger economic effects on the local economy.  
The multiplier effects translate an increase in output or business sales/production into a 
corresponding increase in jobs and labor income.  The total increase in output includes the 
impacts on other local supplier and consumer businesses.  In essence, the multiplier effect 
represents the recycling of local spending.  This process creates new business opportunities.   
 
The multipliers used in this analysis are from IMPLAN, a national vendor of economic impact 
software, and are specific to Maricopa County.  Industry-specific multipliers were used for hotels 
and commercial construction.  The output multiplier for this development is 1.79.  This means 
that for every $1 million of annual output created by the hotel, an additional $790,000 in 
economic activity and 4 additional jobs are supported at other local businesses.   
 
Visitor Spending Impacts 
 
As the new hotel brings additional visitors to Mesa, guests at the hotel could create induced 
economic impacts through their local spending on restaurants, retail, attractions and local 
transportation.  Based on a stabilized occupancy rate of 75%, the hotel could attract 85,082 
guests per year, assuming 2.1 guests per room and 148 rooms.    
 
According to a report by Longwoods International for the Arizona Office of Tourism, the average 
visitor to the Phoenix metro area spends about $78 per day on lodging, retail, restaurants, 
entertainment, recreation and local transportation. These spending levels were adjusted to 
account for expected room rates and food and beverage spending at the hotel.  On-site visitor 
spending is included in the operations impacts. The remaining spending that could occur 
elsewhere in the community, or “off-site,” forms the basis for the visitor spending impacts. 
 
Year
Output
Jobs
Labor 
Income
Output
Jobs
Labor 
Income
2028
$13.2
162
$4.4
$23.8
212
$7.8
2029
$14.4
162
$4.4
$25.9
216
$8.2
2030
$15.2
162
$4.4
$27.4
219
$8.4
2031
$15.8
162
$4.4
$28.4
221
$8.5
2032
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
2033
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
2034
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
2035
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
2036
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
2037
$16.3
162
$4.4
$29.4
223
$8.7
Total
$156.8
162
$43.7
$281.6
223
$84.9
Direct Impacts
Total Impacts

7
Total annual visitor spending at stabilized hotel occupancy rates in year 3 is estimated at $14.4 
million at the hotel and $3.0 million in the community (off-site) (Figure 5).  This would equate to 
$170 per person per day at the hotel and $35 elsewhere in the City or region.  Per person 
spending is significantly higher than the regional average due to expected room rates. 
 
FIGURE 5 
ANNUAL VISITOR EXPENDITURES 
 
 
Industry-specific economic multipliers can be applied to each category of off-site visitor 
expenditures.  Over ten years, off-site visitor spending of $32.5 million could generate an induced 
output impact of $58.6 million in Mesa and throughout the County, supporting 52 jobs and $20.8 
million in labor income at local businesses (Figure 6).   
 
FIGURE 6 
OFF-SITE VISITOR SPENDING IMPACTS 
 
 
On-Site 
Spending
Off-Site 
Spending
Total Visitor Spending
$14,447,419
$3,013,190
   Lodging
$10,423,294
$0
   Food & Beverage
$4,024,125
$225,657
   Recreation & Entertainment
$0
$876,082
   Local Transportation
$0
$955,725
   Retail
$0
$955,725
Total Visitors
85,082
85,082
Per Person Per Day Spending
$170
$35
Note:  Spending is for year 3 at stabilized rates.
Source: Longwoods International, Travel USA Visitor Profile, Phoenix & 
Central Region, 2024.
Year
Visitor 
Spending
Output
Jobs
Labor 
Income
2028
$2.7
$4.9
38
$1.8
2029
$2.9
$5.3
41
$1.9
2030
$3.0
$5.4
42
$1.9
2031
$3.1
$5.6
44
$2.0
2032
$3.2
$5.8
45
$2.1
2033
$3.3
$5.9
46
$2.1
2034
$3.4
$6.1
48
$2.2
2035
$3.5
$6.3
49
$2.2
2036
$3.6
$6.5
50
$2.3
2037
$3.7
$6.7
52
$2.4
Total
$32.5
$58.6
52
$20.8
Induced Impact

8
4.0 REVENUE IMPACTS 
 
In addition to supporting jobs, labor income and output at related businesses in the City through 
the multiplier effects, the new hotel could generate new tax revenues, primarily from taxable 
room rentals and restaurant sales.  In total, the hotel could generate $9.4 million in estimated 
gross sales and secondary property tax revenues over ten years.   
 
Gross Project Tax Revenues 
 
Sales taxes include non-dedicated retail, hotel, and construction sales tax taxes at 1.2%, and 
dedicated sales taxes at 0.8%.1 The project could generate estimated non-dedicated sales and 
use taxes from construction (65% of hard costs) and FF&E purchases of $246,000 (Figure 7).  The 
city has also collected an estimated $78,000 on previously completed improvements that are not 
included in Figure 7 or in the reimbursement. There would also be annual sales tax revenues from 
the hotel and restaurant including $1.9 million in non-dedicated retail and hotel sales tax over 
ten years.  Dedicated taxes on construction, retail and hotel sales could total $7.0 over ten years.  
Estimated dedicated and non-dedicated sales tax generated by the project could total $9.1 
million over ten years.  A portion of the non-dedicated construction, retail and hotel sales taxes 
would be eligible for reimbursement. 
 
The City of Mesa does not have a primary property tax, although new development does 
generate secondary property taxes used for bond repayment.  The Cannon Beach Hotel could 
generate $0.3 million in estimated secondary property taxes to the City of Mesa over ten years. 
 
FIGURE 7 
PROJECT TAX REVENUE IMPACTS 
 
 
1 Dedicated taxes also include the 5% additional hotel tax. 
Year
Construction 
Sales Tax 
(1.2%)
Retail & 
Hotel Sales 
Tax (1.2%)
Dedicated 
Taxes
Secondary 
Prop Tax
Total
2027
$246,371
$0
$164,247
$1,841
$412,459
2028
$0
$150,695
$545,858
$27,218
$723,771
2029
$0
$164,190
$601,959
$27,898
$794,046
2030
$0
$173,369
$636,744
$28,596
$838,709
2031
$0
$179,537
$656,495
$29,311
$865,342
2032
$0
$185,937
$676,866
$30,043
$892,847
2033
$0
$191,515
$697,172
$30,794
$919,482
2034
$0
$197,261
$718,087
$31,564
$946,912
2035
$0
$203,179
$739,630
$32,353
$975,162
2036
$0
$209,274
$761,819
$33,162
$1,004,255
2037
$0
$215,552
$784,674
$33,991
$1,034,217
Total
$246,371
$1,870,508
$6,983,551
$306,772
$9,407,202
Note:  Shaded rows represent construction sales tax and property tax on land.
Non-Dedicated

9
 Applied Economics collected data from the Maricopa County Assessor’s website on the limited 
property value and building square footage for new or recently renovated hotels in Mesa.  The 
next step is to multiply building square footage for the hotel by the average limited property 
value per square foot to estimate the limited property value.  The limited property value includes 
a 2.5% annual growth rate, which is half the statutory maximum growth rate of 5%, and is 
reflective of the real estate cycles that could occur over the next 30 years.  The 2026-27 City 
secondary property tax rate is 0.85%.  Property taxes include a 15% assessment ratio. 
 
Sales Tax Reimbursement 
 
Cannon Beach will require improvements to Warner Road to support new development.  The City 
and the developer will enter into a development agreement to reimburse the developer for 
public infrastructure improvements.  As a precedent for reimbursement, the developer must 
obtain permits and begin construction on public improvements within 18 months of the effective 
date of the development agreement, complete the public improvements within 18 months of 
obtaining a permit, and the hotel must be operational within 36 months of the effective date of 
the agreement.   
 
The reimbursement would begin upon completion of the public improvements.  For the purpose 
of this analysis, the reimbursement begins in 2028.  The term extends for up to ten years, or upon 
the lesser of the reimbursement of the maximum amount, or the reimbursement of actual 
construction costs for the public improvements.  Public improvements include the dedication of 
right-of-way and construction of the southern portion of Warner Road from approximately 
Power Road to the Roosevelt Irrigation Canal. Road construction includes pavement, turn lanes, 
curb and gutter, sidewalks and landscaping, driveways, streetlights, signage, and store drains. 
 
The development agreement includes provisions for a sales tax reimbursement equal to 100% of 
the 1.2% non-dedicated construction sales tax, and 50% of the 1.2% non-dedicated sales tax 
generated by food and beverage sales, hotel room rentals, and any other taxable sales generated 
by the project.  The maximum reimbursement would be equal to the lesser of the actual cost of 
public improvements constructed and dedicated to the city, or a maximum of $950,000 over a 
period of up to ten years.  
 
Per A.R.S. 9-500.11 (D), any proposed tax incentive must raise more revenues than the amount 
of the incentive within the duration of the agreement.  We have reviewed the development 
agreement and prepared an analysis of projected taxable activities and the future sales tax 
revenue stream to the city during the Economic Incentive Period. Based on our review, we believe 
that the project would generate a significantly greater amount of sales tax revenues than the 
total amount of the reimbursement.  The amount of tax revenues generated will likely be 
sufficient to reach the estimated maximum reimbursement of $950,000 within the ten-year term 
(Figure 8).

10
FIGURE 8 
PROJECTED SALES TAX REIMBURSEMENT 
 
 
A.R.S. 42-6010 requires that sales tax incentives offered to retail businesses are provided only as 
reimbursement for public infrastructure dedicated to, and accepted and controlled upon 
completion of the project by a state or local government entity.  All public improvements 
described above would meet these requirements, and the cost of such improvements forms the 
basis for the reimbursement amount per the development agreement. 
 
Summary 
 
The proposed Cannon Beach described in this analysis could create economic impacts and new 
tax revenue for the City of Mesa.  The hotel could attract additional visitor spending within the 
Cannon Beach development and elsewhere in the city, supporting additional jobs and sales taxes.  
The project could generate $9.4 million in gross sales tax (non-dedicated and dedicated) and 
secondary property taxes over ten years, including $950,000 in non-dedicated sales taxes 
reimbursed to the developer.  The project could generate significantly more sales taxes than the 
amount of the reimbursement within the term of the development agreement, and the cost of 
the reimbursement would be limited to the cost of public infrastructure dedicated to the city, 
thereby meeting the statutory requirements for retail sales tax reimbursements. 
 
 
 
Year
Construction
Retail/Hotel
Total
Reimbursement 
Schedule
2027
$246,371
$0
$246,371
$0
2028
$0
$150,695
$150,695
$321,718
2029
$0
$164,190
$164,190
$82,095
2030
$0
$173,369
$173,369
$86,685
2031
$0
$179,537
$179,537
$89,768
2032
$0
$185,937
$185,937
$92,969
2033
$0
$191,515
$191,515
$95,758
2034
$0
$197,261
$197,261
$98,630
2035
$0
$203,179
$203,179
$82,378
2036
$0
$209,274
$209,274
$0
2037
$0
$215,552
$215,552
$0
10Yr Total
$246,371
$1,870,508
$2,116,879
$950,000
Note:  Non-dedicated sales tax includes 1.2% of retail, hotel and construction taxes.
Gross Non-Dedicated Sales Tax Collections