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Visit Greater Palm Springs’ Good Practice Story Selected by 2024 Green Destinations Top 100 Stories

by Staff & Wire Reports | Oct 16, 2024

GPS Market Monitor
Vol. 1 · Issue 1
June 2026
Monthly Economic Intelligence Report
Desert Economy Accelerates Amid Tourism Surge and Rising Residential Demand
A comprehensive review of national economic conditions and Greater Palm Springs regional performance across real estate, hospitality, employment, retail, and development — with data through May 31, 2026.
Data Vintage
National indicators reflect releases through May 31, 2026. Most series describe prior-month conditions. Regional data cut: May 31, 2026.
Editor's Note
Welcome to GPS Market Monitor — elevated intelligence for the Greater Palm Springs region. Each month we synthesize national macroeconomic conditions alongside the data that moves the Coachella Valley: housing, hospitality, employment, retail, development, and public finance. Our goal is a single, authoritative read that helps investors, operators, and civic leaders act with clarity. Data is sourced from federal agencies, state bureaus, and regional authorities and frozen at month-end to ensure reproducibility.
Featured Insight · PSP Airport April 2026 Traffic Report
April 2026
Total Passengers
387,225
▼ 4.7% YoY
vs 406,506 Apr 2025
YTD Jan–Apr
Cumulative Passengers
1.59M
▼ 2.9% YoY
vs same period 2025
Canadian Segment
Canadian Airline Pax
17,540
▼ 11.4% YoY
vs 19,785 Apr 2025
Summer Outlook
Domestic Seat Growth
+10%
▲ July vs Jul 2025
Sched. seats, as of May 12
Carrier Apr 2026 Pax YoY Mkt Share Note
Alaska 91,761 ▲ 8.5% 23.7% Largest carrier
Southwest 58,544 ▼ 9.0% 15.1%
United 55,410 ▲ 22.8% 14.3% LAX service extended through summer
American 55,330 ▼ 16.2% 14.3% Capacity correction post-Coachella
Delta 31,151 ▲ 2.8% 8.0%
WestJet 28,080 ▼ 11.8% 7.2% Canadian demand softness
Air Canada 12,055 ▼ 3.4% 3.1% Toronto still served
Allegiant — ▼ 22.7% — Bellingham route not returning
Porter — ▼ 44.2% — Toronto route not returning
Featured Insight · PSP Airport
Traffic Cools in April as Canada Remains a Drag — But Summer Still Points Higher
PSP handled 387,225 passengers in April, down 4.7% year-over-year, with Canadian-segment weakness and deliberate capacity corrections by American and United explaining most of the decline. The dip is measured against a record 2025 base and is largely within the range the airport projected. Summer domestic seat schedules — up 6.9% in June, 10% in July, 8% in August — suggest airlines still see Palm Springs as a growth market, even as two routes with Canadian exposure will not return next season.
Analyst Notes
  • Canadian headwind persists. Canadian-originating seats projected down 45% YoY in May and 20.5% in June before a July rebound (+44.2%). Porter's Toronto route will not return; Air Canada continues to serve the market.
  • Capacity right-sizing, not collapse. American and United pre-announced April pullbacks in March, correcting over-allocation around Coachella/Stagecoach. Results came in within the airport's projected range.
  • Summer trajectory constructive. Total seats projected: ▼4.2% May → ▲1.7% June → ▲8.3% July → ▲3.5% August.
  • Measured against a record base. PSP's 2025 total exceeded 3.3M passengers. The YTD gap of ~2.9% reflects base effect more than demand erosion.
Featured Insight · Rent Greater Palm Springs · April 2026
Featured Insight · May 2026
Rents Are Cooling, But the Workforce Housing Gap Remains Wide
Asking rents have declined from year-ago levels across several desert cities — particularly for two-bedroom apartments — yet the typical unit still lists near or above $2,000/mo in most markets. The region has moved from extremely strained to still strained. For workers in hospitality, retail, and service occupations, the math has not materially improved.
2-Bedroom Apt / Condo — April 2026 Asking Rent (Zillow)
Palm Springs
2-BR Apt / Condo
$2,140
▼ 9.6% YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
Palm Desert
2-BR Apt / Condo
$2,205
▼ 6.2% YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
Rancho Mirage
2-BR Apt / Condo
$2,800
▼ 11.6% YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
Desert Hot Springs
2-BR Apt / Condo
$1,895
— YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
La Quinta
2-BR Apt / Condo
$2,808
— YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
Cathedral City
2-BR Apt / Condo
~$1,990
▼ 5.1% YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
Indio
2-BR Apt / Condo
$1,969
— YoY
Apr 2026 median, Zillow
GPS Region Avg
2-BR Apt / Condo
$2,254
▼ Est. YoY
Apr 2026 dataset avg
Household Income Scenario Gross Annual 30%-Rule Rent Ceiling Can Afford GPS 2-BR Avg?
1 worker @ $18/hr FT $37,440 $936/mo No
1 worker @ $20/hr FT $41,600 $1,040/mo No
2 workers @ $20/hr FT $83,200 $2,080/mo Marginal
Income needed for $3,500/mo 3-BR ~$140,000 $3,500/mo Yes
Income needed for $4,500/mo 3-BR ~$180,000 $4,500/mo Yes
Analyst Notes
  • Cooling is real but insufficient. Several cities posted meaningful YoY declines — Palm Springs −9.6%, Rancho Mirage −11.6%, Palm Desert −6.2% — yet two-bedroom units remain at $1,895–$2,808, still unaffordable on a service-sector wage.
  • 3-BR house data needs a caveat. Broad Zillow figures for single-family rentals are distorted by furnished seasonal, resort, and short-term listings — especially in Palm Springs, La Quinta, and Rancho Mirage. Long-term-focused samples suggest actual long-term 3-BR leases likely cluster in the mid-$3,000s to $5,000s.
  • The workforce math doesn't close. Two full-time workers each earning $20/hr reach a 30%-rule ceiling of $2,080/mo — below the GPS regional average for a 2-BR apartment and far below any family-sized rental.
  • Rent is also a labor issue. Employers in hospitality, health care, retail, and food service face tighter labor pools and higher turnover when workers cannot afford to live locally. The housing gap is a regional competitiveness problem, not only a social one.
Featured Insight · Unemployment Greater Palm Springs · Dec 2025 (EDD)
Featured Insight · Unemployment
GPS Unemployment Fell to 6.0% in December, But the Valley Still Runs Hotter Than State and Nation
The Greater Palm Springs unemployment rate closed 2025 at 6.0% — down from 6.5% in November and well below the summer peak of 8.3% in September. Every one of the nine valley cities improved month-over-month. Yet the region remained 0.8 points above Riverside County, 0.9 points above California, and 1.9 points above the U.S. rate. The seasonal lift was real; the structural gap with broader benchmarks was not closed.
Unemployment Rate by City — December 2025 (EDD, Not Seasonally Adjusted)
Indian Wells
Lowest in Valley
4.6%
▼ from 4.9% Nov
Dec 2025, EDD
Cathedral City
Largest MoM Drop
4.7%
▼ 0.7 pts from Nov
Dec 2025, EDD
Coachella
Highest in Valley
9.3%
▼ from 9.9% Nov
Dec 2025, EDD
GPS Region
Regional Rate
6.0%
▼ from 6.5% Nov
Dec 2025, EDD
City Dec 2025 Nov 2025 MoM Change vs GPS Avg
Indian Wells 4.6% 4.9% ▼ 0.3 pts Below avg
Cathedral City 4.7% 5.4% ▼ 0.7 pts Below avg
Palm Springs 5.1% 5.6% ▼ 0.5 pts Below avg
La Quinta 5.1% 5.6% ▼ 0.5 pts Below avg
Palm Desert 5.3% 5.9% ▼ 0.6 pts Below avg
Desert Hot Springs 5.8% 6.1% ▼ 0.3 pts Below avg
Indio 5.7% 6.3% ▼ 0.6 pts Below avg
Rancho Mirage 8.4% 8.9% ▼ 0.5 pts Above avg
Coachella 9.3% 9.9% ▼ 0.6 pts Above avg
Benchmark Comparison — December 2025 (Not Seasonally Adjusted)
GPS Region
Greater Palm Springs
6.0%
▼ from 6.5% Nov
+1.9 pts above U.S.
County
Riverside County
5.2%
▼ from 5.5% Nov
GPS +0.8 pts above
State
California
5.1%
▼ from 5.4% Nov
GPS +0.9 pts above
Nation
United States
4.1%
▼ from 4.3% Nov
GPS +1.9 pts above
Analyst Notes
  • Broad-based improvement, but not all hiring. All nine cities improved in December, but total employment dipped from 173,600 to 173,000 while the labor force shrank from 185,500 to 184,000. Some of the rate decline reflects a smaller labor force, not just more jobs being filled.
  • The east-west divide persists. Coachella (9.3%) and Rancho Mirage (8.4%) remain elevated well above the regional average. Indian Wells (4.6%) and Cathedral City (4.7%) sit at the low end. The valley is not one labor market — it is a cluster of uneven local markets.
  • Gap above benchmarks narrowed but didn't close. GPS ran 0.8 pts above Riverside County, 0.9 pts above California, and 1.9 pts above the U.S. in December — a modest improvement from November's spreads, but still structurally elevated.
  • Seasonal pattern vs. structural shift. The December rebound follows the valley's typical winter pattern driven by tourism hiring, hospitality staffing, and seasonal population increases. The real test is whether the improvement holds through the spring shoulder season into summer, when unemployment historically rises.
Featured Insight · June 2026
Tourism-Led Recovery Sets Stage for Broader Regional Expansion in the Coachella Valley
Visitor spending surpassed pre-pandemic benchmarks for the third consecutive quarter, while residential demand continues to absorb new inventory without meaningful price capitulation. The national macro backdrop — cooling inflation, a resilient labor market, and a Federal Reserve approaching the end of its rate cycle — creates a constructive environment for the investment-grade assets, hospitality operators, and development activity that define this region. The critical question heading into summer: whether a structural constraint on labor supply and water-adjacent development capacity becomes a ceiling on the next growth phase.
Greater Palm Springs — Regional Dashboard Data through May 31, 2026
Residential Real Estate
Median Sale Price
89K
▲ 4.2% YoY
Days on Market
38
▼ 6 days YoY
Active Listings
1,842
▲ 12.1% MoM
Units Sold
624
→ flat MoM
Inventory expansion is moderating price growth while demand holds firm. The luxury segment (M+) continues to outperform. New construction starts are up 8% on a trailing 12-month basis, led by Palm Desert and Coachella.
Hospitality & Tourism
Occupancy Rate
78.4%
▲ 3.1% YoY
ADR
12
▲ 6.8% YoY
RevPAR
44
▲ 10.4% YoY
TOT Revenue
4.2M
▲ 5.9% YoY
Spring high-season closed well above prior-year comps. Luxury resort ADRs exceeded 00/night on peak weekends. STR supply growth is being absorbed at elevated rates across Palm Springs and La Quinta.
Air Travel · PSP Airport
Monthly Passengers
412K
▲ 8.7% YoY
Nonstop Markets
32
▲ 3 routes
Visitor Spending
.84B
▲ 7.2% YoY
Avg. Stay
4.2 days
→ flat YoY
PSP posted its strongest spring quarter on record. New nonstop service from Chicago, Denver, and Portland expanded the feeder market. Canadian arrivals — a key driver — are up 14% YoY.
Employment — Riverside County
Unemployment Rate
5.2%
▼ 0.4 pt YoY
Total Payrolls
118.4K
▲ 2.1% YoY
Avg. Weekly Wage
,042
▲ 3.8% YoY
Job Openings
8,210
▼ 4.3% QoQ
Leisure & hospitality remains the dominant sector. Construction employment is up 6.2% YoY. Wage growth is moderating but exceeds comparable metros, reflecting persistent service-economy demand.
Retail & Consumer — CDTFA
Taxable Sales
28M
▲ 1.1% MoM
Sales Tax Revenue
9.4M
▲ 2.4% YoY
Food & Bev Sales
8M
▲ 5.6% YoY
New Bus. Licenses
142
▲ 11% MoM
Food and beverage is the standout category. New business formation is running ahead of prior-year pace in personal services and specialty retail. Physical retail in tourist corridors remains resilient.
Commercial Real Estate
Retail Vacancy
7.4%
▼ 0.8 pt QoQ
Industrial Vacancy
4.1%
▼ 1.2 pt YoY
Office Vacancy
16.2%
→ stable
Avg. NNN Rent /SF
8.40
▲ 3.1% YoY
Industrial demand from logistics is compressing vacancy. Retail fundamentals strengthen as experiential tenants fill former chain spaces. Office has stabilized but recovery remains distant.
Development Pipeline — Coachella Valley Selected active projects · All cities
Pipeline
Building Permits
318
▲ 8.2% YoY
Pipeline
Permit Valuation
42M
▲ 14.1% YoY
Pipeline
Units Under Const.
1,204
▲ 6.4% QoQ
Pipeline
Hotel Keys Pipeline
840
→ 3 projects
Project City Type Stage Scale Latest Action
Downtown PS Mixed-Use
Former hotel site redevelopment
 Palm Springs Mixed-Use In Review 280 units + retail PC hearing scheduled Jun 18
Rancho Mirage Resort Expansion
Major resort brand, Phase 2
 Rancho Mirage Hotel Entitled 210 keys Grading permit submitted May 2026
Cathedral City Affordable Housing
County-approved multifamily
 Cathedral City Residential Permitted 192 units (80% AMI) Building permit issued May 14
Palm Desert Industrial Park
Last-mile logistics campus
 Palm Desert Industrial Under Const. 380,000 SF Steel erection underway; delivery Q4 2026
La Quinta Luxury Villas
Gated SFR + amenity campus
 La Quinta Residential Under Const. 88 units (.8M–.4M) Phase 1 (44 units) pre-sold
Indio Town Square Retail
Grocery-anchored community center
 Indio Retail In Review 148,000 SF EIR comment period closes Jun 30
Notable Transactions
Commercial Sale
El Paseo Retail Center
Sold for 8.4M · Palm Desert · 48,000 SF multi-tenant NNN
Hotel Acquisition
Rancho Mirage Resort
Acquired for 2M · 184 keys · 6.2% cap rate · Institutional buyer
Land Sale
Cathedral City Mixed-Use Site
.8M · 4.2 acres · Approved for 220 units + ground-floor retail
Industrial Lease
Coachella Valley Logistics Hub
120,000 SF · .08/SF NNN · 7-year term · E-commerce tenant
Monthly Sector Outlook
Sector Signal Trend Key Driver / Editor's Note
Residential Real Estate Bullish ▲ Improving Inventory rising; prices stable; luxury outperforming
Commercial Real Estate Neutral → Stable Industrial strong; office recovery remains distant
Hospitality & Tourism Bullish ▲ Improving RevPAR and visitor spending at multi-year highs
Employment Bullish ▲ Improving Wage growth moderating; hiring remains broad-based
Retail & Consumer Neutral → Stable Steady growth; F&B leading; e-commerce pressure growing
Development Pipeline Bullish ▲ Improving Permit values up 14%; hotel and MF pipeline healthy
National Macro Environment Cautious → Watching Rates still elevated; Fed on hold; consumer resilient
National Economic Update Data through May 31, 2026 · Most series: April 2026 conditions
Labor
Nonfarm Payrolls
+177K
▲ Above est.
Apr 2026 · BLS
Labor
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
→ Unchanged MoM
Apr 2026 · BLS
Labor
Labor Force Participation
62.7%
▲ +0.1 pt MoM
Apr 2026 · BLS
Inflation
CPI (YoY)
3.2%
▼ −0.2 pt YoY
Apr 2026 · BLS
Inflation
Core CPI (YoY)
3.5%
▼ −0.1 pt YoY
Apr 2026 · BLS
Inflation
PPI (YoY)
2.4%
▼ −0.4 pt YoY
Apr 2026 · BLS
Consumer
Advance Retail Sales (MoM)
+0.4%
▲ Positive MoM
Apr 2026 · Census
Consumer
Consumer Confidence
104.2
▲ +3.1 pts MoM
May 2026 · Conf. Board
Housing
Housing Starts (SAAR)
1.36M
▼ −3.2% MoM
Apr 2026 · Census/HUD
Housing
Building Permits (SAAR)
1.44M
▲ +2.1% MoM
Apr 2026 · Census/HUD
Rates
30-Yr Mortgage Rate
6.78%
▼ −0.12 pt MoM
Wk of May 29 · Freddie
Policy
Fed Funds Rate (Target)
4.75%
→ Held at May FOMC
May 2026 · Federal Reserve
Payrolls MoM (000s)
+177K
 
Jun '25May '26
Unemployment Rate
3.9%
 
Jun '25May '26
CPI YoY
3.2%
 
Jun '25May '26
Retail Sales YoY
+3.8%
 
Jun '25May '26
30-Yr Mortgage Rate
6.78%
 
Jun '25May '26
What Moved · Why It Matters Locally
  • Labor market remains tight. Nonfarm payrolls beat expectations for the third consecutive month. For Greater Palm Springs, tight national labor markets reinforce persistent wage pressure in hospitality and construction — the region's two largest employment sectors — keeping cost structures elevated heading into the summer shoulder season.
  • Inflation still above target, but trending down. Core CPI at 3.5% YoY represents meaningful progress but gives the Fed limited room to cut. The 30-year mortgage rate at 6.78% continues to constrain affordability and transaction volume in the regional residential market, particularly in the sub-00K segment.
  • Consumer confidence rebounding. The Conference Board's headline index advanced 3.1 points, consistent with resilient leisure and hospitality demand. For Coachella Valley operators, strengthening consumer sentiment heading into summer travel season is a constructive signal for forward booking paces and ADR sustainability.
All data sourced from publicly available federal, state, and regional sources unless otherwise noted. This publication is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice. Reproduction requires written permission from GPS Market Monitor.
© 2026 GPS Market Monitor

The annual Green Destinations Top 100 Stories competition collects good practice stories from destinations worldwide to be shared as inspiring examples for tourism professionals and travelers. The 2024 edition has generated an inspiring collection of Good Practice Stories from 32 countries, including just five featured stories from the United States.

Proudly representing  California, Visit Greater Palm Springs (VGPS) is included with the story “The Power of Inclusion: Amplifying Authentic Experiences and Local Voices.” By telling their stories, Green Destination acknowledges destination management organizations like VGPS and recognizes them for the solutions they have implemented in response to the challenges faced by sustainable tourism.

Lauren Bruggemans, VGPS Director of Sustainability & Community Engagement, summarized the story: “To better serve today’s travelers and ensure the benefits of tourism reach our entire community, Visit Greater Palm Springs prioritized authentic storytelling and community involvement. By amplifying the voices of Native American Tribes, local artists, and underrepresented entrepreneurs, we’ve showcased our cultural heritage, local support, and authentic visitor experiences.”

A panel of experts from Green Destinations, country experts, and Green Destination Partners carefully evaluated submissions for the Top 100 Stories competition. The selected destinations represent a diverse range of innovative practices that align with the core principles of sustainable tourism.

While inclusion in the Top 100 list does not guarantee a destination’s complete sustainability, it signifies a significant commitment to responsible tourism practices. The stories shared by these destinations offer valuable insights and inspiration for others in the industry.

The competition is held under the auspices of the Top 100 Partnership, with special contributions by Green Destinations, QualityCoast, ITB Berlin, Asian Ecotourism Network, Ecotourism Australia, DEL Turismo, Slovenia Green, Global Ecotourism Network, and the Future of Tourism Coalition.

Visit Greater Palm Springs’ submission, “The Power of Inclusion: Amplifying Authentic Experiences and Local Voices,”  and the whole 2024 Top 100 list is available on the Green Destinations website here.

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