LETHBRIDGE, ALTA. -- The past year was an unprecedented time for travel with the COVID-19 pandemic bringing widespread business closures and travel restrictions. It also had a previously unimagined impact on the tourism sector. Tourism Lethbridge released their annual report on May 6 which confirmed it was a tough year for tourism in the city. Hotels and lodgings across Lethbridge took one of the largest hits due to a major decrease in travel. "It has been devastating," said Shilpa Stocker, the Lethbridge Lodging Association's project manager. "Obviously, as with other businesses, the impact has been significant. Our occupancy, I would say, has dropped on average about 60 per cent, and so when occupancy drops by 60 per cent it puts a downward pressure on rates."