A record-breaking year for tourism across Wake County.

Raleigh, N.C. (Feb. 18, 2020) – The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) has released the year-end Wake County Tourism Industry Report for 2019. A strong visitor economy resulted in another record-breaking year for tourism tax collections and lead to all key performance indicators for the hospitality industry in Wake County being up in 2019 over 2018.

“Strong tourism numbers and hospitality tax collections demonstrate the increased desire to visit and host conferences and tournaments in the Raleigh area,” said President and CEO, of Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), Dennis Edwards. “On a national and international level folks are considering Raleigh. The region was also featured in numerous publications throughout the year providing invaluable exposure including The Washington Post, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Thrillist, Bon Appétit, Southern Living, Toronto Sun and more.”

Wake County hospitality industry KPIs – according to the Smith Travel Research:
2019 YTD (January 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019)

KPI

Wake County YTD

Wake County
% Change

YTD

State Average

YTD

National Average

YTD

Occupancy

73.8%

5%

65.6%

66.1%

Average Daily Rate (ADR)

$109.22

2.5%

$107.38

$131.21

Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR)

$80.59

7.7%

$70.45

$86.76

Hotel Room Night Supply

6.34 M

2.1%

1%

2%

Room Nights Sold

4.68 M

7.3%

2.2%

2%

According to the Smith Travel Research through the end of the calendar year, Occupancy grew 5% YTD, Average Daily Rate (ADR) increased by 2.5% YTD and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) rose 7.7% YTD. Through the end of the year, Wake County continued to outpace the state in all key performance indicators. Occupancy also outperformed the national average by 7.7%.

Events Hosted in Q4 2019:
Together, Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) hosted 94 conventions, sporting events and groups during the fourth quarter of 2019 and welcomed nearly 163,000 attendees to Raleigh, N.C. A busy fourth quarter was highlighted by key conventions, sporting events and groups impacting overnight visitation including:

Hospitality Industry Tax Collections in Q4 2019:
As a result of continued increased visitation, YTD through December 31, hotel lodging tax collections totaled more than $30.6 million, up nearly 10% YTD over 2018. Prepared food and beverage tax collections totaled more than $32.5 million, up more than 8% YTD over 2018.

Tax Collections

YTD

% Change YTD

Hotel Occupancy

$30,617,786

9.7%

Prepared Food and Beverage

$32,536,123

8.4%

New Business Booked in Q4 2019:
The fourth quarter was also productive in booking future conventions, sporting events and groups in Wake County as together Visit Raleigh and the GRSA booked 100 groups totaling more than 89,000 room-nights of future business. In 2019, Visit Raleigh and the GRSA booked 385 groups for more than 292,000 room-nights, creating a projected direct economic impact of $185.45 million.

Future meetings, conventions and sporting events booked Q4 2019 include:

 

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), as the official destination marketing organization of Raleigh and Wake County, accelerates sustainable economic growth and development by increasing visitor and convention business. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes more than 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.5 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,170 local jobs in Wake County and generates more than $250 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $671 in taxes annually. VisitRaleigh.com.

About the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA):
A division of the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh) — the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) markets and promotes Raleigh and all of Wake County to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) to drive economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes more than 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.5 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 26,170 local jobs in Wake County and generates more than $250 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $671 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org.

Media Contact:
Scott Peacock, Director of Public Relations
919.645.2676
speacock@visitRaleigh.com

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