Record hospitality tax collections and all tourism KPIs continue rising

Raleigh, N.C. (August 24, 2022) – Visit Raleigh has released the Wake County Tourism Industry Report for the second quarter of 2022. Key performance indicators and tax collections for the hospitality industry in Wake County have continued to uptick this year. Hotel occupancy tax collections have most significantly increased since this time last year with a record-breaking month in June.

Highlights:
Upward Trend on Tax Collections

• Hotel lodging tax collections totaled more than $15 million through June 2022, up 70.1% over 2021.
• Prepared food and beverage tax collections totaled $19 million through June 2022, up 23.4% over 2021.

Group Business Overview

• Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) hosted 86 events in the second quarter of 2022, welcoming more than 148,000 attendees to the area.
• Through the end of June, hotel occupancy rose to 65.3% year-to-date (YTD), up 25.5% over 2021.

Future Business/Tourism Outlook

• Visit Raleigh and GRSA were able to book 75 events for future dates, bringing an estimated 29,734 room-nights of future business to Wake County and generating a projected $17.2 million in economic impact.

“June 2022 was the best month on record for both occupancy and prepared food and beverage tax collections,” said Dennis Edwards, President and CEO of Visit Raleigh. “Tax collections YTD demonstrate the resilient tourism and hospitality industry with the return of events, festivals and conventions back to normal capacity now in Wake County.”

Below is a full breakdown of the tourism and hospitality industry performance throughout Wake County in the second quarter of 2022.

Wake County hospitality industry KPIs – according to the Smith Travel Research:

(January 1 – June 30, 2022)

All key performance indicators for the hospitality industry continue a strong comeback through Q2 2022. According to STR in the second quarter of 2022, Occupancy rose by more than 25% YTD, Average Daily Rate (ADR) rose over 31% YTD and Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) increased more than 65% YTD.

Hospitality Industry Tax Collections in 2022:
Increased visitation and hotel stays brought record tax collections during the second quarter of this year. YTD through June 30, hotel lodging tax collections totaled more than $15.6 million, up 70% YTD over 2021. Prepared food and beverage (PFB) tax collections totaled more than $19.6 million, up more than 23% YTD over 2021.

Events Hosted in Q2 2022:

With large festivals and events increasing visitation during the second quarter of 2022, Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance (GRSA) together hosted 86 conventions, sporting events and groups and welcomed more than 148,000 attendees to Raleigh, N.C. The quarter was highlighted by key conventions, sporting events and groups impacting overnight visitation including:

• Dreamville Festival: 80,000 attendees
• Deep South Classic: 13,500 attendees
• BodyArmor State Games of North Carolina: 14,000 attendees
• USA Baseball PDP League: 850 attendees
• Special Operations Medical Association Scientific Assembly: 1,000 attendees
• Animazement: 40,000 attendees

New Business Booked in Q2 2022:

The second quarter was fruitful in bookings for future conventions, sporting events and groups in Wake County as Visit Raleigh and GRSA combined booked 75 groups totaling more than 29,700 room-nights of future business. Visit Raleigh and GRSA’s collective future bookings from this quarter will create a direct economic impact of $17.2 million.

Future meetings, conventions and sporting events booked during the second quarter include:

• Apex Legends Global Series Year 2 Championships: July 7-10, 2022; 7,000 attendees
• National Center for Pavement Preservation, Southeast Bridge Pavement Preservation: Aug. 30-Sept. 1, 2022; 250 attendees
• Apartment Association of N.C.: April 24-26, 2023; 50 attendees

Interviews with a Visit Raleigh spokesperson can be arranged via phone, video conference or in person. To arrange an interview, please contact Director of Public Relations Jessica Holt at jholt@visitRaleigh.com.

About the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh):
As the official destination marketing organization for Wake County, the Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), is responsible for promoting Wake County as an attractive travel destination and enhancing its public image as a dynamic place to live and work. Through the impact of travel, the organization strengthens the economic position of and provides opportunity for people throughout Wake County. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes nearly 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.3 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 21,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $243 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $592 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 in order to generate and/or retain sports-related businesses (tournaments, championships, special events and meetings) for the purpose of economic development. Raleigh, N.C./Wake County welcomes nearly 16 million visitors annually whose spending tops $2.3 billion. The visitor economy supports more than 21,000 local jobs in Wake County and generates $243 million in state and local tax revenues, saving each Wake County household $592 in taxes annually. raleighsports.org

Media Contact:

Jessica Holt
Director of Public Relations
919.645.2654
jholt@visitRaleigh.com

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