Greater Richmond Convention Center, sports tourism drives region’s record lodging tax revenue

RICHMOND, Va. (WWBT) – Richmond area accommodations noticed a document for once-a-year occupancy tax income for FY year 2022, which finished on June 30.

The lodging tax income surpassed the pre-pandemic higher in 2019, with a full of $30,817,871 edging past 2019′s $30,014,047.

“Tourism is an economic motor and this earlier calendar year noticed us hitting on all cylinders – all 4 cylinders, in truth,” explained Jack Berry, president and CEO of Richmond Area Tourism, the nonprofit corporation that promotes the region’s tourism on behalf of 7 area jurisdictions. “Our perennial concentration is on four key sectors – conferences and conventions, sports activities, leisure and pals and family – and 2022 observed sizeable exercise throughout the board. When we have vital get the job done ahead to continue on supporting our local hospitality market get well from the pandemic, the hottest figures are promising and highlights the difficult work of our resort community.”

The Larger Richmond Convention Middle saw a 227% maximize in event bookings for the yr, like Meeting on Missions, the United states of america Area Hockey 2022 Nationwide Indoor Conference and Galaxy Con. Attendance at all those gatherings saw a bump, and the middle expects an additional increase in the upcoming fiscal yr.

“There are a terrific many historic, cultural and leisure attractions that are luring visitors to our area, such as the convention middle, which serves as the house base for very large conferences, activity competitions and conventions that assistance fill the region’s inns,” said Joe Casey, Chesterfield County Administrator and Chair of the Higher Richmond Conference Middle Authority. “The conclusion to renovate the facility all through the pandemic has succeeded in maximizing its attractiveness and improving our aggressive posture.”

Sporting activities tourism, this kind of as athletic tournaments and convention championships, has turn out to be far more preferred in the area. Sporting activities tournaments accounted for 79% of Richmond Location Tourism’s over-all team bookings.

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