The “yes, Columbus” campaign launched in 2024 has proven to be a remarkable success for Ohio’s capital city. In its inaugural year, the campaign generated over 200 million impressions, significantly boosting tourism metrics. Data revealed that visitors who were exposed to Experience Columbus advertisements stayed 39% longer than those who hadn’t seen the ads, and there was a 49% arrival lift during the summer months.
Of course, more than one of the region’s attractions driving this growth is located here in Delaware County.
Digital engagement further demonstrated the campaign’s effectiveness, with Experience Columbus’ website attracting nearly 12 million views and its social media channels garnering 15 million video views. These impressive figures indicate that Columbus is increasingly being recognized as a must-visit destination.
Historic Conventions and Record-Breaking Events
Columbus hosted 435 conventions, trade shows, and sporting events in 2024, with several breaking attendance records. The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s 52nd Quadrennial Session of the General Conference in August became the largest convention in the city’s history, with 15,000 attendees occupying 22,000 hotel rooms and generating an estimated $15 million in direct visitor spending.
Other major events included the Public Library Association’s annual conference, which brought 8,700 attendees and represented $10.4 million in direct visitor spending, and AmericanHort’s Cultivate, which attracted 10,000 attendees and contributed $7.6 million to the local economy.
The Year of Sports
2024 was a landmark year for sports in Columbus, starting with the U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Nationwide Arena in January. The championships sold 60,000 tickets—the highest attendance for the event since the 2018 Olympic year—and generated $8 million in direct visitor spending.
The city’s diverse venues showcased their capabilities by hosting three NCAA Championships (Fencing, Men’s Gymnastics, and Women’s DIII Basketball), as well as visits from the Savannah Bananas, U.S. Women’s National Team (soccer), and USA Volleyball.
Summer brought global soccer to Columbus with visits from Premier League powerhouses Manchester City, Chelsea, and Aston Villa. The MLS All-Star Game was another highlight, attracting 20,000 fans and contributing $20 million in direct visitor spending. The year concluded with the College Football Playoff First Round featuring the Ohio State Buckeyes against the Tennessee Volunteers.
Economic Impact and Hospitality Growth
The city’s hospitality industry saw remarkable growth across all key performance indicators in 2024. According to STR reports, Columbus experienced the largest year-over-year increase in overall room demand among its competitive set.
Hotel occupancy rose to 63% (a 6.6% increase), outperforming the competitive set average of 61%. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) grew to $122.29 (a 1.9% increase), while Revenue Per Available Room (RevPAR) jumped to $77.00 (an 8.6% increase).
Bed tax collections for the year totaled $59,497,998, representing an 8% increase over 2023, according to reports from the Office of City of Columbus Auditor Megan Kilgore.
Culinary Recognition and Future Outlook
Columbus’ reputation as a food destination continued to grow in 2024. After being named one of the best food cities in the U.S. by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards, the city secured three James Beard Foundation® nominations for the prestigious 2025 Restaurant and Chef Awards.
These nominations followed a citywide campaign led by Experience Columbus to highlight the city’s culinary talent. Avishar Barua, chef/owner of Agni and Joya’s, was named a semifinalist in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category, while Law Bird and Dan the Baker earned semifinalist spots in the Outstanding Bar and Outstanding Bakery categories, respectively.
Building Momentum for the Future
Looking ahead, Columbus has already secured 463 conventions, meetings, trade shows, and sporting events for future years, representing 319,348 room nights in future business. One of the year’s biggest announcements came in August when Experience Columbus revealed it will host the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Exposition in 2030.
“2024 was the biggest year in the history of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission,” said Linda Logan, CEO and President of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission. The commission welcomed 97 sporting events—the largest number since its founding in 2002—generating $182 million in direct visitor spending.
As Columbus continues to build on this momentum, it’s clear that the city’s strategic efforts to enhance its profile as a premier destination for tourism, conventions, and sporting events are paying off in significant ways.
Source: Experience Columbus
