By 1808Delaware
The 2024 State of the Visitor Industry: First Quarter Report released by Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission highlights a strong start to the year for Columbus’ travel economy. Major national sporting events and a new advertising campaign inviting visitors to enjoy spring break in Ohio’s capital city contributed to a vibrant first quarter on par with last year’s performance.
A Busy Quarter for Conventions and Sporting Events
From January 1 to March 31, Columbus hosted an impressive 84 conventions, trade shows, and sporting events. The 2024 Prevagen U.S. Figure Skating Championships at Nationwide Arena in January was a standout, selling 60,000 tickets and generating $8 million in direct visitor spending. This event marked the highest attendance for a championship since the 2018 Olympic year.
Sports were a significant theme, with notable events such as the NCAA DI Women’s March Madness First & Second Rounds at the Schottenstein Center and the NCAA DIII Women’s Basketball Championship at Capital University. Additionally, Columbus is set to welcome Manchester City vs. Chelsea at Ohio Stadium on August 3, and the U.S. Women’s National Team will compete in the SheBelieves Cup in April. These high-profile events contributed to Sports Business Journal ranking Columbus as a top 10 city for hosting sports events.
Economic Impact of Major Conventions
Several significant conventions also boosted the local economy. The International Sleep Products Association brought in 4,000 attendees, filling over 5,000 rooms and contributing $3.5 million in direct visitor spending. The Ohio Music Education Association attracted 9,000 attendees, filling around 2,500 rooms and generating $3.6 million. The Arnold Sports Festival was a major highlight, drawing 100,000 attendees and contributing $15.6 million in direct visitor spending.
Recognition and Accolades for Columbus
Experience Columbus President and CEO Brian Ross emphasized the positive momentum for the city:
“It’s been a fantastic start to the year for Columbus with so much momentum building for our city as a result of numerous new accolades for our restaurants and attractions and national sporting events that we hosted.”
USA Today 10Best named Columbus the third best beer city in the country, and FYR, led by Chef Sebastian La Rocca, was recognized as one of its 2024 Restaurants of the Year. Additionally, two Columbus chefs were semifinalists for the James Beard Awards.
Spring Campaign Boosts Tourism
In late February, Columbus launched its “Get a Spring Breakover” campaign, encouraging visitors to enjoy a spring break in Ohio’s capital. The campaign, leveraging insights from Arrivalist, showed a 7% increase in overall trip volume compared to the same period last year. Trips of four or more nights saw a more than 100% increase, with notable increases in visitors from Indiana and Virginia.
Key Performance Metrics
According to the STR report, key performance metrics for the hospitality industry in Columbus remained steady compared to last year:
- Occupancy: 53.6% (0.8% increase)
- Average Daily Rate (ADR): $112.41 (-0.2% decrease)
- RevPAR: $60.22 (0.6% increase)
Bed tax collections totaled $9.9 million, down 4% from the same period in 2023, as reported by the Office of the City of Columbus Auditor Megan Kilgore.
Exciting Sports Calendar Ahead
Linda Logan, CEO and President of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, highlighted the robust sports calendar for the year:
“The U.S. Figure Skating Championships were a great way to begin one of the busiest and best sports calendars in Columbus history. The community really embraced this event, with fans showing up in big numbers and dozens of local organizations getting involved in fun and creative ways. The terrific sports facilities we have across the city will be busy this spring and summer with major events like the Savannah Bananas, USA Fencing Championships and what we’re calling the Summer of Soccer.”
Looking Ahead
With a strong start to 2024, Columbus is poised for continued success in attracting visitors and hosting major events. The city’s thriving hospitality and sports sectors are key drivers of its vibrant economy, promising an exciting year ahead.
For more detailed information and past reports, visit Experience Columbus Reports.
Source: Experience Columbus; Image by Brian Merrill from Pixabay
