Visitor spending set record for Columbus in 2015

Columbus' success at attracting visitors last year led to record spending and city lodging-tax revenue, according to data being announced today by convention and visitors bureau Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission.
In total, the city welcomed 39.3 million visitors for day or overnight visits, resulting in direct spending of $6.4 billion and an overall economic impact of $9.7 billion.

According to the data compiled by Oxford Economics and Longwoods International, spending was up 12 percent from 2013, the most-recent previous year in which it was measured.

Jobs supported by the visitor industry increased by 5 percent over 2013, to nearly 75,000, while the city lodging tax generated a record $42.6 million. Overall local, state and federal tax revenue generated by visitors to Franklin County totaled $1.13 billion.

Brian Ross, CEO of Experience Columbus, said several large groups contributed to a 4 percent increase in overnight visits versus 2014 and an increase in the average length of stay. These included the NHL All-Star Game in January 2015 and the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in June 2015.

Ross said tourism business Downtown is expected to be down modestly in 2016 because of the surge in 2015 and the renovations taking place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. However, he said numbers for the Columbus metropolitan area should be up slightly.

Experience Columbus expects continued increases in visitors as Columbus establishes itself as an 'emerging destination,' Ross said.

Full article here.