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TAMPA — A report released by tourism development nonprofit Tampa Bay & Co. shows hotels enjoyed a spike from the RNC in August, while positive media exposure may have done more to boost the area long-term.
According to the report, hotels in Hillsborough County saw occupancy rise to a level of 87.2% on Sunday, Aug. 26 to more than 91% on the Tuesday and Wednesday during the convention. These represented increases of 59.7% to 114% over the same time last year.
The average revenue per available room (RevPar) showed more impressive increases, which ranged from 312.6% to 528.1% over the same period last year. RevPar reached a high of $193.34 for Tuesday and a low of $180.55 on Thursday for the RNC. Of course, the large gains come from low base numbers because August is typically a slower time of year for hotels.
Aside from healthy hotel performance during the week, Tampa Bay & Co. reports the RNC garnered 9.6 billion media impressions for Tampa Bay. The report also says consumer attitudes shifted to be more positive after the convention. Before the RNC Social Media Command Center, consumer attitudes were 46% positive, 41% neutral and 13% negative. After the RNC, attitudes shifted to 89% positive, 10% neutral and 1% negative.
To see the full report in a pdf format, click here.
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