- February 14, 2025
Loading
The number of people visiting Sarasota County in November 2024 was down compared with the previous year, according to Visit Sarasota CEO and President Erin Duggan. She released November’s visitation metrics on Jan. 22, compiled by market research firm Downs & St. Germain, noting hurricane recovery efforts influenced the data, including pushing up occupancy and room nights sold slightly.
There were 94,800 visitors in November 2024 to Sarasota compared with 101,140 in November 2023, representing a 6.3% decrease.
Spending was also down, with visitors’ direct expenditures totaling $128.3 million compared with nearly $130 million in November 2023, a 1.3% decrease.
Lodging occupancy was up and so were room nights sold, year over year. The rate of occupancy was 64.8% in November, compared with 59.7% the previous year.
There were 251,800 room nights sold in November compared with 242,800 in 2023, representing a 3.7% increase.
“This is partially due to recovery workers being more likely to stay in hotels rather than vacation rentals,” Duggan says in a statement. Displaced residents, recovery workers and people coming to check on properties were among the visitors, according to Duggan.
While room nights sold were up, the average room rate was down slightly. It was $240.40 compared with $255.74 in November 2023, which is a decrease of about 6%.
“Monthly visitation metrics for November 2024 were still influenced by hurricane recovery," Duggan says in the statement. “These visitors may stay longer and have different spending behaviors than a more typical mix of leisure and business travelers.”
Although visitors overall were down, Duggan says the number of visitors year to date from Europe increased compared with 2023.