Despite strengthening headwinds, Florida-fatigue and lower numbers at the state level, Visit Tampa Bay announced calendar year results for Hillsborough County tourism bucked the trend and grew both hotel revenue and bed tax collections in 2023.
Taxable Hotel Revenue for 2023 came in at a stellar $1,081,186,149, a substantial increase of 4.82% compared to the outstanding result of 2022. Notably, 2023 included seven record-breaking months, underscoring sustained growth. Reflecting a significant uptick of 4.7% compared to the previous year in 2022, bed tax collections for 2023 reached $64,886,741, with another seven months setting new records, demonstrating the aggressiveness and creativity of Hillsborough County's tourism efforts.
"The hard work that our incredible partners and community stakeholders put in over the last twelve months is a testament to their commitment to this premier destination," said Santiago C. Corrada , President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. "We would like to thank Hillsborough County and the TDC for their unwavering support of our efforts. Our team's persistent pursuit of excellence is going to be increasingly important in 2024 as tourism markets become even more competitive and fractured. We will leave no stone unturned and ensure that every penny spent returns multiple times to our community."
Tampa Bay's evolution as a top tourism destination is evident in the growth of Hillsborough County's revenue and tax collections. Recently acclaimed as Florida's "It" city by Condé Nast Traveler, Tampa Bay continues to experience a steady increase in revenue and visitations against its competitive sets. With the support of tremendous partners and community stakeholders, Visit Tampa Bay looks forward to continuing to welcome all visitors to experience this dynamic destination.
ABOUT VISIT TAMPA BAY
The heart of Florida's Gulf Coast beats in Tampa Bay. Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventure with a relaxing vibe to create vacation experiences that are authentically Tampa Bay. As a not-for-profit corporation certified by Destinations International's Destination Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), we work with hundreds of partners to tell the world the story of Tampa Bay. Treasure awaits. For more information, visit our www.visittampabay.com .