Taxable Hotel Revenue

TAMPA BAY SCORES A QUADRUPLE, SURPASSING $1 BILLION IN HOTEL REVENUE FOR FOURTH-CONSECUTIVE FISCAL YEAR 

Second-highest July reinforces the effects of Tampa Bay's tourism sales and marketing 

Tampa, FL, September 17, 2026 – For the fourth-consecutive fiscal year, Tampa Bay’s taxable hotel revenue has topped $1 billion, a milestone underscoring both the vitality of Hillsborough County’s hospitality industry and the impact of Visit Tampa Bay's strategic marketing efforts. With one month left to go in Fiscal Year 2026, $1,066,785,610 has been collected from September 2025-July 2026, bringing the total Tourist Development Tax (TDT) collected for this period to $63,959,481. 

Surpassing the billion-dollar threshold for taxable hotel revenue once, let alone four times, seemed like a far-off goal for Hillsborough County's tourism industry just a few years ago. In sports, four straight championships by one team are considered a dynasty that results from successful investment in players, coaching, and management. In tourism, four unprecedented years of hotel revenues for a destination are the result of wise investment in innovative, impactful, and conversion-based sales and marketing, paired with the strength of Tampa Bay's hospitality workforce.  

“What we once thought would be nearly impossible for Hillsborough County’s tourism industry has become an achievement we have built year after year, thanks to the collaboration of our hospitality industry, our partners at the county and city level, and the businesses that welcome visitors to Tampa Bay every day,” said Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “To exceed one billion dollars in taxable hotel revenue for four consecutive years, through weather events and global issues, is a monumental achievement and should be celebrated. This sustained success is a testament to the marketing and sales strategy we have undertaken to inspire the world to love Tampa Bay and serves as one of the chief catalysts in generating $9.5 billion in annual economic impact for Hillsborough County and supporting nearly 62,000 jobs.”  

Taxable hotel revenue from July reached $79,494,089, the second-best July on record and a 5.6% increase from last fiscal year. Tourist Development Taxes collected by the county in July totaled $4,764,239, a 6.3% improvement over last July.  

Meetings and conventions continued to fuel Tampa Bay's tourism economy in July, with 28 meetings and conventions generating nearly 30,000 hotel room nights booked and an estimated $16,702,672 in economic impact. September is on pace to build on that momentum, with 17 meetings and conventions expected to bring nearly 32,000 hotel room nights booked and more than $17,451,485 in projected economic impact. 

Tampa Bay's professional sports calendar adds to the destination's fall appeal. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers opened their 2026 NFL season Sunday and host their home opener this weekend at Raymond James Stadium against the Cleveland Browns, while the Tampa Bay Sun FC, the region's first professional women's soccer club, celebrated its home opener last Saturday. The Tampa Bay Lightning will drop the puck on a new season October 1, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a spot in the postseason last week, marking their first time in the playoffs since 2023.