TAMPA BAY TOURISM SOARS TO ITS BEST YEAR EVER!  

Tampa, FL (October 31, 2023) – The numbers are in! And they reveal another big win for Tampa Bay tourism. Even as Florida's visitor numbers began to stabilize, Visit Tampa Bay's proven ability to build strong relationships with valued partners and meeting planners means Tampa Bay’s tourism numbers continued to climb, helping the area achieve its best fiscal year ever with nearly $1.1 billion in taxable hotel revenue.  

September numbers (which complete the year) show substantial growth with the Tourist Development Tax (TDT) for the month reaching $4,381,758, a 6.2% increase over last year. In fact, Hotel Taxable Revenue for September, which reflects August 2023 reached $73,019,899, a 7.2% increase while September’s occupancy also increased 3.2% to 63.7%. The average daily rate (ADR) came in at $139.93 with RevPAR reaching $89.15.  

"It’s a remarkable display of collective effort. We take immense pride in acknowledging the continuous commitment of every individual in our industry, our valued partners, and our exceptional team for their instrumental role in achieving this major milestone,” said Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “Tampa Bay has proven it can set standards that others strive to follow.”  

Collaborating effectively in a changing landscape was a fruitful strategy. One of the core contributors for the more than 26.7 million visitors in the 2023 fiscal year was a summer of convention success, which grew hotel revenue by 10% over last year. Tampa Bay was also recognized as leading the way in hospitality recovery, achieving the #1 spot amongst the top 25 markets in the U.S. in the latest Hospitality Group and Business Performance Index from Knowland and Amadeus.  

As we enter the new fiscal year, Visit Tampa Bay remains focused on its upward trajectory of attracting even more conventions, group business, and leisure travelers to maintain Tampa Bay's premier status as a destination of choice and a place that welcomes all. 

ABOUT VISIT TAMPA BAY

The heart of Florida’s Gulf Coast beats in Tampa Bay. Visit Tampa Bay encourages adventurous travelers to unlock sun, fun and culture in Florida’s most diverse travel destination. 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.