Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1436811
B M & T ••• November/December 2021 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 39 T R AV E L D ATA VISIT TAMPA BAY CLOSES STRONGEST FISCAL YEAR 2021 Collections Reach Never-Before-Seen Levels With Hotel Revenues and Occupancy Increasing Visit Tampa Bay closes out its fiscal year setting a new benchmark in tourism development collections. Reflecting hotel collections from October 2020 through September 2021, Visit Tampa Bay reports $38.4 million in year-end collections beating out 2019 over the same period by 7.04%. Six of Visit Tampa Bay's 12 fiscal months reached never- before-seen levels, including its latest September collections which accomplished its first $3 million month totaling $3,241,979, a 17.44% increase over the previous record in October 2019. Even with expanded hotel inventory of more than 2,500 additional rooms and missing factors such as international visi- tation, fiscal-year-end hotel revenues soared at $642,882,023, an 8.39% decrease the same period in a record-breaking 2019. Hotel occupancy for the fiscal year closed out at 61.8%, a 13.15% increase versus 2020 and 16.25% decrease versus 2019. "Tampa Bay's tourism bounce-back is one for the books," says Santiago C. Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. "Collectively with our community stakeholders and part- ners, we have set a nationwide precedent for not letting a pan- demic define us, but instead fuel us to push our community for- ward. I am looking forward to an exciting year ahead with new hotels, attractions, restaurants and developments solidifying Tampa Bay as Florida's number 1 destination." With the next fiscal year underway, signs are pointed toward continued success with steady hotel occupancy at 67% for the first fiscal month of the year compared to 64% in 2019. New product offerings, including the destination's first five-star hotel property, the Tampa EDITION, contin- ued development in Water Street and Midtown, and new attractions like Busch Gardens' Iron Gwazi, will set the foundation for yet another memorable year for tourism in Hillsborough County. HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS, A GROWTH ENGINE FOR IHG HOTELS & RESORTS, SURPASSES 3000 HOTELS GLOBALLY Beloved Hotel Brand Reaches Milestone of More Than 3,000 Open Hotels, Having Averaged 100 Openings a Year by Creating Customer Loyalty and Expanding Into Growth Markets Holiday Inn Express has surpassed 3,000 open properties across the globe with more than 300,000 rooms in 2100 cities, continuing to serve as IHG Hotels & Resorts' growth engine. With nearly 650 properties expected to open in the coming years, Holiday Inn Express accounts for more than a third of IHG's global pipeline. The brand continues to attract hotel owners as it expands to new markets, including its first signing in Japan, the world's third largest travel market*. Celebrating its 30th year as one of the most beloved and frequented hotel brands in the world, Holiday Inn Express makes travel simple so guests can be there for moments that matter. Whether traveling for business or leisure, Holiday Inn Express is everywhere guests want and need to be. Whether our guests are taking a cross country road trip in the US or vis- iting the beautiful beaches of Bali, Holiday Inn Express deliv- ers hospitality with a consistent, efficient experience guests know and love, providing everything from a complimentary Express Start breakfast to modern rooms designed for rest and comfort. "Holiday Inn Express was created to challenge the travel industry with a belief in the power of simple, smart travel. Our owners benefit from strong occupancy levels, our pur- poseful contemporary design and strong performance that continued throughout the pandemic," said Stephanie Atiase, Vice President at IHG Hotels & Resorts and Global Brand Head for Holiday Inn Express. "Now, after developing strong guest loyalty, we mark a significant milestone with more than 3,000 hotels across 50 countries with dedicated hotel colleagues passionate about service. As we look to the future and welcome a new generation of travelers, we'll con- tinue to deliver a great sleep experience, our beloved Express Start breakfast while also innovating in ways that matter the most to our customers."