ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Business is booming in the Tampa Bay area.
That's according to the latest financial numbers in hotel bed tax collections for fiscal year 2023 in St. Petersburg and Clearwater.
From Oct. 1, 2022, through Sept. 30, 2023, Pinellas County earned more than $98 million in hotel bed tax collection, Visit St.Pete/Clearwater announced Wednesday in a news release.
During that span, the two cities also generated almost $1.1 billion in local hotel revenue, which represents a $30 million increase from the last fiscal year and a $200 million uptick over 2019. This also included all revenue earned in additional motel, RV and online vacation rental sites.
“St. Pete/Clearwater continues to show why it is internationally renowned and a top destination for travelers seeking our award-winning beaches and exploring the many other unique experiences found within Pinellas County,” Visit St. Pete/Clearwater President and CEO Brian Lowack said in a statement. “I’m proud of the work of our entire Visit St. Pete/Clearwater team, the Tourist Development Council, the Board of County Commissioners, and – most importantly – our community partners to grow our brand and take the destination to new heights.
"Hosting visitors is such an important part of our local economy with one in 10 jobs in Pinellas County being associated with tourism.”
The report also says St. Pete and Clearwater saw nearly six million hotel rooms occupied, an increase of more than 100,000 rooms compared to the previous year.
Despite the impacts of Hurricane Idalia over the Labor Day weekend, the two cities closed out the year with a strong September as they generated a 2.4% increase in hotel bed tax funds compared to September 2022.
“We continue to see investment throughout our County with new hotels, dining options, and entertainment,” Pinellas County Commission Chair and Tourist Development Council Chair Janet C. Long said in a statement. “With Brian’s leadership and an energized TDC, we will look for opportunities to continue this upward trajectory for the tourism industry in Pinellas County.
"The tourist development tax plays a vital part in our County as we identify the most optimum ways to reinvest these funds into enhancements – like our beautiful beaches and the new Rays Stadium – to fuel additional economic growth and help keep property taxes lower throughout the County.”
To learn more about the hotel bed tax collections for 2023, click here.
