With many events and conventions canceled due to COVID-19, lodging tax revenues in Wake County are estimated to have fallen by 48.5% compared to previous years. | Stock Photo
With many events and conventions canceled due to COVID-19, lodging tax revenues in Wake County are estimated to have fallen by 48.5% compared to previous years. | Stock Photo
As people begin to venture from their homes once more, tourism in Wake County is experiencing a slow recovery.
While hotels and restaurants are starting to see some increase in business, numbers remain low, Dennis Edwards, president and CEO of Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau (Visit Raleigh), told ABC 11 for its Aug. 7 report.
"Hotel occupancy and restaurant sales both continue to increase slowly month-to-month and those are promising trends," Edwards told ABC 11. “The demand is not there and the hotels aren't bringing back full staff yet."
In an average year, the county could expect an estimated 16.8 million visitors generating $2.7 billion in revenue, ABC 11 reported. Yet, a glimpse at tax revenue indicates that hotel stays are down approximately 48.5% and food and beverage establishments are missing approximately 25.7% of their sales.
Some of that loss in sales may be attributable to the cancelation of 227 conventions, meetings and sporting events planned for this summer, ABC 11 reported. Adding to the loss in sales, the cancellation also cost the local economy an immediate loss of $118.5 million.
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