City’s profile in tourism industry rising

Columbus’ stature among competing cities rose last year in several areas closely watched by convention and visitors groups.

Experience Columbus leaders shared news of those successes at the organization’s annual meeting Tuesday evening at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

Key hotel statistics included:

A 1.7 percent increase in hotel occupancy, moving Columbus up to fourth place from its previous seventh place on a list of about a dozen competitive cities, including Cleveland, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh.

An average daily hotel room rate of $99.28, up 2.5 percent.

A 4.2 percent increase in revenue per available hotel room, moving Columbus to sixth place from ninth among competitive cities.

The group said in January that Columbus’ 10 percent tax on hotel stays generated a record $44.5 million in 2016, up 4.3 percent over 2015. Hotels had a strong year despite construction at the convention center. That $125 million renovation and expansion project is expected to be completed in July.

Looking at future meeting and event activities, it was reported that Experience Columbus and the Greater Columbus Sports Commission booked a combined record of 492,775 hotel room nights during 2016.

Other highlights of the year for Columbus’ growing hospitality sector included being recognized for highest visitor satisfaction in the Midwest by research firm J.D. Power, and landing the American Society of Association Executives annual meeting for 2019.

That group, which will draw more than 5,000 attendees, is made up of “key decision makers and influencers planning meetings for their national associations,” according to a statement from Experience Columbus.

The group also presented its annual Expy awards to recognize outstanding contributions to “the Greater Columbus visitor experience.”

The winners, announced last month, included the Columbus Foundation; the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Ohio State University libraries; John Glenn Columbus International Airport; the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation; the Ohio Quarter Horse Association; the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts; and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra.