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GRAND RAPIDS - Experience Grand Rapids announced that Kent County achieved the highest hotel room revenue in the county’s history in 2010, breaking the 2007 record for best overall hotel performance. Hotel occupancy, revenue per available room and total room revenue for Kent County hotels were also significantly higher than the annual national growth average from 2009 to 2010.
Nashville-based Smith Travel Research, a leading provider of hotel performance data, reports that Grand Rapids hotels earned $103,228,314 in room revenue in 2010 as compared to 2007 earnings of $100,777,493. Kent County hotels increased occupancy and revenue per available hotel room by a record 11 percent, compared to national growth averages of 5.7 percent in occupancy, 5.5 percent in revenue per available room and 7.6 percent in total room revenue.
“We are extremely encouraged by such good news, especially since 2010 was said to be year of caution for the tourism industry. The fact that we so predominately outpaced the national growth averages in all areas proves our marketing and brand qualities are being recognized on a regional and national level,” said Experience Grand Rapids President Doug Small. “Strong convention business attendance, high interest from leisure travelers, maturation of new hotel inventory and enhanced brand recognition all played a part in achieving these record-breaking numbers.”
Added Small, “2010 was the second straight year we exceeded a record number of 125,000 convention room nights booked for future years, thanks to strategic efforts by our staff to solicit small to midsize groups, secure multiple-year contracts with national conventions, and increase collaboration with the West Michigan Sports Commission.”
According to Experience Grand Rapids Board Chair Ed Wilson, the attraction of recent high-profile events such as ArtPrize to the region has also contributed to a surge in leisure travelers.
“These record numbers are a direct result of our increased collaboration with hotels and area cultural establishments to package and market our offerings. Our efforts have brought an impressive collection of world class exhibits and events to Grand Rapids, including Chilhuly: A New Eden at the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park, Bodies Revealed to the Grand Rapids Public Museum and Diana: A celebration at the Grand Rapids Art Museum.”