Boosted by the Democratic National Convention, Mecklenburg County hotels generated more revenue in September than any month in at least four years, according to recently released tax receipts. The county’s hotels rang up about $61 million in sales in September, an 82 percent increase compared with the same month in 2011. In the last four years, the previous best month for the lodging industry was in March, when revenue was about $48 million.
The convention also affected regional and statewide numbers. The Charlotte Economic Development Region – comprised of Alexander, Catawba, Cleveland, Iredell, Rowan, Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Stanly and Union counties – saw hotel demand increase 12 percent in September over September 2011 and average daily room rate increase 37 percent over the same time period. The state saw room demand increase more than three percent from September 2011 to September 2012, and room rates increase nearly 12 percent. To see North Carolina’s September lodging report, click here.
During the DNC in early September, the region’s hotels were almost completely full, with many charging two or three times as much as regular rates. The county’s restaurants and bars also did well, though their boost in sales wasn’t as pronounced. They sold about $228 million of meals and drinks, based on receipts from the 1 percent prepared food and beverage tax. The DNC was the largest convention in the city’s history. As many as 35,000 people came to Charlotte for up to five days, organizers said, and the host committee said it contracted with area hotels for roughly 75,000 hotel room nights. Some hotels booked were in outlying counties, which aren’t part of the Mecklenburg data.