MARCH National & International Business & Convention

Transcription

1 MARCH 29 National & International Business & Convention COMPANIES CUT TRAVEL SPENDING According to a just updated Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) survey cited in Marketing & Tourism Trends, twice as many U.S. companies as previously expected are cutting their travel spending this year in response to economic weakness and uncertainty. The Association of Corporate Travel Executives says 71% of its member companies now plan to spend less on travel this year than in 28. That's a huge and unprecedented shift in corporate travel managers' plans from just five months ago, says Susan Gurley, the association's executive director. In September, when the association whose members typically manage travel budgets of $5 million to $1 million a year at midsize or large U.S. corporations and institutions asked about travel spending plans, only 33% of respondents said they expected to cut back. In fact, 36% said they would be spending more on travel in 29. But in the just-completed survey, only 8% of the ACTE member companies that responded said they now expect to spend more on travel this year. Most companies are seeking to spend 1% to 2% less on travel than they were expecting to spend just five months ago, the latest survey shows. Using the most conservative figures for estimating the dollar impact of such cuts, the ACTE suggests that the 176 member companies that responded collectively will spend about $88 million less on travel this year than they had planned. Local Perspective CHARLOTTE AREA LODGING DECEMBER SMITH TRAVEL RESEARCH January hotel performance was dismal across the board. Both locally and nationally, all measures fell compared to January 28. January occupancy in the Charlotte market was 44.9%, down 16.3% from January 28. In the US occupancy was 45.9% in January, 1.7% below last January. In North Carolina, January occupancy was 4.7%, off 12.8% from last January. January occupancy in the Top 25 markets was 52%, down 11.2% compared to January 28. Charlotte area average daily rate (ADR) was $81.79 in January, down 1.7% from last January. Average daily rate in the US was $1.66 in January, down 5.2% from January 28. In North Carolina, January ADR was $76.5, a drop of 1.9% from last January. Top 25 market ADR was $ in January, down 4.9% from January of 28. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) was $36.74 in Charlotte during January, a drop of 17.7% from January of 28. In the US, January RevPAR was $46.24, down 15.3% from last January. In North Carolina, RevPAR was $3.94 in January, down 14.5% from January 28. For the Top 25 markets, January RevPAR was $63.95, a drop of 15.6% from last January.

2 MECKLENBURG COUNTY HOSPITALITY TAX COLLECTIONS FY9 Mecklenburg County 6% occupancy tax collections total $13. million year to date through January, an 11% decline from the same period last year. NASCAR Hall of Fame 2% occupancy tax collections total $4.3 million year to date, also down 11% from last year. Mecklenburg County s 1% prepared food & beverage tax collections are $11.7 million fiscal year to date, up 1% from the same time last year. National Leisure & Tourism MANY U.S. ATTRACTIONS OFFERING TOURISTS DEEP DISCOUNTS With the nation s tourism industry in its most battered state since September 11, 21, a recent USA Today article describes the extent to which well-known national attractions have been deeply discounting in an attempt to prop up sales in this challenging economic climate. These offers include: Free night stays at Walt Disney World in Florida; coupons worth $15 off at Pennsylvania's Hershey Park and admission to the Georgia Aquarium at last year's prices. Given so many people have lost their jobs and aren't getting raises and aren't getting bonuses, it did not seem appropriate to do a price increase this year," said Dave Santucci, spokesman for the aquarium in downtown Atlanta. A ticket at the aquarium will cost the same this year as it did last $27 for adults. Visit once and you get a "bounce pass" to return any time that year for $15. And the aquarium is brokering deals with surrounding attractions like the World of Coca-Cola to offer combination tickets at discount prices. Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, Silver Dollar City in Missouri, Sea World in Florida and the San Diego Zoo are also following suit with similar special offers. FOURTH QUARTER 28 GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT Economy Real gross domestic product (GDP), the output of goods and services produced by labor and property located in the United States, decreased at an annual rate of 6.2%in the fourth quarter of 28, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The GDP estimates released last week are based on more complete source data than were available for the advance estimates issued last month stating the decrease in real GDP for the fourth quarter was 3.8%. The decrease in real GDP in the fourth quarter was primarily due to negative contributions from exports, personal consumption expenditures, equipment and software, and residential fixed investment. CRVA Media Coverage FEBRUARY 29 MEDIA COVERAGE- VOCUS Vocus tracked 81 news results for the CRVA during February. By category, the five most frequently mentioned were: Charlotte Sports 24%, Charlotte Attractions 19%, NASCAR Hall of Fame 17%, Time Warner Cable Arena 14% and Charlotte Convention Center 8%. By type, 38% of February s news items were a Brief Broadcast Mention followed by Print Feature (25%), Brief Print Mention (19%) and Broadcast Feature (18%). A total of 61% of February s news results occurred outside of the Charlotte region. Sources for this Publication Inside This Report Association of Corp. Travel Executives Marketing & Tourism Trends Mecklenburg County Tax Office Smith Travel Research The Conference Board The TAP Report USA Today US Bureau of Economic Analysis US Department of Labor Visit Charlotte/CRVA Vocus Mike Applegate, Dir. of Research, CRVA Mike.applegate@crva.com Barometer Summary (p. 1&2) Hospitality Industry Statistical Report (p. 3) Definite Bookings (p. 4) Pace Report (p. 5) Charlotte Convention Center Tradeshow & Convention Booking Outlook (p. 6) Hospitality Industry Sales Activities (p. 7) Lost Business Report (p. 8) Occupancy Tax Collections (p. 9) Prepared F&B Tax Collections and The Economy (p. 1)

3 HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY STATISTICAL REPORT February 29 Charlotte Market Lodging Production Charlotte North Competitive United Top Market Carolina Set States 25 January 29 Occupancy % % Change January 29 ADR $ % Change January 29 RevPAR $ % Change YTD Occupancy % % Change YTD ADR $ % Change YTD RevPAR $ % Change Source: Smith Travel Research-Stats lag by one month Comp Set includes: Tampa, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Baltimore, Minneapolis, St. Louis, Greensboro, Raleigh, Cincinnati, Columbus, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and Nashville Charlotte Douglas International Airport Aviation Production Month of January % Chg from Jan 8 29 YTD YTD % Chg from 8 Passenger Enplanements 1,316,182 % 1,316,182 % Passenger Deplanements 1,323,345 1% 1,323,345 1% Source: Charlotte Douglas International Airport-Stats lag by one month Visit Charlotte Definite Room Night Production Month of February Change from February 28 FY 29 YTD YTD Chg (%) from FY8 Total Room Night Production 87,246 17,454 25,918 23,833 (1%) Visitor Economic Development ($) 7,287,158 41,95, ,667,968 58,521,362 (5%) Number of Definite Bookings (2%) Average Size of Definite Bookings (-8%) Total Attendance 252, ,382 41,67 146,227 (55%) Visit Charlotte Lead Room Night Production Month of February Change from February 28 FY 29 YTD YTD Chg (%) from FY9 Total Room Night Production 137,84 18, ,55-24,948 (-25%) Number of Lead Bookings (-7%) Average Size of Lead Bookings , (-19%) Visit Charlotte Housing Bureau Production Month of February FY 29 YTD YTD% Chg from FY8 Total Reservations Produced 1,149 9,291 14% Total Room Nights Produced 3,665 31, % Visit Charlotte Leisure Tourism Production Month of February FY 29 YTD YTD % Chg from FY8 Ad Inquiries (+Travelocity clicks, video downloads) 8,771 15,971 34% Visitor Center Walk-In Traffic 2,237 23,68 6% Call Center Inquiries 549 4,617-24% Web Site Official Visitors Guide Requests (& views) 3,142 12,292-27% s/Letters/Faxes % Total Visitor Inquiries 14,77 57,77-2% Visit Charlotte Web Site Visitors (Google ) 83, , % Notes: Website transition from to began in August 28 In addition to above site changes, information enhancements and Visitor Guide availability electronically, are also resulting in fewer online requests for print version

4 VISIT CHARLOTTE DEFINITE BOOKINGS February 28 Charlotte Convention Center Total Room Nights Visitor Econ. Dev. ($) Group Name Meeting Type Event Date Days Attendance Event Marketing Services (TRM) Consumer 12/9 2 2,92 7,32 1,884,576 Wound, Ostomy & Continence Nurses Convention 6/12 4 4,38 1,5 1,888,4 Total 6,472 8,532 3,768,576 Conference Sales Total Room Nights Visitor Econ. Dev. ($) Group Name Event Date Days Attendance Crystal Carolina Sports (4 events) 29 2 avg 43, ,799 29,962,132 Quality Stay 4 Less 2/ ,216 Premiere Travel 2/ ,56 Top Gun Sports (33 events) 29 2 avg 22,65 73,94 19,589,192 Charlotte Tennis Association (2 events) 29 3 avg 46 1, 42, El Pueblo, Inc. 3/ ,6 National Softball Association (2 events) 29 2 avg 3,472 17,819 4,775,492 Charlotte Disc Golf Club (3 events) 29 2 avg 223 1,8 482,4 Interstate Road Management Company 3/ ,84 Vacation Rental Mangers Association 3/ ,76 National American Indian Housing (2 events) avg ,65 Bond Math University 5/ ,7 North Carolina Amateur Sports- State Games 5/9 2 4,76 35,1 9,46,8 The Evangelical Network 5/ ,4 Charlotte Flights Track & Field Club 6/ , 268, Blau/Jester Wedding 6/ ,28 Aloha Tournaments 7/ ,5 42, Kingdom Quest International Ministries 9/ ,76 International Assoc. of Dive Rescue Specialists 9/ ,4 Bush/Perry Wedding 1/ ,7 Blue Cross Blue Shield Association 12/ ,7 ADJUSTMENTS 2,443 N/A N/A Total 8, ,245 66,518,582 GRAND TOTAL 87, ,777 7,287,158 Sports & Leisure Spending DKS&A 27 Charlotte Update (attendance x $134 x # days) Convention & Conference Spending DMAI ExPact Study (attendance x $314 x # days) Repeat Business

5 Visit Charlotte Eight Year Dynamic Room Night Pace Report (As of 2/1/9) Trends Analysis Projections, LLC 35, 325, 3, 275, 25, 225, 2, 175, 15, 125, 1, 75, 5, 25, Definite Room Nights Consumption Benchmark Tentative Room Nights Dynamic Pace Targets Visit Charlotte Eight Year Dynamic Room Night Pace Report (As of 2/1/9) Trends Analysis Projections, LLC Total Charlotte Definite 171, ,744 12,4 64,846 3,969 2,9 5,33 524,475 Room Nights Pace Target 273, , ,824 71,11 39,58 18,92 9,611 2,999 76,184 Variance (12,75) (45,45) (13,82) (6,165) (8,89) 1,17 (4,281) (2,999) (181,79) Pace Percentage 63% 74% 88% 91% 79% 16% 55% % 74% Tentative Room Nights 34,79 17,348 15,5 88,296 49,774 63,54 16, ,253 Consumption Benchmark 339, , , , , , , ,685 2,717,48 Peer Set Pace Percentage 99% 86% 78% 66% 63% 74% 189% 289% 88% Peer Set Data includes Charlotte, Baltimore, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Tampa

6 Charlotte Convention Center Tradeshow & Convention Booking Outlook (As of 3/3/9) Definite Tentative Additional Charlotte Convention Center Tradeshow & Convention Booking Outlook (As of 3/3/9) Fiscal Year Definite Bookings Tentative Bookings Subtotal Definite Target

7 VISIT CHARLOTTE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY SALES ACTIVITIES February 29 Site Visits Group Name Venue Total Room Nights Total Attendance DEFINITES American Medical Directors Association (March 29) CCC 3,95 1,875 Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (May 29) CCC 1,386 5 National Association of Church Business Administration (July 213) CCC 4,835 1,3 TENTATIVES Stowe Family Reunion (July 29) Hotel Barbershop Harmony Society (October 29) Hotel 75 1,5 NC Counseling Association (February 21) Hotel 16 4 Accuray, Inc. (January 211) CCC MS 2, Vance Closets (March 211) CCC 1,75 3, Association of Local Government Auditors ( May 211) Hotel International Council of Community Churches (July 211) Hotel Society for Investigative Dermatology (May 212) CCC 2,136 1,5 International Association for Operative Millers (May 213) CCC 1,31 1, Trade Shows & Events Event Name Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International Carolinas Chapter Meeting Professionals International National Softball Association North Carolina Division of Tourism, Film & Sports Development Professional Convention Management Association Sales Calls Location Charlotte, NC Atlanta, GA Myrtle Beach, SC Raleigh, NC Washington, DC Minneapolis, MN

8 Visit Charlotte Pace vs. Demand Comparison Lost Business (As of 2/1/9)Trends Analysis Projections, LLC 1,2, 1,, 8, 6, 4, 2, Definite Room Nights Lost Business Visit Charlotte Pace vs. Demand Comparison Lost Business (As of 2`/1/9)Trends Analysis Projections, LLC Total Charlotte Definite 171, ,744 12,4 64,846 3,969 2,9 5,33 524,475 Room Nights Pace Target 273, , ,824 71,11 39,58 18,92 9,611 2,999 76,184 Pace Percentage 63% 74% 86% 91% 79% 16% 55% % 74% Total Demand 842, , , , ,225 75,967 74,226 38,891 2,623,431 Room Nights Lost Room Nights 671,272 51,48 39,75 3, ,256 55,877 68,896 38,891 2,98,956 Conversion Percentage 2% 2% 25% 18% 18% 26% 7% % 2% Peer Set Conversion Percentage 25% 2% 18% 16% 15% 17% 27% 34% 21% Peer Set Data includes Charlotte, Baltimore, Louisville, Pittsburgh and Tampa

9 6% OCCUPANCY TAX COLLECTIONS 3,, 2,5, 2,, 1,5, FY7 FY8 FY9 1,, 5, 2% NASCAR HOF TAX COLLECTIONS 1,, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, FY7 FY8 FY9 3, 2, 1,

10 1% PREPARED FOOD & BEVERAGE TAX COLLECTIONS 2,5, 2,, 1,5, 1,, FY7 FY8 FY9 5, THE ECONOMY January % Change Consumer Confidence Index % Consumer Price Index (CPI) % Unemployment Rate - National 4.9% 7.6% 55% - State 5.% Available 3/11 N/A - Local 5.4% Available 3/19 N/A