Tampa Bay’s hospitality and tourism sector has surpassed $1.2 billion in taxable hotel revenue for fiscal year 2025, marking the third consecutive year the region has exceeded the billion-dollar threshold. Hillsborough County reported a total of $1,208,854,234 in hotel revenue, reinforcing Tampa Bay’s status as a leading U.S. travel destination.
September contributed $71,839,523 to the annual total, making it the second-highest September on record for taxable hotel revenue, despite challenges affecting the industry nationwide. Local officials attribute this ongoing growth to cooperation among Visit Tampa Bay, tourism partners, and the broader community.
“Surpassing the billion-dollar mark for a third fiscal year is proof the Tampa Bay hospitality industry sustained the momentum built in previous years,” said Santiago C. Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay. “These results reflect the strength of our destination and the people who power it every day. We owe thanks to the more than 61,000 hospitality workers, supported by leaders at county and city level, whose hard work drives our industry and supports economic development in our region, benefiting visitors and residents alike.”
Tourism Development Tax collections also reached a new record, exceeding $70 million for the first time. With September’s collections at $4,339,950, the total for the year came to $72,510,663.
Conventions and meetings contributed significantly to the fiscal year’s results. Tampa Bay hosted more than 540 events with international attendance, including major gatherings such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Annual Meeting, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, the American Legion, and SOF Week organized by the Global Special Operations Forces Foundation. These events generated over 580,000 room nights and had an estimated economic impact of more than $366 million.
Visit Tampa Bay launched several marketing campaigns in fiscal year 2025 to expand its reach. The “Ready to Play” campaign promoted Tampa Bay as a warm-weather destination following last fall’s weather events. The “Time to Play” campaign targeted drive markets like Atlanta, Orlando, and Miami-Fort Lauderdale to highlight Tampa Bay’s offerings. Additionally, the “Doggone Summer” campaign capitalized on increased pet travel trends, partnering with influencers and Amazon to promote Tampa’s status as a top pet-friendly city according to WalletHub.
Visit Tampa Bay also continued its Meeting the Moment program, recognizing organizations for community engagement, sustainability, and social impact during their meetings. Since November 2024, 32 organizations have been honored, with 19 for Community Engagement Excellence, 12 as Sustainability Champions, and one as a Social Impact Advocate.
“Collectively, these groups have delivered millions in economic value, thousands of volunteer hours, and long-term environmental benefits across the Tampa Bay region,” said Corrada.
The Meeting the Moment program was recognized with the 2025 Flagler Henry Award for Resource/Promotional Material – Trade, highlighting Visit Tampa Bay’s role in promoting responsible tourism.
Looking ahead to fiscal year 2026, Visit Tampa Bay plans to continue building on its achievements through partnerships, marketing, and community engagement to further enhance the area’s appeal to travelers.
