Fan line up outside the Lenovo Center. Photo: Katherine Gawlik/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Wake County's tourism tax generated $87.5 million last year, a 5.7% increase from 2023 and the most the county has seen in one calendar year, according to figures from the Greater Raleigh Convention & Visitors Bureau (GRCVB).
Why it matters: The money, which comes from taxes on hotel lodging, prepared foods and beverages, is ultimately used to fund projects in the county that increase tourism and visitors to the area.
Money from the tax is currently earmarked to be used to help fund renovations at the Lenovo Center, expand the Raleigh Convention Center, move Red Hat Amphitheater and bring an Omni hotel to downtown Raleigh.
By the numbers: The county's hotel occupancy tax brought in $41 million last year, up 7.7% from 2023.
Prepared food and beverage tax collections were $44.6 million, up 4% over 2023.
The average daily rate for a hotel in Wake County last year was $135.61.
GRCVB helped bring in 425 events to Wake County last year, attracting nearly 665,000 attendees to the area.
