Despite pandemic, Pinellas County sees record tourism taxes
November 17, 2021 - Visit St. Pete/Clearwater, the destination marketing organization for the local region, has hit record year-end numbers for fiscal year 2021, which ended Sept. 30. Pinellas County tourist development tax collections totaled $73.2 million, a 5.7% increase compared to the previous record-setting $62 million in 2019. The Average Daily Rate (ADR) averaged $158.07 — a 6.4% increase from $148.51 in 2019, according to STR, a hotel data tracking company. Vacation rental stays increased despite the ongoing pandemic, the restrictions on international travel and the red tide woes. “This past year’s steady performance speaks volumes to our destination’s resiliency, as well as how our community came together to support the No. 1 employer in Pinellas County, tourism,” Steve Hayes, Visit St. Pete/Clearwater president and chief executive, said in a prepared statement. “As international borders reopen following an 18-month hiatus, we’re eager to welcome back a market that makes up 10-15% of visitors and see what the coming year brings.”