VisitPittsburgh reports another
record-setting year

PITTSBURGH — Finally. Some good news! 2008 marked another record-breaking year for VisitPittsburgh and the region's tourism industry.

In 2008, the Convention Sales Team booked 573 meetings and conventions for 2008 and beyond, including 43 conventions accounting for 242 usage days at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center (DLCC). This compares to 454 meetings and conventions booked in 2007, including 197 usage days for the DLCC. All told, 2008 bookings represent an anticipated direct spending totaling $272 million, compared to $254 million in 2007.

Pittsburgh hotels continued to perform at an exceptionally high level. Smith Travel Research — the world's foremost source of hotel performance trends - reports that Pittsburgh's hotel occupancy in 2008 increased by 2.5 percent over 2007 — the second-highest city ranking in the country for hotel occupancy growth. And, Pittsburgh is one of only 11 cities in the black. Overall revPAR (revenue per available room) in 2008 increased 6.2 percent over 2007 - the largest increase in Pittsburgh's competitive set.

"These are impressive numbers, especially when considering many cities are seeing double-digit declines in hotel occupancy," said Joe McGrath, president and CEO of VisitPittsburgh.