Dallas Travel and Tourism Industry Grows to New Heights

DALLAS, Feb. 1, 2024 - A new annual impact study from Visit Dallas and Tourism Economics indicates another high-performing year for the travel and tourism industry. In 2022, the city hosted 25.7 million visitors, resulting in an astounding $9.6 billion in economic impact for the City of Dallas.

The overall economic impact includes $6 billion in direct visitor spending, creating $600 million in state and local tax revenues. In 2022, visitor spending levels increased by 37%, showcasing the city's growing popularity as a premier destination and the continued recovery of Dallas's travel and tourism industry.

Notably, the visitor economy supported more than 56,000 jobs and provided a collective labor income of $2.9 billion. Tourism ranks as the 10th largest employer in the city and affirms the hospitality industry’s positive impact on the broader Dallas community.

“National headlines continue to point to something unique happening in Dallas, and this data confirms we’re on the right path,” said Craig Davis, President and CEO of Visit Dallas. “The expanding convention center, airport developments and hotel growth show our excited commitment to welcoming more visitors than ever before.”

Later this year, the city will break ground on a new and expanded Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Dallas. The new center will drastically improve Dallas’ urban landscape and offer 800,000 square feet of exhibit space, 430,000 square feet of breakout space, a 105,000 square foot ballroom and a walkable entertainment district.

“The new convention center – slated to open in 2028 – is an unprecedented investment in our city’s future, and it will serve as an incredible economic development driver for Dallas,” said Rosa Fleming, Director of Convention and Event Services for the City of Dallas.

To date, Visit Dallas has already booked 43 contracted conventions for the new center, resulting in more than $1 billion in total economic impact. During construction, the existing convention center will remain open for operation.

To accommodate increased demand, Dallas’ hotel market continues a strong upward trajectory and has been leading the country in future hotel development projects. With more than 20,000 rooms in the pipeline, this increased capacity will positively impact hotel revenue performance, which has recovered to 2019 levels.

“Dallas’ ongoing hotel expansion serves as an incredibly positive indicator of the hospitality community’s overall health,” said Traci Mayer, Executive Director of the Hotel Association of North Texas. “More hotels mean more jobs and an even greater economic impact in North Texas for years to come.”

In 2024, tourism's total economic impact is forecasted to exceed $11 billion, supporting more than 61,000 jobs and generating $703 million in state and local tax revenues; visitor levels are predicted to surpass 2019 levels, indicating a full recovery of the visitor economy.

###

About Visit Dallas
Visit Dallas is an independent, not-for-profit sales and marketing organization contracted with the City of Dallas to promote Dallas as a premier business and leisure travel destination. The organization’s collective efforts generate economic impact, jobs and state and local tax revenues, benefitting the community and improving the quality of life for all residents.

About Tourism Economics
Tourism Economics is an Oxford Economics company with a singular objective: combine an understanding of the travel sector with proven economic tools to answer the most important questions facing our clients. More than 500 companies, associations, and destination work with Tourism Economics every year as a research partner. We bring decades of experience to every engagement to help our clients make better marketing, investment, and policy decisions.

Media Contact:
Zane Harrington
Director of Communications
469-418-5939
zane.harrington@visitdallas.com