St. Louis Tourism Reaches New Heights: Record Growth in Visitors, Hotel Industry, and Meetings Sector

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Venues & Destinations
St. Louis Tourism Reaches New Heights: Record Growth in Visitors, Hotel Industry, and Meetings Sector

10/28/2024
ST. LOUIS, MO – Explore St. Louis, the St. Louis region’s official destination marketing organization, reports remarkable growth in tourism, hotel industry performance, and the meetings and conventions sector, according to its 2024 Annual Report. With direct visitor spending reaching $5.8 billion, St. Louis continues to emerge as a must-visit destination for both leisure and business travelers, reflecting its growing appeal on the national and international stages.

In fiscal year 2024, Explore St. Louis booked 460,239 hotel room nights for FY25 and beyond, a 60% increase from the previous year. The America’s Center Convention Complex played a significant role in the year’s success, drawing meetings to the St. Louis region that accounted for over 223,710 room nights, driven by major events such as the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Convention and the United Pentecostal Church International Youth Congress. The success of these events has solidified St. Louis' position as a top meetings and conventions destination in the U.S.

The Dome at America’s Center also set records, selling 100,000 tickets across two nights for Metallica’s performances, marking the most tickets sold for any event since its opening in 1995. Other key events included Beyoncé’s sold-out Renaissance Tour and the Missouri vs. Memphis football game.

Looking ahead, St. Louis is well-positioned for continued growth with new infrastructure projects, including a new 72,000-square-foot exhibit hall and enclosed loading docks at America’s Center. The city was also selected to host the Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress in 2025 and the prestigious ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition in 2032.

"We are thrilled to see such extraordinary growth across all aspects of St. Louis' tourism industry," said Ed Skapinok, Explore St. Louis’ Chief Commercial Officer. "Our city's unique blend of rich history, modern attractions, and thriving business environment makes it a premier destination for visitors from around the globe. “With an ambitious outlook for 2025, St. Louis is well-positioned to attract even more visitors, meetings, and events, solidifying its role as a leading destination in the Midwest.”

About Explore St. Louis
Explore St. Louis is the driving force behind St. Louis’ $5.9 billion convention and tourism industry, the official destination marketing organization of St. Louis City and County, and operator of the America’s Center Convention Complex and The Dome. www.ExploreStLouis.com

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