VisitPITTSBURGH Celebrates Record Year for Allegheny County Tourism at 2024 Annual Meeting

Traveler spending and visitation at all-time high post-pandemic

(PITTSBURGH, PA) – The state of Pittsburgh’s tourism industry is strong. VisitPITTSBURGH, alongside state, county and city leaders, today declared 2023 a resounding year of travel for Allegheny County at the 2024 VisitPITTSBURGH Annual Meeting at Stage AE.

Joined by Governor Josh Shapiro, County Executive Sara Innamorato, Mayor Ed Gainey and more than 300 members of the region’s tourism community, VisitPITTSBURGH announced the industry’s economic impact topped $6.4 billion in 2023.

Year-over-year growth was also celebrated across major pillars within the industry, including a 6.1% increase in visitor spending; 5.4% increase in state and local taxes generated; and a 6.7% increase in labor income across the industry’s 38,000 tourism-supported jobs.

“What an incredible year for Allegheny County’s tourism industry,” said Jerad Bachar, President & CEO of VisitPITTSBURGH. “These landmark gains have been years in the making and represent the collective resilience and collaboration found across all sectors of the industry. From hoteliers, restaurants and attractions to leisure, business and sports events, our tourism community has pulled together for another year of growth.”

Additional key metrics shared at today’s meeting include:

  • VisitPITTSBURGH’s Business Events Sales team and SportsPITTSBURGH booked 228 events in 2023 for an estimated 313,700 hotel room nights and $260 million in anticipated direct visitor spending.
  • VisitPITTSBURGH’s Leisure Marketing team generated 216.7 million digital campaign exposures, 3.18 million website users and 1,958 earned media placements.
For the David L. Lawrence Convention Center:
  • VisitPITTSBURGH’s Business Events Sales team and SportsPITTSBURGH booked 61 events for 2023 and beyond, resulting in an expected $168.2 million in direct visitor spending for 202,100 hotel room nights.
  • A total of 45 VisitPITTSBURGH and SportsPITTSBURGH-generated events were held in 2023, generating $142.7 million in direct visitor spending and more than 114,000 hotel room nights.

“It’s no doubt that 2023 was a record year for recovery, and our industry has incredible momentum for what’s on the horizon in 2024,” Bachar added. “From the continued rollout of our 10-year Tourism Development Plan to new events and major partner anniversaries, 2024 has a solid foundation for continued growth, development and lasting success.”

According to the latest Tourism Economics’ baseline forecast, visitor spending is expected to continue to climb to $6.7 billion in 2024. Additionally, preliminary forecasts show the local tourism sector anticipating a gain of nearly 2,000 jobs with more than 41,000 total jobs expected by year-end.

To access VisitPITTSBURGH’s 2023 Annual Report, click here. For more on travel to Pittsburgh, visit VisitPITTSBURGH.com.

VisitPITTSBURGH is the official tourism marketing and promotion agency of the Pittsburgh region. The organization is dedicated to generating business events, sports events and leisure travel.