The citywide economic impact of these bookings is estimated at $1.4 billion. Another 1,837 groups, representing a potential 5,410,979 room nights, were added on a tentative basis through 2028.

"San Francisco's convention business continues to hold steady providing attendee dollars to the local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, retail, services and attractions," said Mark Theis, vice president of the SFCVB Convention Division.

John Marks, president and CEO of the SFCVB, reported the following Bureau achievements for the 2004-2005 fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2005:

• More than 418,900 individual visitors received assistance with their travel plans; 387,400 of them on-site at the Bureau's Visitor Information Center located at Powell and Market Streets on the lower level of Hallidie Plaza.

• More than 1,200 travel trade professionals were hosted on familiarization visits. More than 575 leads for services for tour groups were distributed to SFCVB members.

• Web site traffic was up 48 percent and consumer winter advertising program generated more than 65 million impressions.

• More than 1,500 journalists were assisted with their coverage of San Francisco and its visitor industry.

Hotel guests accounted for 72 percent of dollars spent locally by out-of-town visitors, although only 38 percent of San Francisco visitors actually stay in hotels.  Visitors also stay with friends and relatives, stay outside the City limits or come into the City only for the day. 
 
"The major benchmarks of a healthy hospitality industry - hotel occupancy and average daily room rate - continue to give us reasons to be optimistic," Marks noted. "With overall city occupancy in the low 80s this June and July, and Fisherman's Wharf properties breaking into the 90s this July, we like what we're seeing." 

Occupancy in San Francisco hotels was up 2.2 percent for an average of 74.4 percent for January-July and the average daily room rate (ADR) at $151.69 was up 3.5 percent according to PKF Consulting, a worldwide hotel analysis firm.  

Founded in 1909, the San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, not-for-profit organization that markets the City as a leisure, convention and business travel destination.  With nearly 1,700 member businesses, the SFCVB is the largest membership-based tourism promotion agency in the country.  The SFCVB is located at 201 Third St., Suite 900, San Francisco, CA 94103. For more information, call 415-974-6900 or visit www.sfvisitor.org 

Laurie Armstrong
Vice President, Public Relations
San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau
201 Third Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone (415) 227-2603, Fax (415) 227-2668
[email protected] 
www.sfcvb.org