CVB: Springfield tourism continues upward trend

Tourism continues to grow in the Queen City, according to the latest data released by the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau when compared to 2013.

Air traffic
In July, traffic in and out of Springfield-Branson National Airport continued the upward trend recorded each month this year, according to a CVB enewsletter issued yesterday.

SGF enplanements and deplanements totaled 82,822 in July, a 10.8 percent increase from 74,753 passengers in the same month a year earlier. July represents the Springfield airport's busiest month so far this year, which has seen year-over-year increases in each month.

Through July, total traffic was 492,019, an 11.6 percent rise over the same seven-month period of 2013.

Lodging demand
The Springfield lodging industry brought in $9.1 million in room sales during June, the most recent data available. The figure represents a 4.5 percent increase over $8.7 million sales in June 2013, according to the CVB.

Year-to-date sales through June totaled $44.7 million, up 6.3 percent from the same period a year ago.

During June, hotel room occupancy was 69.7 percent, up from 64.6 percent a year earlier, and year-to-date occupancy increased to 59.9 percent from 54.1 percent in 2013.

While room demand in June was roughly flat, year-to-date demand was up 2.6 percent. Room supply was down slightly through June, according to the data.[[In-content Ad]]