Marking a 20% increase over 2004, the estimated economic impact of the local hospitality industry is more than $10.5 billion with 100,000 people employed in the industry – 1 out of every 8 workers in the metropolitan area. The study also updates San Antonio's visitor count at some 26 million visitors in 2006, of which 11 million stay overnight.

San Antonio's hospitality industry announced the results of the latest economic impact report published by the San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce.

"The industry's impressive growth has spurred development across other industry segments with investments in expansion and renovations," says Scott White, executive director of the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau. "But, as citizens of San Antonio, we are the ones who benefit most from visitor spending. For every new dollar a visitor spends locally, the impact to our economy is doubled, generating jobs, supporting local amenities and infrastructure. A healthy hospitality industry helps build a successful San Antonio."

Henry Feldman, chairman of the San Antonio Area Tourism Council, sees the study as a precipitating force for future initiatives, "As the tourism industry continues to show impressive growth, it is important that San Antonians support projects that preserve, protect and improve those things that distinguish San Antonio." Feldman points to the expansion of the River Walk as well as proposed initiatives supporting the arts, sports facilities and event venue upgrades as critical to establishing a groundwork for future success.

STUDY HIGHLIGHTS

The San Antonio Greater Chamber of Commerce Economic Impact of San Antonio's Hospitality Industry report highlights include:

• In 2006, the economic impact of San Antonio's hospitality industry was $10.5 billion (up 20% from 2004, according to DKS Schifflet & Associates Visitor Profile for San Antonio, scheduled to be released in entirety in March);
• More than 26 million total visitors came to San Antonio in 2006 (a 22% increase over 2004 numbers), of which 11 million were overnight visitors: 
• Some 20.7 million of the total were leisure visitors, 
• Another 5.3 million visitors came to San Antonio for business or a convention; 
• More than 100,000 people are employed in the industry, with an estimated $1.88 billion in payroll;  
• The hospitality industry contributed more than $125 million in taxes and fees to the City of San Antonio and more than $222 million to all local governments combined;  
• The industry's economic impact more than doubled from 1996 to 2006. 

The hospitality industry is defined by four sectors: transportation and travel arrangements; lodging and accommodations; restaurants and other food-and-beverage businesses; and entertainment and recreation activities. Increased contributions were reported across all sectors, with restaurants having the largest share of the contributions at nearly 40% of the $10.5 billion, and lodging netting the largest increase in share with 27.8% of the 2006 impact (over 24.3% of the 2004 impact).

Sponsored by the San Antonio Area Tourism Council, the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association and the CVB, this study is an update to the Chamber's industry report - released every two years - and was prepared by Trinity University professors Richard V. Butler, Ph.D., and Mary E. Stefl, Ph.D., Marco A. Barros, President/CEO of the San Antonio Area Tourism Council said. The study uses data from the CVB's visitor profile research provided by D.K. Schifflet & Associates, a leader in market research for the travel industry, plus research sources from CPS, Texas Workforce Commission and other city departments that measure revenues generated by the tourism industry, Barros added.

Copies of the study are available in pdf format at www.SanAntonioTourism.com