Greater Fort Lauderdale has driven 50 consecutive months of tourism growth, with a record-breaking 13.1 million visitors spending $10.7 billion in the past year.
Year-end 2013 proved to be a milestone for the destination, with hotel occupancy rounding out at 74.7%; up 3.2% over 2012 and average daily hotel rates at $119.33; up 4.1% over 2012. But after more than four years of growth in hotel occupancy rates, 2014 started with the highest occupancy rate on record for the month of January (83.2%), an increase of 3.8% over 2013, making it the second-highest in Florida and ahead of the national U.S. average. With an unseasonable cold and brutal winter throughout the U.S., February and March 2014 are expected to garner a 4% increase in hotel occupancy rates over 2013 with a 90% occupancy rate this year for the remaining months of the quarter.
The unprecedented growth is expected to continue as airlines add new routes into Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL), which saw more than 3.6 million international visitors in 2013, an annual increase of 2.8%. The increase in international passengers made December 2013 the busiest December in the history of the airport, with international traffic now accounting for 16% of total traffic compared to 7% just 10 years ago.
Greater Fort Lauderdale’s record-breaking success highlights include:
- 50 consecutive months of growth in hotel occupancy.
- In 2013, Greater Fort Lauderdale received $47.7 million in Tourist Tax revenues, an 8.8% increase over 2012, which will be used to promote the destination and create new jobs.
- A 3.8 % increase in hotel occupancy for January 2014 over the year before and the destination’s highest occupancy rate on record for that month.
- The busiest December in the history of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 2013.
- A year-over-year increase of 2.8% in international traffic to 3,698,567 passengers. International traffic is now 16% of total traffic compared to 7% in 2003.
The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport’s growth highlights include:The busiest December in the history of the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in 2013.
A year-over-year increase of 2.8% in international traffic to 3,698,567 passengers. International traffic is now 16% of total traffic compared to 7% in 2003.
Leading the way in growth; Silver was up 31.9%, AirTran was up 16.7%, Air Canada was up 13.4%, JetBlue was up 7.8%, United was up 5.6%, US Airways was up 2.9%, and Allegiant was up 1.9%
A year-over-year increase of 2.8% in international traffic to 3,698,567 passengers. International traffic is now 16% of total traffic compared to 7% in 2003.
Leading the way in growth; Silver was up 31.9%, AirTran was up 16.7%, Air Canada was up 13.4%, JetBlue was up 7.8%, United was up 5.6%, US Airways was up 2.9%, and Allegiant was up 1.9%
