Sports events key in 2009 Cedar Rapids tourism

Travel and tourism visitors to the Cedar Rapids area had a $402.2 million economic impact on the community in 2009, according to the annual report of the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Purchases made by travelers while Linn County accounted for $250.6 million of the financial impact. Local residents contributed an additional $30.8 million in direct spending to the area tourism industry in 2009 and generated 473 jobs.

Events booked by the convention and visitors bureau that were held in the Cedar Rapids area in fiscal 2010 accounted for direct spending of $11.86 million. For every dollar of hotel/motel tax revenue spent by the bureau on tourism sales and marketing, the return on investment was $17.48 of direct spending to support and create jobs in the travel and tourism industry.

More than 2.3 million travelers visited the Cedar Rapids area in fiscal 2010. Over 1.6 million travelers passed through Linn County during the same period.

One of the largest events each year bringing travelers to the community is the Iowa Girls' State Volleyball Tournament at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Cedar Rapids. The tournament, which attracts students, parents and friends from across the state, accounts for an estimated $1.8 million in direct spending.

In January, the U.S. Figure Skating Association Midwestern/Pacific Synchronized Skating Sectional Championships attracted an additional $1.5 million in tirect spending by the athletes, their families and spectators.

Sports tourism was the largest single contributor of direct spending on travel and tourism in fiscal 2010 with 10 events booked by the Cedar Rapids Area Convention and Visitors Bureau generating more than 7,000 hotel room stays, $42,586 in room tax and $2,552,380 in director spending by visitors.

The bureau also provided support services to planners to ensure a successful sporting event. In fiscal 2010, the bureau supported the planning for 22 events that attracted more than 67,000 visitors to the Cedar Rapids area. The events accounted for over $7.3 million in direct spending and 11,553 overnight hotel stays that generated $73,100 in room tax.

Conventions and meetings also contributed to travel and tourism spending. The bureau booked 13 events in fiscal 2010 that attracted more than $1 million in direct spending, more than 3,600 room nights and generated about $24,000 in room tax.