Miami's tourism industry has been showing robust growth and setting records, especially in the wake of the pandemic. In 2022, Miami-Dade County welcomed over 26.5 million visitors, generating more than $20.8 billion in tourism revenue, marking an 8% increase over the previous year. This surge was supported by a significant rise in both overnight stays and day-time visits, with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting that overnight visitation increased by 20% from 2021. The county also saw a boost in hotel room sales and gross hotel revenue, alongside a rise in hotel occupancy rates despite new hotel room inventories being added.
Moreover, Miami has been experiencing a booming visitor industry with big changes from two years ago. David Whitaker, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, noted that for nine of the last 13 weeks, demand has been higher than both the Covid period and their best times in 2019 in terms of "heads in beds." The average daily room rate in Miami-Dade County has seen a significant increase, with the industry also gaining on a national level.
Furthermore, the early part of 2023 has continued this positive trend, with increased seat capacity for international passengers and higher hotel occupancy and daily rates recorded in the first two weeks. The Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau reports that occupancy, average daily rates, and visitor volume have all seen increases, with the annual occupancy rate of Miami-Dade hotels in 2022 standing at 72.1%, 8% above 2021. This success is partly attributed to Miami's appeal to high-value customers who are looking for high-quality experiences.
These developments are very encouraging for Miami's tourism sector and underline the city's resilience and attractiveness as a top travel destination.