2016 | Doing Business in Connecticut 75
SPONSORED REPORT
$14 billion in sales for businesses
across the state. In 2015, travelers'
spending per trip was up nearly
12 percent over 2014, and
occupancy rates for overnight stays
increased 4 percent over 2014,
including casino lodging properties.
• Statewide jobs. Currently, tourism
supports more than 82,700 direct
jobs. In fact, approximately one out
of every 19 jobs in Connecticut is
now supported by tourism.
• Tax revenues. In 2013, visitor
spending generated $1.6 billion in
tax revenues, including $513 million
in state taxes and $345 million in
local taxes. And in 2015, lodging tax
receipts increased 7 percent over
2014 (Connecticut Department of
Revenue Services, 2015 over 2014).
Partnering to
promote Connecticut
Fueling these results is the fact
that the leisure and hospitality indus-
try in Connecticut has become increas-
ingly collaborative.
"Tourism-related businesses from
across our state are finding that they
can accomplish so much more togeth-
er than they can alone," said Randy
Fiveash, director of the Connecticut
Office of Tourism.
"Our tourism marketing efforts
have paired over a thousand specific,
well-identified, actual Connecticut
destinations — all to give visitors a
clearer view of all Connecticut has to
offer. Even beyond that, destinations
are working together to encourage
more multidimensional experiences
and more overnight stays."
Visitors are definitely getting the
message. In 2015, Connecticut experi-
enced a 12 percent increase in visits to
a variety of major attractions during
the summer season and a 16 percent
increase in visits during Connecticut's
glorious fall leaf season.
What does that mean for the state's
diverse leisure and hospitality sector
— as well as for its overall economic
vibrancy? Commissioner Catherine
Smith of the Department of Economic
and Community Development sums it
up this way: "Not only does showcas-
ing our quality of life help us draw
more visitors to Connecticut, it helps us
attract more businesses as well. It's this
powerful combination that makes tour-
ism such a critical driver of Connecticut's
ongoing economic development."
Pairs of specific travel ideas are featured in hundreds of highly targeted digital ads that run on
websites across the country.
Connect with us!
www.CTvisit.com
www.Facebook.com/
VisitConnecticut
www.Twitter.com/CTVisit
www.Pinterest.com/VisitCT/
www.YouTube.com/user/
ConnecticutTourism/
