2024-2025 Annual Report
The Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau's Annual Report updates you on the Bureau's progress toward increasing the area’s visitor and convention business. Review 2024-2025 progress reports here for sales, destination services, marketing and communications, public relations and international tourism, sports marketing, administration and destination data, technology and AI, plus see a summarized report on Destination Strategic Plan work for the 2024-2025 fiscal year here.
Review the Bureau's business plan online for a summary of strategies and objectives for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
We have also produced a Wake County Visitation Data Supplement with our partners at Arrivalist, a geo-location and ad measurement tool for destinations. You can view the report here or at the button below.
Letter from Chair Sharat Nagaraj
Dear Partner in Wake County Hospitality and Tourism,
Wake County’s visitor economy isn’t just strong—it’s breaking records and shaping our future. Every new visitor means more local jobs, stronger small businesses and a better quality of place for everyone who calls Raleigh home.
As we come together for the 2025 GRCVB Annual Meeting on Aug. 21, we’ll be putting our county’s best “food” forward—and celebrating the people and partnerships that made the past year one for the record books.
2024 in a Snapshot
- 19 million visitors chose Wake County—the most ever.
- They spent $3.4 billion, generating $321 million in state and local taxes that support our communities.
- 26,261 residents worked directly with visitors, earning $920 million in wages.
Fueling Our Future
Two tourism-related taxes—hotel occupancy and prepared food & beverage—generated $89 million last year (up 4.8% year-over-year), funding both the CVB’s work and major capital projects through the Interlocal Fund:
- $41.3 million from hotel occupancy tax;
- $47.7 million from prepared food & beverage tax.
Both are all-time highs.
A Powerful Return
With a $12.3 million budget, the CVB delivered $224 million in direct economic impact from new convention and sports bookings—an 18-to-1 return on investment. Add in leisure travel, and the ROI is many more times over.
Thank You.
I want to extend special thanks to the Wake County Board of Commissioners, Raleigh City Council, Centennial Authority, Raleigh Convention Center, Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance Advisory Board, town officials across Wake County and all local hospitality businesses.
None of this happens without a united hospitality community. Your efforts not only bring people here, they inspire them to return—and to tell others about their experience.
Let’s keep building on 2024-2025’s momentum together. The Annual Report that follows captures the full breadth and depth of what we’ve achieved.
Sincerely,
SHARAT NAGARAJ, 2024-2025 Chair
Greater Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau Board of Directors
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