Hub City visitors spent $274 million in FY 2016

Hattiesburg City Council received some good news last week upon receiving the annual audits from the Hattiesburg Convention and Tourism Commissions: In fiscal year 2016, visitors spent $274 million in the local economy.

Rick Taylor, executive director of the commissions, said that number is an increase of 2.1 percent over the previous fiscal year. That spending, in turn, led to a 5 percent increase in tourism-based employment in Hattiesburg, with the Hub City now boasting more than 4,200 jobs in that field.

"Tourism is critical to Hattiesburg," Taylor told council members at a recent meeting. "Both of these audits are unqualified, clean bill of health. We are using this money to promote tourism, or to operate facilities."

The city also saw an 11 percent increase in hotel rooms in fiscal year 2016, bringing the total of rooms to 2,747. Spurring that growth was the recent addition of hotels like Best Western Premier, TownePlace Suites by Marriott, Hampton Inn and Home2Suites.

"We've got two more underway — Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Express," Taylor said. "When those are built out, we'll probably see a little lull for a little while, while that's absorbed into the marketplace. And then we'll keep going."

Over at the Hattiesburg Zoo, income increased more than 9 percent in fiscal year 2016. Thanks in part to events like Tacos & Tequila and Pokemon Safari, zoo income reached $1.1 million at the close of the fiscal year, generating more income than the convention commission's other five properties combined.

Hattiesburg Zoo welcomes 14 baby alligators

In fact, the zoo earned more during this year's spring break week than it did in all of 2009, the year before the convention commission assumed control of the facility.

"That's a short period of time, to go from where we were to where we are now," Council President Carter Carroll told Taylor. "It's just incredible what y'all have done there."

Lake Terrace Convention Center also saw a banner year, playing host to more than 272,000 guests who spent almost $40 million in Hattiesburg during 1,053 event days in fiscal year 2016.

Flamingos added to Hattiesburg Zoo

In addition to the zoo and convention center, the convention commission also operates the Saenger Theater, African American Military History Museum, Eureka School Museum and Hattiesburg Visitors Center. A seventh property is in the works, as the commission recently purchased the former home of Oseola McCarty on Miller Street in Hattiesburg, with plans to relocate the house and transform it into a museum.

Because of recent improvements to the zoo and theater, the convention commission was able to transfer almost $900,000 in capital assets to the city in fiscal year 2016.

"We're excited about it," Taylor said. "We're excited about tourism, we're excited about the facilities, and we're pleased that tourism plays such a strong role in the economy of Hattiesburg.

"$274 million is some good revenue, and 4,200 jobs are good for our community."