Wake County tourism posts strong gains in early 2026 report

Wake County’s visitor economy started 2026 with stronger hotel bookings, higher tax collections and a deeper pipeline of future events, a sign that tourism remains a meaningful revenue source for county budgets, jobs and the business corridors that depend on visitors.

Hotel lodging taxes topped $10 million in the first quarter, up 3.6% from the same stretch in 2025. Prepared food and beverage taxes reached $11.9 million, a 2% increase, pushing combined hospitality tax collections above $21.9 million in just three months. Those dollars help support local public needs, and Visit Raleigh says tourism-related taxes also fund its work and major capital projects through the Interlocal Fund. In broader county terms, tourism spending helps pay for education, school construction, water, sewer and other quality-of-life investments.

The occupancy numbers point to a market that is still outperforming wider travel trends. Wake County hotels filled 66.2% of available rooms in the quarter, above the statewide average of 57% and the national average of 59.2%. More than 1.11 million room nights were sold, and revenue per available room rose as well, suggesting demand was not confined to a small slice of the market. Visit Raleigh President and CEO Dennis Edwards said the region keeps drawing business travelers, sports fans, concertgoers and leisure visitors because it offers multiple reasons to come and stay.

The biggest economic payoff may lie ahead. Visit Raleigh and the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance booked 137 future events through March, representing more than 66,000 hotel room nights and an estimated $46.5 million in economic impact. Another 111 events, conferences and tournaments through March drew more than 136,000 attendees, underscoring how much of Wake County’s tourism engine is tied to conventions and sports bookings as much as weekend leisure trips. That mix matters because it spreads spending across hotels, restaurants and event venues rather than relying on one type of traveler.

The quarter also added an air-service boost. Aer Lingus began nonstop Raleigh-Durham to Dublin flights on April 13, giving RDU more than 10 direct international routes and nonstop service to 15 international destinations. The five-times-weekly route on an 184-seat Airbus A321XLR strengthens the Triangle’s reach into Europe, which can help Raleigh and Wake County compete for conventions, business travel and international visitors.

The latest numbers come after a strong 2025, when Wake County finished with 67.7% hotel occupancy, more than $41.4 million in hotel lodging taxes and $48.9 million in prepared food and beverage taxes. The county hosted 405 events that drew more than 306,000 attendees and booked 364 future events worth more than 263,000 room nights and a projected $190 million in direct economic impact.