Message from David Gilbert

2024 marked another step forward for Greater Cleveland’s travel and tourism industry. Visitor spending in Cuyahoga County reached a record high, infusing billions of outside dollars into the local economy and driving larger tax savings for locals. 

Our key performance metrics increased for a fourth straight year, with total visits up 1.5% (mirroring the State of Ohio’s visitation growth) and direct spending growing by 4% – a rate that outpaced inflation. Visitor spending is new money injected into the local economy that would have otherwise been spent elsewhere.

Over the last 10 years, the industry’s value to the County has grown by 40%, demonstrating travel and tourism’s position as a growth industry that continues to have a positive impact on the economy. Locals see a direct benefit on their tax bill; tax revenues generated by visitor activity last year resulted in a $1,460 tax savings for each Cuyahoga County household.

Travel and tourism is a powerful growth engine for Cleveland, driving billions of dollars in local impact and supporting tens of thousands of jobs and families. Year after year, more travelers are choosing Cleveland – reflecting the region’s growing reputation as a must-visit destination. As we look to our city’s future, we must evolve to give visitors a reason to return, attract new residents and secure businesses that generate jobs and diversify our economy. Continual development and investment, like the nearly $5 billion of investments planned or underway along our waterfront, is essential to Cleveland’s future as a leading city on the Great Lakes.

A summary of the economic value of travel and tourism to Cuyahoga County in 2024 can be found below.

David Gilbert
President & CEO of Destination Cleveland