Hospitality industry leaders in Minneapolis are optimistic about the next several years.
In 2023 Meet Minneapolis expects 35 citywide events to be hosted, bringing in tens of thousands of visitors to Minneapolis. It's part of an ongoing tourism recovery for the city that saw hotel occupancy dropped to 3% during the COVID pandemic.
Meet Minneapolis spokesperson Kathy McCarthy saying hotel occupancy has been above 55% in six of the last eight months. In March, the organization will roll out a multi-year campaign focused on bringing in people for the surrounding states and greater Minnesota to the city.
"We want to make sure that those people within the surrounding states and within our own state, realize all the great things that there are to see and do in Minneapolis."
The city is expected to put on 35 large events this year, headlined by the Big 10 women's basketball tournament and the National Pheasant Fest... but it also expects many of its annual trade shows to see increased attendance.
"The Minneapolis Boat Show, the RV Show, the Lake Home and Cabin Show, the Golf Show. The Auto Show is back at the Convention Center. In addition to the big conferences, conventions and sporting events we're bringing we're really thrilled to have all of these back at the Convention Center."
But with business travel still a main lag, it's safe to say, reaching pre-pandemic goals is still a ways away.
"I think all of us are coming to the realization that things will look different because the world around us is different."
