• 52,000 properties
• 3.9 million rooms
• $99.7 billion in sales
• 63.2% average occupancy rate

The Lodging Industry —

Had an average room rate of 

• $81.33 in 1999, 
• $78.62 in 1998, 
• $75.31 in 1997, 
• $70.93 in 1996, 
• $66.65 in 1995, 
• $62.86 in 1994, 
• $60.53 in 1993, 
• $58.91 in 1992, 
• $58.08 in 1991, and 
• $57.96 in 1990. 

In the United States, the tourism industry is currently the third largest retail industry, behind automotive and food stores. Travel and tourism is the nation’s largest services export industry, third largest retail sales industry, and one of America’s largest em-ployers. In fact, it is the second, or third largest employer in 29 states. The tourism industry includes over 15 interrelated businesses, from lodging establishments, air-lines, and restaurants to cruise lines, car rental firms, travel agents, and tour operators. 

In 1999, spending in the United States averaged $1.42 billion a day—that’s $59.4 million an hour, $989,300 a minute, and $16,400 a second. 

Tourism Affects Our Economy by —

• Generating $520.0 billion in sales (excludes the $21.1 billion that international travelers spend on U.S. air carriers—total amount is over $541 billion). 
• Paying $158.2 billion in travel-related wages and salaries. 
• Paying $92.5 billion in federal, state, and local taxes. 
• Approximately one of every seven Americans is either directly or indirectly employed because of people traveling to and within the United States. 

The money all 50 states allocated to tourism promotion totaled over $644 million for fiscal year 1999-2000, a nearly 13 percent increase over the previous fiscal year. Hawaii budgeted the most money to tourism, about $60.0 million. Illinois was second with a $55.5 million budget, and Florida was third with $54.3 million. Illinois plans to spend the most on domestic advertising, budgeting $11.7 million for 1999-2000, followed by Florida ($11.4 million) and Texas ($11.0 million). The total domestic advertising budget is $159 million. 

1999 Property/Room Breakdown 
 

The Typical Lodging Customer 

• 24.5% are on vacation
• 29.7% are transient business travelers
• 24.4% are attending a conference/group meeting
• 21.5% are traveling for other reasons (e.g., personal, family, special event) 

The typical leisure room night is generated by two adults (51%), ages 35-54 (42%), earning an average yearly household income of $62,621. The typical leisure traveler also travels by auto (76%), makes reservations (83%), and pays $76 per room night. 
 

The top 10 countries in terms of U.S. arrivals for 1999 were: 

1. Canada (14.1 million), 
2. Mexico (9.9 million), 
3. Japan (4.8 million), 
4. United Kingdom (4.3 million), 
5. Germany (2.0 million), 
6. France (1.1 million), 
7. Brazil (665,000),
8. Italy (626,000), 
9. Venezuela (552,000), and 
10. the Netherlands (527,000). 

According to Tourism Industries, a record 48.5 million international (International includes Canada, Mexico, and overseas) travelers visited the United States in 1999, a 5 percent increase over the decline in travel in 1998.  Overseas (Overseas excludes Canada and Mexico) arrivals set a new record in 1999 when they increased by 3 percent to 24.5 million. Canadian arrivals increased by 5 percent in 1999 to 14.1 million. Mexican arrivals increased by 7 percent to 9.9 million. 

The impact of international travelers on the hotel industry is considerable. In 1999, 20.0 million overseas travelers stayed in a hotel/motel. Their average length of stay in a hotel was 7.9 nights, with 1.7 people in the travel party. The main purposes of trips for overseas travelers who stayed in hotels and motels were leisure, recreation, and holiday at 41 percent, and business at 32 percent. These extremely mobile travelers visited 1.7 states while within the country. To move about the United States they rented cars (38%) and took domestic flights (31%). 

Preliminary figures for 1999 reveal that international visitor spending in the United States increased by 5 percent, resulting in $95.6 billion total travel receipts. Thus, even though American spending surpassed $81.4 billion (+7%) outside the United States, the trade surplus decreased to $14.2 billion. This is the third straight year that international travel trade surplus declined a downturn that follows a record surplus in 1996.