Release Date: May 20, 2019
Metrics include data for the most current available month, and year-to-date data through that month.
Updated on 5/20/19 with data through April 2019.
To comply with STR's conditions for re-publishing this data, EMT will replace the posted data with data for the subsequent month, when it is provided to EMT. This will typically take place approximately 18 to 20 days after the end of the month in question. At that time, only data for the new current month will be available. Lodging performance data for previous months and years can be purchased from STR.
Republication or other re-use of this data without the express written permission of STR is strictly prohibited.
Release Date: May 7, 2019
This article and graphs are provided under permission granted by STR, Inc., the source of the data.
Minnesota experienced declines in five of six lodging metrics during the first quarter of 2019. It is no surprise that the positive impacts of the Super Bowl VII event in early February 2018 translated into negatives, by comparison, in the first quarter of 2019. This was especially the case for the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. The year started with big declines for most metrics in January and February, before turning to modest growth for all metrics in March. Statewide room supply growth remained steady and positive throughout the quarter. Two sets of graphs, with links below, show changes in Minnesota’s lodging metrics for the first quarter of 2019 and monthly for the last 12 months.
First Quarter 2019 Lodging Performance Changes for Minnesota, the U.S., the Region and Minnesota Areas – Five of Minnesota’s six lodging metrics saw negative growth during the first quarter of 2019, compared with the first quarter of 2018. The biggest declines were in the three revenue-related metrics of revenue per available room (i.e., RevPAR, -12.5%), revenue (-10.4%) and average daily room rates (-10.1%). Statewide first quarter demand growth was just short of flat (-0.3%). However, occupancy declined more substantially (-2.7%), attributable in part to 2.5% room supply growth – the only metric to show positive statewide first quarter growth. Room supply growth was distributed throughout the metro area, as well as in the St. Cloud/I-94 corridor and southern Minnesota area, exclusive of Rochester and Mankato.
With the exception of room supply growth, first quarter 2019 U.S. and regional (i.e., the seven-state West North Central U.S.) lodging performance exceeded Minnesota’s, with stronger growth for the remaining five metrics. Greater Minnesota first quarter growth exceeded Metro area growth for the same five lodging metrics, i.e., all except supply growth. Among Minnesota’s 11 distinct market areas (i.e., five in the metro and six in greater Minnesota), the metro’s Minneapolis area (i.e., ground zero for Super Bowl VII) saw the biggest declines overall, while the three southern Minnesota areas saw the most growth overall.
Year-over-year first quarter changes in Minnesota lodging metrics (i.e., 2019 compared with 2018) and 2018 compared with 2017 (in parentheses) were:
Month-by-Month Lodging Performance for Minnesota – Super Bowl-related January and February dips are hard to miss on graphs of change in Minnesota’s monthly lodging metrics, with supply growth being the exception. Most metrics bounced back in March, aided by a calendar shift for Easter to a later April date in 2019. Travel is subdued for a few days leading up to Easter. By comparison, the last nine months of 2018 portray relatively stable and mostly positive growth, though the year ended with soft November and December lodging performance. Monthly occupancy and RevPAR growth during the second half of 2018 were negatively impacted as room supply growth ticked up each month, prior to leveling off around 2.5% during the first quarter of 2019. Supply growth peaked at 3.5% monthly growth in November 2018.
Click below for accompanying graphs of Minnesota lodging performance (repeats of links from above):
Month-by-Month Lodging Performance for Minnesota
Detailed March and year-to-date lodging metrics for Minnesota can be viewed online for a limited time at Current STR Lodging Metrics for Minnesota. (Note: The most current available monthly lodging metrics are replaced by data for the subsequent month when they are provided by STR.)
Previous Quarterly Lodging Performance Reports
Minnesota’s 2018 Lodging Performance Was Shaped by the Super Bowl
Release Date: Jan 14, 2019
This report provides annual counts of international arrivals at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, based on their country of origin and world region. It is solely based on passenger itineraries and does not designate passenger nationality.
New starting with the 2017 report, passenger volume is broken down into the following categories:
o Total
o Origin (more likely to be visitors to the U.S.)
o Destination (more likely to be U.S. residents)
o Other (insufficient information to categorize as origin or destination).
While statistics reflect itinerary origins, they provide no indication of passenger nationality or residency. Also, U.S. residents returning from international travels are not differentiated from residents of other countries arriving for a visit to the United States.
As an example, a passenger may have started in South Africa, flew to India, then France and on to MSP. Previous to 2017, reports provided no indication about whether the passenger was more likely to be an international visitor to the U.S. versus a U.S. resident returning from South Africa. However, starting in 2017, origin versus destination categorization provides that indication, as long as the point of origin was discernible from a single (i.e., round trip) itinerary.
2017 Annual International Arrival Passenger Point of Origin to MSP
Release Date: Jan 11, 2019
Complete annual sales tax statistics reports for Minnesota's Leisure and Hospitality Industry, beginning with 2004. Includes Accommodations; Food Services and Drinking Places; and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation Industries, with a separate table in each annual report for each tourism region and county. The contents page (first page) serves as a guide to the geographic area(s) of interest to you.
2017 Leisure and Hospitality Sales Tax Statistics
These statewide and regional lists include attractions for which attendance was monitored and reported to Explore Minnesota. Attractions on the lists are ranked by attendance and feature things to see or do that are entertaining, recreational or educational in nature, and cater to tourists. Additional information about the lists is provided in notes at the bottom of each list.
Top Attractions Statewide - 2017
Top Attractions by Region - 2017
Release Date: September 17, 2018
Annual Minnesota Accommodations and Attractions Database Comparisons, beginning with 2002. Some lodging categories have changed over the years. Attractions were added in 2010, and appear as the last page of the report.
View the report here.
Release Date: Feb 28, 2019
Minnesota 2018 Tourism Advertising ROI Research, by Longwoods International, describes the research objectives and methodology, the campaign that was being evaluated and the findings. This report also includes the "Halo Effect" results from the Minnesota spring/summer 2017 campaign, along with survey results for social media and information sources used for travel planning.
A survey-based study of consumers in Minnesota's advertising markets provided fundamental strategic insights about the image of Minnesota, compared with a set of six competing states - Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois and Missouri.
The study also addressed the return on investment (ROI) of Explore Minnesota Tourism's spring/summer 2017 advertising campaign. The study provided estimates of incremental travel, travel spending and direct state and local taxes generated by the advertising campaign. These measures were combined with Explore Minnesota's investment in the campaign to arrive at estimates of the return on investment for travel spending and taxes.
This study also investigated the impact of travel advertising and visitation have on Minnesota's economic development image - the "halo effect." Results showed that both awareness of Explore Minnesota's advertising and actual travel to Minnesota in the past year had significant positive impacts on people's view of Minnesota as a good place to live and do things like start a business, attend college and retire.
The Economic Impact of the Spring/Summer 2018 Tourism Ad Campaign in Minnesota, by Tourism Economics, details the economic impacts associated with the advertising-generated travel and travel spending.
The Minnesota 2017 Tourism Advertising Evaluation and Image Study was conducted by Longwoods International. Reporting of results from the 2017 study includes a main report plus three appendices, presenting a level of detail not included in posted reports from previous years:
A survey-based study of consumers in Minnesota's advertising markets provided fundamental strategic insights about the image of Minnesota, compared with a set of six competing states - Wisconsin, South Dakota, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois and Missouri. The study also addressed the return on investment (ROI) of Explore Minnesota Tourism's spring/summer 2017 advertising campaign; and the impact of travel advertising and visitation have on Minnesota's economic development image - the "halo effect." Results demonstrated significant positive impacts on people's view of Minnesota as a good place to live and do things like start a business, attend college and retire.
2016 Tourism Advertising Evaluation Study
2016 Economic Impact of the Spring/Summer Tourism Ad Campaign
2015 Image and Return on Investment Evaluation
2014 Tourism Advertising Evaluation Study
2014 Economic Impact of the Spring/Summer Tourism Ad Campaign
2013 Image and Tourism Advertising Return on Investment Evaluation
2012 Tourism Advertising Evaluation Study
2012 Economic Impact of the Spring/Summer Tourism Ad Campaign
Release Date: Sep 11, 2018
- Overview: Results from a recent Explore Minnesota survey of Minnesota lodging and camping properties reveal a successful summer 2018 travel season. The informal survey showed summer 2018 occupancy and revenue levels to be up overall, compared with summer 2017. Positive results extended across all accommodation types, especially resorts and campgrounds, and most regions of the state. Minnesota’s hotel/motel sector showed positive results, despite challenges related to significant pre-Super Bowl room supply growth that was concentrated in the Metro region.
The survey also provided a positive assessment of business expectations for the upcoming fall season for all accommodation types and Minnesota regions, as well as a continuation of positive financial health among Minnesota accommodations. Open-ended responses attributed the successful summer to sustained strength in the economy and payoffs from respondents’ improved marketing efforts, but also noted challenges related to increased room supply and private vacation rentals.