Super Bowl XLVIIgenerated a major boost for Baton Rouge tourism. That’s according to Smith Travel Research, which tracks hotel occupancy nationwide, and capital city tourism officials are pleased with the numbers.
Statistics from the lodging industry firm show hotel occupancy in the Baton Rouge area on Saturday, Feb. 2, the day before the Super Bowl, was at 81 percent. That compares to the same day last year when hotel occupancy was around 54-percent. The report also shows that from Friday-Saturday of Super Bowl weekend, hotels in the capital city raked in $2.54 million in revenue.
Visit Baton Rouge Executive Vice President Renee Arenge said opting to stay in the capital city allowed those Super Bowl-goers to experience more of Louisiana’s culture.
"We had availability through the airport and the hotels here and we also had Mardi Gras events and activities going on, so visitors were able to partake in the whole region, not just in Baton Rouge or New Orleans," said Arenge.
Baton Rouge may soon have another opportunity to showcase itself as a cheaper, more accessible alternative to droves of sports tourists, as New Orleans already plans to bid for Super Bowl 2018.