Hotel occupancy rates were down nearly 40 percent in 2020 in Kosciusko County, but local tourism officials are hopeful for a rebound this year.
Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Jill Boggs spoke at Tuesday’s Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting with an overview of last year. She said the lack of occupancy was made up by a solid corporate visitor base, but Kosciusko County is known as a seasonal destination.
Boggs mentioned 2019 was a “stellar travel year,” giving the county a benchmark to move forward on as the tourism industry generated $47.1 million in tax revenues, $9.3 million locally. While numbers were down at the heart of the pandemic, there was rebound toward the end of the year. She said the bureau will be focusing on a “mobile-first” digital experience guide, which will help keep content up-to-date.
The bureau focuses on marketing not only locally, but regionally as well. Ads for Kosciusko County can be seen in travel guides and signs inside the Indiana Toll Road’s travel plazas.
