A report released this week shows North Carolina is forecast to be in the top 10 in the country for hotel-related jobs this year, while ranking 22nd for both state and local tax revenue from hotel stays and room occupancy in 2023.
According to state-by-state projections by the American Hotel & Lodging Association and Oxford Economics, North Carolina hotels are forecast to generate 49,454 direct jobs and 206,432 hotel-supported jobs this year.
That’s down from 2019’s pre-pandemic totals of 54,191 direct jobs and 226,207 supported jobs, a drop of 8.7 percent in both categories.
North Carolina hoteliers are forecast to generate $773,827,921 in state and local taxes this year, the 22nd most in the country, and a 12.2 percent increase from 2019 ($689,728,322).
Occupancy rates are predicted to be at 62.2 percent this year in North Carolina, 22nd best, down 4.7 percent (65.3 percent) from 2019.
Across the nation, hotel-generated state and local tax revenue will reach new heights, totaling $46.71 billion this year according to the report.
Average U.S. hotel occupancy is projected to reach 63.8% in 2023 – just shy of 2019’s level of 65.9%. Staffing is expected to remain a challenge for many U.S. hotels in 2023, as the industry continues to grow its workforce back to pre-pandemic levels.
“To continue growing, we need to hire more people,” Rogers said. “Fortunately, there’s never been a better time to be a hotel employee, with wages, benefits, flexibility and upward mobility better than ever before.”
Across the country, direct jobs are forecast to reach 2,096,444, down from 2,357,066 (-11.1 percent). Supported employment is projected to be at 7,616,955, after reaching 8,563,867 (-11.1 percent).
On average nationally, every direct hotel job supports an additional 2.6 jobs in the community, according to the projections.
Hotels across the country have been on hiring sprees as they try to fill jobs vacated during the pandemic.
As of Dec. 2022, national average hotel wages were at historic highs of over $23/hour and hotel benefits and flexibility are better than ever. Nearly 100,000 hotel jobs are currently open across the nation, according to Indeed.
To help hotels fill open jobs and raise awareness of the hotel industry’s 200+ career pathways, the AHLA Foundation’s “A Place to Stay” multi-channel advertising campaign is now active in 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Phoenix, San Diego, and Tampa. For more info on the campaign, visit thehotelindustry.com.
Additionally, AHLA affiliate “Hospitality is Working” recently launched the Workforce & Immigration Initiative. The effort is aimed at urging Congress to address workforce shortages with bipartisan solutions to incorporate more immigrants into the American economy. You can learn more about the effort here.
On average nationally, every direct hotel job supports an additional 2.6 jobs in the community, according to the projections.
For more information, see AHLA’s 2023 State of the Hotel Industry report.
The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide – including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S.