MINNEAPOLIS — It was a busy week for Minneapolis hotels on March 3-9 as more than 200,000 people visited the city for one or more events, including the American Physical Society March Meeting at the Minneapolis Convention Center and the Big Ten Women’s Basketball Tournament at Target Center, according to hospitality industry data provider Smith Travel Research (STR).
Combined with events that are regularly hosted in the city, Minneapolis hotels sold nearly 60,000 rooms last week. Minneapolis has more hotel rooms now than it ever had previously. Hotel room supply is currently at 10,268 in Minneapolis, up more than 17% since the Super Bowl in 2018.
Attendees of large events in the city bring a significant boost to Minneapolis’ economy by visiting local businesses, restaurants, bars, breweries and attractions, and staying at Minneapolis hotels, thereby generating lodging, entertainment, restaurant, liquor and sales taxes for the city and supporting the tens of thousands of tourism and hospitality workers in Minneapolis.
According to STR, 9,991 hotel rooms occupied on Tuesday, March 5, were an all-time high for Minneapolis hotels, surpassing the 9,888 mark set twice in 2023 (June 13 & 23). On Tuesday, March 5, hotel occupancy in Minneapolis was 97.3% – the highest since Oct. 24, 2019 (97.5%).
Data indicates that the 59,590 hotel rooms were occupied from Sunday-Saturday, March 3-9, were an increase of more than 115% from the same week in 2023. From March 3-9, hotel occupancy was 82.9% – the highest weekly rate since Oct. 6-12, 2019 (83.1%). In 2023, the corresponding week had a weekly occupancy rate of 38.5%.
Minneapolis hotels recorded more than $11.5 million in total guest room revenue last week, an increase of more than 176% from the same week in 2023.
This week, expected visitors to the city are estimated to exceed 120,000 for the following events:
- Big Ten Men’s Basketball Tournament, March 13-17, Target Center
- Northwest Sportshow, March 14-17, Minneapolis Convention Center
- Jurassic Quest, March 15-17, Minneapolis Convention Center
- Minnesota Optional and Xcel State Gymnastics Championships, March 15-17, Minneapolis Convention Center
- KAR Regional Dance Competition, March 15-17, Minneapolis Convention Center
- Sports, theater and music events that downtown regularly hosts
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