Where to next? Travelers say San Antonio

​​​​SAN ANTONIO – The hospitality industry saw significant gains in economic impact, visitor and employment numbers from 2015 to 2017, according to the results of a study released recently at the Visit San Antonio Annual Meeting. However, latest Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) data compiled by the Real Estate Center show some cooling in that industry.

Research by Trinity University professors Dr. Richard V. Butler and Dr. Mary E. Stefl showed the economic impact of the hospitality industry in 2017 was $15.2 billion, an increase of $1.6 billion in two years.

The metro welcomed 37 million visitors in 2017, 7.3 million more than in 2015. Of the 37 million annual visitors, 30.4 million come for leisure travel. A total of 23.1 million were overnight visitors.​

The report showed that the hospitality industry employs 140,188 individuals, or one out of every seven employed in the area. That’s an increase of approximately 9,400 workers from 2015.​

Employment growth in the city’s leisure and hospitality sector has shown recent signs of slowing, though. TWC data for October 2018 show the employment growth rate for that industry in San Antonio had a year-over-year drop of .88 percent.