Scott Dring, representing Visit Dublin, delivered the annual hospitality industry update to Dublin City Council on Jan. 27, saying 2024 was a strong year for local lodging and visitor spending.

Dring reported a 9% increase in bed tax revenue and a rise in hotel occupancy to 67% (an increase of about eight percentage points). The average daily rate (the average price a consumer pays for a room) was reported as $126, up roughly 2.5%.

Dring highlighted that much visitor spending occurs outside lodging: restaurants, events and retail generate the bulk of visitor dollars. He described a number of programs and metrics from Visit Dublin’s work in 2024: a global earned‑media total stated as about 2.7 billion impressions; a campaign referencing Dublin, Ireland that produced more than 130 million impressions; the Visit Dublin Choice Awards, which saw a record 50,000 votes; and the CVB’s reaccreditation, which Dring noted places Visit Dublin among a small share of accredited CVBs worldwide.

On initiatives for 2025, Dring outlined a regional summer campaign running May–August in core feeder markets (Cincinnati, Cleveland) and other feeder markets; shoulder‑season campaigns such as a Valentine’s Day “Love in Dublin” program that drew more than 4,000 couples in its first two weeks; and continued work on trail promotions including the Celtic cocktail trail (about 3,000 cocktails sold through the app) and the 10,000th participant in the fairy door trail. He also noted a new Dublin Hospitality & Tourism Academy with students from Dublin City Schools that brings juniors and seniors into hotels and restaurants for hands‑on learning.

Dring said Visit Dublin received an HSMAI Adrian award for a campaign and will accept the honor in New York. He thanked council for its partnership and offered Visit Dublin’s assistance on projects cited in the council goals, including support for a proposed premier athletic facility.

Council thanked Visit Dublin and asked a lighthearted question about attendees in a promotional “free pint” stunt aimed at visibility tied to Dublin, Ireland; Dring said a small number of participants traveled to Dublin, Ohio for the event and the campaign was intended chiefly as PR to raise global awareness.

No formal action was taken on the presentation; it was received for the record.