Wine fest creates $2 million in local economic impact
Economic impact report reveals statistics for 33rd annual celebration
– The Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance has released the 2015 Paso Robles Wine Festival Economic Impact Report, and the statistics are strong for the City of Paso Robles and County of San Luis Obispo economies, according to the alliance.
The report, conducted by Productive Impact LLC, shows a total economic impact of the 2015 Paso Robles Wine Festival on San Luis Obispo County to be $2.14 million. Direct spending by attendees on lodging, food and beverage, gasoline, wine to take home, and souvenirs totaled $1.115 million, combined with indirect and induced spending results in a total economic impact from attendee spending of $1.68 million.
The wine festival was held in the downtown city park from May 14 to May 17, of this year with a total of 3,699 unique attendees, including attendance at the winemaker dinners, “Reserve” event, and the grand tasting. Local festival goers accounted for 10.8 percent of attendees with non-locals accounting for 89.2 percent, with 52.5 percent of them being first time attendees. Non-locals drove the majority of visitor dollars spent with an average of $316.65 per person, not including tickets to the wine festival. Non-locals visited an average of 5.4 winery tasting rooms while in the area, spending an average of $86.07 per person (average party size 4.9 people) on wine to take home.
“It is thrilling that after 33 years we continue to produce a vibrant wine festival that draws new visitors to Paso Robles Wine Country and the county,” said Executive Director of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Jennifer Porter. “We are delighted to discover attendees of wine fest provide a large economic impact to the city and county.”
Another measure of economic impact is the taxes which directly or indirectly support local governments. The report estimates that the county experienced additional sales tax revenue of $62,531 and additional property tax revenue of $47,095, as well as an estimated local transient occupancy tax of $39,701 generated from this four-day celebration.
Attendee spending data was captured by implementing an after-event online survey. From this data and other data supplied by the alliance, the research group was able to estimate the direct impacts that the festival had on San Luis Obispo County. Also measured was general sentiment, which showed 86.3 percent of the respondents rating the festival as “Very Good” or “Excellent,” 74 percent were at least “Very Likely to Return,” and 82.9 percent were “Very Likely to Recommend Attending the Wine Festival to a Friend.”
Click here to view the full report.
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