Visit Huntington Beach reported a strong year for tourism and hotels in the city for 2015.
Chief Executive Kelly Miller presented the numbers at Pasea Hotel & Spa on Tuesday.
Some 3.9 million people from outside Orange County came to Huntington Beach in the year ended September 30.
The visitors spent $519 million—up 43% from about $353 million two years prior, the last time that information was collected.
The travel and tourism industry in the city accounted for about 5,900 jobs in Huntington Beach—up 32% from about 4,500 jobs two years ago—and 6% of all jobs in the city.
Miller said hotel occupancy rates were 82%, average daily rates were $249, and revenue per available room was $204, for the year ended September 30, 2015.
The city’s bed tax brought more than $9 million to Huntington Beach coffers—up about 9% compared with 2014—and the meetings and convention business accounted for about $19 million in business to local hotels and related businesses.
Travelers from other countries now account for about 14% of the 3.9 million visitors to the city, he said.
