Round Rock’s tourism economy growing, report says

Round Rock generated $308 million in direct travel spending in 2018, according to the latest numbers released by the Travel Texas Economic Impact Report and the Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau (RRCVB).

Of the direct spending reported, the City of Round Rock collected $29 million in tax revenue, directly impacting the local economy by improving infrastructure, generating employment opportunities and keeping property taxes low. In addition to immediately benefiting the local community,  Round Rock’s tourism dollars contribute to a diversified economy, which strengthens the foundation for future growth.

In 2020, Round Rock Convention and Visitors Bureau plans to focus on capitalizing on the city’s broadening tourism appeal. 

At the center of Round Rock’s growing tourism economy is its expanding portfolio of lodging and meeting facilities. In 2019, the city touted the opening of four new hotels — including the boutique Ruby Hotel, and national properties Element by Westin, Aloft and Tru by Hilton.

RRCVB is planning for even more tourism growth in 2020, anchored by the opening of Kalahari Resorts & Conventions — a massive 975 room resort featuring the world’s largest indoor water park. By the end of next year, Round Rock will be home to more than 4,000 total hotel rooms and offer meeting capacity of up to 5,000. With the exponential growth in lodging amenities, the city is positioning itself to be a robust business and leisure destination.

In addition to expanded hotel options, Round Rock continues to grow its entertainment and recreation offerings. The city’s recent crowning as Money’s No. 2 “2019 Best Places to Live” and being named as one of Apartment Therapy’s “Coolest Suburbs in America” further bolsters its reputation as a hub of cultural and recreational attractions — to locals and visitors alike. Cultural highlights include its growing roster of homegrown restaurants such as Fuego Latino, Greenhouse Craft Food and Sabor Colombia, plus its popular cultural festivals such as Chalk Walk, Día de los Muertos and Fiesta Amistad.  

Future projects on the horizon include iconic live music venue Nutty Brown Amphitheater and The District, a million-square-foot high-end mixed-use development that will feature numerous restaurants and shopping destinations.

And, of course: sports. The Sports Capital of Texas will host a diverse lineup of unique national sporting championships in 2020 — ranging from flag football to taekwondo. Round Rock expects to host more than 63,000 top athletes from around the country, capitalizing on its state-of-the-art facilities for youth and amateur sports. Slated 2020 sporting events include the US Lacrosse Women’s Collegiate Lacrosse Associates (WCLA) Division I and Division II National Championships, National Collegiate Table Tennis  Championships, NIRSA National Flag Football Championships and more.

“Round Rock’s reputation as one of the country’s best places to visit and live continues to spread,” City of Round Rock Sports Management and Tourism Director Chad McKenzie said. “The word is out. And as the city’s tourism grows, so does the revenue that we invest back into our community to improve the lives of our citizens. It’s truly a win-win.”

For insider tips, unique trip ideas and news, visit GoRoundRock.com.

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Source: City of Round Rock