Experts from various focuses of travel and tourism, along with local vendors, convened at the beautiful Camden Room in the Charleston Visitors Center on Meeting Street. To start the evening, a panel of of speakers, including Tia Clark (Owner, Casual Crabbing with Tia), Daniel Guttentag (Director of the Office of Tourism Analysis, College of Charleston), Catherine Dority (VP of Marketing, Explore Charleston), Alyssa Smith (Executive Director, Charleston Wine + Food), John Powell (President & CEO, SEWE) and Catherine Woods (Director of Communication and Special Events, The Charleston Place) discussed the various impacts of travel and tourism on the Charleston region, along with some of the opportunity and challenges they each face as Charleston continues to draw record numbers of visitors.

The opportunity to have individuals from various aspects of Charleston’s tourism scene provided an opportunity to see the many sides of what takes place in Charleston and gain understanding on the significant economic impact generated year-over-year. Charleston’s tourism numbers show no sign of slowing down, as more flights along with larger aircrafts, make their way to Charleston International Airport. In addition to the growing curiosity of Charleston, the opening of the International African American Museum, a truly inspirational and first of its kind look at the untold stories of the African American journey to the U.S., will draw even more attention to the Holy City, with tourisms numbers projected to increase.

Panelist Highlights

Tia Clark: Although crabbing excursions are a revenue generator for Tia, her mission and experiences does not only benefit her business and staff but also the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Casual Crabbing with Tia has helped generate over $50,000 in revenue for the department, as saltwater fishing licenses are required to participate in crabbing.

Daniel Guttentag: In 2022, the volume of travelers to Charleston saw a modest increase, while the revenue generated by those travelers increased by nearly 20%. This provides a strong indication that Charleston does continue to attract visitors, but the amount of money these visitors are willing to spend has seen a clear upswing, signaling a opportunity for more luxury experiences to develop in the region.

Catherine Dority: Explore Charleston has experienced success in their marketing within Manhattan, New York, by utilizing LinkNYC. Advertising with Link has allowed them to precisely geo-target potential tourists and customize messaging based on the nearest airport or most readily available airlines that fly direct to Charleston.

Alyssa Smith: The Charleston Wine + Food Festival created a $32M impact on Charleston in 2022. Between suppliers for the festival, travel, accommodations, along with food and beverage, the festival utilizes nearly 200 vendors from around the region, making their impact felt outside of events and the Culinary Villages.

John Powell: The growth of SEWE has mirrored the growth of Charleston. Each year, more people are coming to town to explore SEWE exhibits and attend experiences. Many repeat visitors use SEWE as an opportunity to not only experience the festival but visit their favorite hotels, restaurants and sights that they have grown to love.

Catherine Woods: The Charleston Place has focused on being very intentional in connecting with travelers to Charleston. With the opening of the International African American Museum, The Charleston Place, with guidance from local experts, curated exhibits and programming which featured African American artists from the area, along with highlighting Gullah Geechee culture in lectures and experiences. 

In addition to an insightful panel discussion, attendees had the opportunity to meet representatives from some of the events, experiences and venues that make Charleston a stand out city, as well as sample some of the mouth-watering food from restaurants and caterers that help Charleston gain its reputation as a foodie’s paradise.

Travel and tourism shows no sign of slowing down and with that will come new opportunities and challenges. As the city continues to attract top talent, with the right direction, collaboration and growth, Charleston will surely stay at the top of the list of greatest cities in the world.