OGDEN — Visit Ogden recently released its annual report for 2023, and it was an eventful year marked by continued growth in key areas.

According to the report, the organization hosted 35 groups for events throughout the year, of which there were more than 30,000 attendees. That resulted in a $17.9 million economic impact locally.

In an email to the Standard-Examiner, Visit Ogden CEO Sara Toliver said that after a “record-breaking” bar had been set for rates at lodging properties and travel intent in 2022, a slowdown was expected in 2023. Instead, the early weather kept the momentum going.

“The snowfall from last year helped start the year off strong and our events and group business helped keep summer and fall really strong,” Toliver revealed. “Our community continued to create ongoing demand. It changed a lot of our messaging to how to be a responsible visitor. Encouraging visitors to support our local businesses and recreate in a conscious, respectful, responsible manner.”

Amid the increased precipitation, Visit Ogden rolled out a Snow Alert campaign, which was triggered to run over ads when snowfall was 6 inches or greater. In the end, the alert ran nearly every day during the last winter.

Looking toward 2024, Toliver is anticipating a flattening of demand. However, the expectation is that the numbers for the year ahead will eventually meet with 2022 marks.

Visit Ogden’s primary target audience — out-of-state visitors — accounted for 74.1% of the overall visitation to Weber County and a whopping 87% of overall visitor spending, per the report. In 2022, 10.1% of the total sales tax revenue for the county was generated by visitors.

Los Angeles, Phoenix, Denver, Las Vegas and Boise comprised the top five markets of origin for visitors.

Tentpole events included the Triple Crown Fastpitch World Series, which saw an increase from 55 participating teams in 2022 to 92 teams last year. The competition was hosted on 19 area ballparks, generating $4.4 million for the local economy, per the report.

That event led into the Triple Crown Best of the West Finale, which saw a field of 46 teams compete for the trophy and resulted in a $1.3 million economic impact.

While Toliver had difficulty citing a singular event as being the definitive happening of 2023, the baseball competitions warranted special mention.

“They take tremendous coordination from our team, Ogden City and Weber County Parks Departments, and our school districts, but they give our competitive teams an opportunity to play in a tournament that their families don’t have to pay for travel for,” Toliver wrote. “They also provide for field improvements and enhancements that our local teams then get to take advantage of when they are playing in their regular rec or league play. When those events occur, those visiting families also patronize our local restaurants, retail and entertainment venues.”

Toliver is excited to see those events returning this summer, alongside a whole host of others throughout the year. The Ogden Eccles Conference Center, which is undergoing renovations, also was cited as a draw for visitor groups.

“(The upgraded conference center) will really enhance our ability to bring in meetings and conventions as well as the opportunities for local organizations and non-profits to utilize the updated and upgraded facility,” Toliver said.

Economic indicators notwithstanding, Visit Ogden has other goals in mind when evaluating years past and those yet to come.

Explained Toliver: “The ultimate success metric is the intangible vibrancy of our community. We want to do our part to ensure sustainability of economy, culture and environment.”

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