Large, enthusiastic crowds typified the '09 championships in Bend. Photo courtesy of Matthew Haughey.
BEND — Last December’s four-day USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships in Bend generated $1.09 million in direct tourist spending, officials said Monday.
Based on the final economic impact study conducted by VisitBend during the Dec. 10-13 championships, 2,460 tourists visited Bend for an average of 3.6 nights.
“We could not have asked for a better turnout for these championships during one of Bend’s slowest tourism periods of the year,” said Doug LaPlaca, president and CEO of Visit Bend. “Not only was the short-term economic impact significant, but the editorial coverage and word-of-mouth exposure will have significant long-term benefits for the community as well.”
The championships generated a total of 2,090 paid lodging nights at 56 different lodging properties during that time. In addition, visitors from 43 states traveled to Bend, with only 14 percent of visits coming from within Oregon. Forty-two percent of attendees at the USA Cycling Cyclocross National Championships were first time visitors to Bend.
“If we can get someone to visit Bend one time, we are confident that not only will they return, but they will encourage their friends and family to visit the destination as well,” LaPlaca said. “What’s more, with such a high percentage of event attendees indicating that they were likely to consider moving to Bend or buying real estate as a result of attending Cyclocross Nationals, there is an additional long-term real estate benefit to hosting events such as this.”
Participants completed a total of 713 written surveys in person during the event, and 761 people completed a post-event online survey. The latter provides a research sample representing 54 percent of contestants, not including local participants.
Read the complete study results HERE.
