Report Reveals a Significant Increase in Visitors to Downtown Fort Lauderdale

The “DowntownFTL: A Market on the Rise” report conducted by the Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in partnership with Colliers International, a professional services and investment management company, reveals that Downtown Fort Lauderdale is experiencing a significant increase in visitors. In 2022, the area recorded 900,000 “out-of-town trips.”

According to the DDA, Downtown Fort Lauderdale has seen a remarkable growth in visitor numbers over the past five years, with a 162 percent rise in domestic out-of-town trips since 2018.

This surge in visitors can be attributed to various factors, including the addition of new hotels, which have tripled the area’s accommodation options in recent years.

The area also offers a diverse array of high-quality dining options and cultural amenities, all within a convenient and easily walkable distance for visitors.

The report highlights that there are currently over 2,100 rooms either built or planned, marking a five-fold increase compared to 2018. Two out of every three rooms have been built since 2018, resulting in a total of 10 hotels with more than 1,500 rooms in the downtown area. These hotels achieved an occupancy rate of 86 percent in the first quarter of the year.

The DDA notes that Downtown Fort Lauderdale has four new hotels in the pipeline. The Whitfield will be the first 5-star hotel downtown, adding an ultra-luxurious experience to Las Olas Boulevard. Additionally, Flagler Village, which is considered the fastest-growing live-work-play neighborhood in downtown, houses 45 percent of all hotel rooms in the area.

Regarding visitor demographics, the report indicates that the New York City metro area accounted for 19 percent of all trips to Downtown Fort Lauderdale in 2022, making it the top point of origin for out-of-town visitors. Chicago and Detroit followed closely behind.

Furthermore, cold weather climates such as New York City, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington, DC, represent 40 percent of all visits to Downtown Fort Lauderdale.

The report also reveals that tourists are spending more time in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, with 36 percent of all visits extending between three and seven days—a nine-point increase from 2018.