HIGH POINT – Visit North Carolina research shows visitors spent more than $1.2 billion in Guilford County last year.
Tim Mabe, the CEO of the High Point Convention and Visitors Bureau, said its much more than the furniture market that attracts people to High Point.
“High Point University brings in, now, around 80,000 visitors a year,” said Mabe. “The CVB is responsible for getting about 50 new showrooms that are now open year round in the core city area which we estimate could bring between 30,000 and 40,000. Some of that is also the success of the ITMA, International Textile Market Associations, bi-annual fabric show. [Then there were some sporting events] like the High Point Cycling Classic.”
While all the visitors are great, there’s a dilemma. Mabe said the downtown area lacks infrastructure.
“A lot of these folks are going to nearby Greensboro, Winston-Salem, or the other areas and so imagine what we could do if we captured those groups,” said Mabe. “I mean its great to say, ‘High Point has 80,000 people coming to the furniture market,’ and that is great don’t get me wrong, but we don’t have 80,000 motel rooms we have less than 1,500 motel rooms.”
A problem they’re working to fix.
“The CVB Board unveiled a vision for High Point for things that could make it more of a year round destination.”
Part of that includes a multi-purpose stadium downtown and building up a revitalized area.
“To increase our tax base and bring in more revenues which to do it this way with visitors is much better than putting that tax burden on the citizens,” said Bruce Davis, the convention and visitors bureau vice chair.
Tourists brought High Point and Guilford County record numbers in 2014 – which added up to a nearly 5-percent increase in visitor spending.
In a state where travel is a $20 billion industry, leaders in the furniture capital are ready to showcase more of their offerings.
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