Statesville Tourism Development Authority Wins ConventionSouth Award, Releases Annual Report
The Statesville Tourism Development Authority has received a 2026 ConventionSouth Readers’ Choice Award while releasing its fiscal year 2026 annual report, highlighting tourism’s economic impact, community partners and designating marketing efforts.
Announced Oct. 21, the award is determined by ConventionSouth readers, including meeting professionals who organize events across 16 Southern states and Washington, D.C. Winners will be featured in the magazine’s December 2026 Awards issue.
The recognition highlights Statesville’s efforts to attract meetings, group travel and events while connecting planners with local hotels, venues, attractions and businesses.
“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it celebrates the people and relationships behind our destination," said Cindy Sutton, executive director of the Statesville Tourism Development Authority.
The authority’s annual report, approved by its board Sept. 22, covers July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, and details the organization’s work in destination marketing, visitor engagement, sports tourism and financial stewardship.
Tourism supports local economy
The report shows that Statesville’s 5% lodging tax, paid by visitors, generated $1,381,428 during fiscal year 2026. Under the city’s 80/20 allocation, $1,105,142 supported the Statesville Civic Center, while $276,286 funded tourism promotion and destination development.
Countywide visitor spending also continued to grow. According to Visit North Carolina, visitors spent $441.37 million across Iredell County in 2025, an increase of 2.8% from the previous year. That spending supported 2,564 direct tourism jobs.
The authority’s marketing efforts delivered 5.77 million advertisements from January through June 2026, generating 97,671 clicks or responses and 411,636 tracked website actions. Social media impressions increased 29.5% year over year to 2.1 million, while video views rose 72.9%.
Local partnerships drive growth
The authority also highlighted its work with local businesses, attractions and event organizers. Its board includes representatives from hospitality, food and beverage, recreation and community organizations.
Popular visitor destinations identified through Placer.ai data included Katana Kitchen, Boxcar Grille, Broad Street Burger Co., Amalfi’s Pizza, Fresh Chef and the Statesville Event Center.
New visitor resources included an Outdoor Trail Town Guide, Wander Maps, expanded visitor information at the Statesville Historical Collection and a new Civil Rights Trail marker.
Sports tourism also contributed to the year’s results. The World Weightlifting Challenge & Games welcomed approximately 140 athletes and generated an estimated 448 hotel room nights. Statesville also hosted the Babe Ruth Southeast Regional Tournament for the first time in Iredell County.
Additionally, a hosted visit from NC Tripping in June showcased local experiences, including Southern Cask to Bottle, Fort Dobbs, blueberry picking and downtown shopping. The visit generated 785,000 views.
Looking ahead, the authority’s fiscal year 2027 priorities include strengthening destination demand, expanding group travel and visitor services, and improving measurements of tourism’s economic contributions.
“Tourism is economic development with a welcome attached,”
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