Visit OKC reports higher visitation, $4.8B economic impact and new international outreach

Sean Yates, senior vice president of tourism development for Visit Oklahoma City, presented annual metrics showing growth in visitation and economic impact and outlined marketing efforts aimed at sustaining momentum into 2027–2028. Yates said FY26 was the first year after a hotel tax increase and that the organization relaunched a customer advisory board and expanded in‑market representation in Western Europe.

"We increased our out of state visitation by 6%," Yates said, and he cited 25,000,000 annual visitors and an estimated $4.8 billion in economic impact for the most recent year reported. Council members thanked Visit OKC and asked follow‑up questions about conversions of leads into hotel room nights and how marketing ties to upcoming projects such as the promenade at State Fair Park and a multipurpose stadium.