Tourism in Davidson County generated a record $10.77 billion in direct visitor spending in 2023, an 8% increase from 2022, the 2023 Economic Impact of Travel on Tennessee reports.
If it were not for state and local taxes generated by tourism, each Nashville household would pay $3,671 more in state and local taxes, the state report said.
Visitors spend an average of $29.5 million a day in Nashville, driving local business growth, boosting tax revenues, creating jobs and solidifying hospitality as one of the city’s largest industries. It takes the next four counties of Shelby, Sevier, Knox and Hamilton to exceed the $10.77 billion that visitors spent in Davidson County.
“With nearly $11 billion in visitor spending last year, Nashville stands as the top contributor to tourism spending in Tennessee, accounting for more than one-third of the state’s total visitor expenditures,” says Deana Ivey, president and CEO of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. “Our success is rooted in Nashville’s authenticity, the abundance of outstanding attractions and hotels, and our reputation as a welcoming city. We remain committed to driving demand through the strength of our Music City brand.”
Other Davidson findings include:
• Visitor spending in Davidson County generated $1.11 billion in local and state tax revenue. Of that, $444.44 million was in local tax revenue and $666.64 million was in state tax revenue, both exceeding 2022 figures.
• Labor income in Davidson County was $2.84 billion in 2023.
• The daily and overnight visitors to Davidson County last year totaled 16.8 million.
• The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports there are 73,000 total leisure and hospitality jobs in Davidson County. Tourism Economics estimates county visitor spending generates 48,953 direct jobs as a result of tourism’s economic impact.
WeGo ridership above pre-pandemic levels
WeGo Public Transit surpassed pre-COVID fixed-route bus ridership in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2023-2024 at 101% of pre-pandemic levels, an increase of 6% over the previous year. Total Nashville Metropolitan Transit Authority ridership was 2,166,921.
It is the highest fourth quarter Nashville MTA ridership since 2018. Public transit systems across the nation experienced extensive ridership declines during and after the COVID pandemic. The latest national figure for public transit ridership was 79% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the American Public Transportation Association.
Nashville MTA routes with the greatest ridership increases included:
• Route 18 – Airport at 147% of pre-pandemic levels.
• Route 55 – Murfreesboro Pike at 133% of pre-pandemic levels.
• Route 23 – Dickerson Pike at 124% of pre-pandemic levels.
• Route 52 – Nolensville Pike at 118% of pre-pandemic levels.
The seven routes connecting to the new Dr. Rip Patton, Jr. North Nashville Transit Center experienced a 36% jump in ridership in the same time period.
Regional Transportation Authority of Middle Tennessee (RTA) regional routes continue to recover with the WeGo Star showing a 20% ridership increase and express bus routes a 13% increase over the previous year. The WeGo Star was at 43% and express bus service at 44% of pre-pandemic ridership levels.
Meharry gets $20M gift from anonymous donor
Meharry Medical College has received a $20 million donation to enhance its mission to serve underserved populations and cultivate the next generation of health care providers and researchers. The gift by an anonymous donor will be used toward programmatic and scholarship support.
The College received another $20 million grant from philanthropist Mackenzie Scott during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to continue meaningfully addressing health disparities and advancing health equity.
Meharry also has formed partnerships with global pharmaceutical companies such as Regeneron, AstraZeneca, Novo Nordisk and Roche, which invested a total $80 million in Meharry’s Together 4 CHANGE initiative and the establishment of The Diaspora Human Genomics Institute to address historical inequities that have left Black communities underrepresented in disease prevention research, education and treatment development.
Tennessee gas prices fall 9 cents to $2.82 average
Tennessee gas prices continued to fall last week 9 cents on average.
Tennessee also moved to No. 3 among the least-expensive markets in the country with an average of $2.82, which is 20 cents less expensive than one month ago and 55 cents less than one year ago.
After idling over the Labor Day weekend, the national average fell 6 cents to $3.27. Key contributors are low gas demand and the plunging cost of oil, which is about $70 a barrel.
Clarksville, Chattanooga and Cleveland have the cheapest gas in the state at $2.67-$2.77.
Womble to combine with Lewis Roca
Womble Bond Dickinson, which opened a Nashville office in 2022, and is combining its law practice with Lewis Roca, creating a firm of more than 1,300 attorneys in 37 offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Starting on its planned effective date of Jan. 1, the new firm will operate as Womble Bond Dickinson (US). Based on gross revenue of more than $742 million, the combined firm would have ranked 70th on the 2024 Am Law 100.
The combined firm will have a strong presence in California and a domestic footprint of 29 offices in 15 states and Washington, D.C., along with eight offices in the United Kingdom.
Geodis to hire 3,700 seasonal workers
Geodis, a leading global logistics provider, today announced plans to hire 3,700 seasonal workers across its campuses in the U.S. and Canada to help manage the expected rise in volumes during peak season. This hiring initiative will bolster the company’s operational capacities in its warehouses and distribution centers in preparation for the holiday season, a time when consumer demand surges.
eMarketer noted U.S. holiday sales in 2023 increased 3.9% year-over-year as consumer spending grew even amid uncertain economic times, and a similar pattern is projected for this year. eMarketer expects a substantial 4.8% increase in holiday retail sales for 2024, signifying continued growth despite factors such as inflation and consumer price sensitivity.
In anticipation of this demand, Geodis is seeking seasonal employees to join its nearly 17,000 teammates who power its operations across North America.
The company offers competitive wages, peak premium pay incentives, peak and referral bonuses, and an expedited payment option that allows workers to receive up to 50% of their paycheck before payday through an on-demand program.
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Realtor.com: Inventory highest in four-plus years
Home shoppers are looking at more options to choose from this fall as the number of homes for sale sits at the highest level since May 2020 and rates are poised to start coming down.
The number of homes actively for sale grew by 35.8% in August, the 10th straight month of growth, according to the Realtor.com August Housing Trends Report.
At the same time, home sellers pulled back, with -0.9% fewer newly listed homes on the market compared with last year.
The median price of homes for sale this August decreased by 1.3% compared with last year, at $429,990, however, the median price per square foot grew by 2.3%, indicating that the inventory of smaller and more affordable homes continues to grow in share. Homes spent 53 days on the market, the slowest August in five years.
There were 35.8% more homes actively for sale on a typical day in August compared with the same time in 2023, marking the 10th consecutive month of annual inventory growth and the highest count post-pandemic. This is a slight deceleration from July, which was up 36.6% year-over-year.
This is the second consecutive month where the rate of growth has decreased from the prior month. While inventory this August certainly continues to improve, it is still down 26.4% compared with August 2019 levels. This is a slight improvement from last month’s 28.7% gap.
AU Pro Basketball to play season in Nashville
Athletes Unlimited will play its fourth women’s basketball season in Nashville starting Feb. 5 through March 2, league officials announced Monday.
AU Pro Basketball debuted in Las Vegas in 2022 and played the 2023 and 2024 seasons in Dallas. The 2025 season featuring 24 games will be played at Municipal Auditorium in Music City, with 29 of the 40 players having WNBA experience.
“I have heard from many players who are looking forward to competing in Nashville, a city that has been passionate about women’s basketball for a long time,” said Lexie Brown, who plays for the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks and chairs the AU Pro Basketball player executive committee.
This league offers professionals the chance to play basketball in the U.S. rather than go overseas after the WNBA season. AU Pro Basketball will have competition this winter from Unrivaled, the 3-on-3 league developed by Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier set to debut in January. The 30-player league will have six teams and run eight weeks.
AU Pro Basketball is five-on-five basketball, featuring players earning points both for team wins and individual performances. Teams change each week and the top four players in the standings act as captains and draft rosters. The player with the most points at the end of the season is the individual champ.
Perpetual Capital acquires Novatech
Perpetual Capital Partners has announced it has acquired Novatech, Inc., a leading provider of nationwide Managed Office Solutions. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in 1998, Novatech has become a leader in offering comprehensive Managed Office Solutions to businesses throughout the U.S., including IT, print, cloud and cybersecurity services, along with industry-leading hardware and automation software. Serving as a single point of contact for all technology needs, Novatech simplifies operations, maximizes productivity and reduces costs for clients.
“We are excited to welcome Novatech to our family of businesses. This transaction aligns perfectly with our strategy to invest in high-quality companies with strong leadership and growth potential,” says Duncan Evans, CEO of Perpetual Capital Partners.