Rhode Island hospitality industry returns to pre-pandemic revenue levels

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island Department of Revenue announced that the Ocean State’s hotel, meal, beverage and tax revenue has returned to pre-pandemic levels.

According to officials, the COVID-19 pandemic brought Rhode Island’s vital tourism sector to a standstill in 2020. Hotels, restaurants and bars have since made a comeback as people became comfortable with attending public events and visiting local businesses.

According to the department’s special report, meal and beverage tax revenue for the Fiscal Year of 2022 totaled $32,516,283, exceeding the $28,297,063 recorded in 2019.

The report further details that hotel tax collections from the state’s 1% local hotel tax reached $5,856,253 in 2022, which is up from the $5,072,891 recorded in 2019.

For the full report from the department of revenue, click here.