Convention and Visitors Bureaus Revenue Benchmarks
The average convention and visitors bureaus business in the United States generates $997K in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 894 convention and visitors bureaus businesses in the U.S., employing 6,778 workers with an average profit margin of 8.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $73K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Convention and Visitors Bureaus Business Actually Do?
Destination marketing organizations (CVBs) promoting travel to their city/region. Funded by hotel occupancy tax and government contracts.
Who buys: Meeting planners, tour operators, prospective visitors (via marketing outreach).
Average Revenue
$997K
per year
Profit Margin
8.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$131K
per year
Total Businesses
894
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$80K
small business avg
Labor Cost
55.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$73K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.3
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Convention and Visitors Bureaus Charge?
CVBs (destination marketing orgs) mostly funded by hotel occupancy tax (bed tax) and city/state contracts.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Hotel occupancy tax collection | 3–7% of room revenue in market |
CVB membership dues | $300–2,500/business/year |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete convention and visitors bureaus business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a convention and visitors bureaus business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the convention and visitors bureaus industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Direct service costs | $7 | $74K | Cleaning supplies, uniforms, equipment consumables — depends on service type. |
Wages & benefits | $55 | $548K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $55K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $4 | $37K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $20 | $203K | Insurance, background checks, training, transportation, admin. |
Net profit | $8 | $80K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
14.74%
openings/year
Closure Rate
12.17%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
+9.2%
annual
Businesses Closed
775
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Convention and Visitors Bureaus Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
23 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a convention and visitors bureaus business do?
- Destination marketing organizations (CVBs) promoting travel to their city/region. Funded by hotel occupancy tax and government contracts. Meeting planners, tour operators, prospective visitors (via marketing outreach).
- How much do convention and visitors bureaus charge?
- CVBs (destination marketing orgs) mostly funded by hotel occupancy tax (bed tax) and city/state contracts. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average convention and visitors bureaus make per year?
- The average convention and visitors bureaus business generates $997K in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $80K per year at a 8.0% profit margin.
- How many convention and visitors bureaus businesses are there in the US?
- There are 894 convention and visitors bureaus businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 6,778 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a convention and visitors bureaus business?
- Startup costs for a convention and visitors bureaus business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the convention and visitors bureaus industry?
- The average employee in the convention and visitors bureaus industry earns $73K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The convention and visitors bureaus industry is actively growing — adding jobs at a net rate of 9.2% per year. New establishments are opening faster than existing ones close (14.7% entry vs 12.2% exit), indicating healthy demand.
Approximately 52% of convention and visitors bureaus businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 775 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the convention and visitors bureaus industry earns $72,956/year. This is significantly above the national average of ~$65K, reflecting the skilled nature of this work. With 1,008 establishments employing 8,847 people, the typical business has about 9 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The convention and visitors bureaus industry has declined 53% since 2000 (from 22,425 to 10,611 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Convention and Visitors Bureaus revenue with other industries: