2025 REGATTA MAKES WAVES WITH $40.1M ECONOMIC IMPACT

(Charleston, W. Va.) - Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin, together with the Sternwheel Regatta Commission and the Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), announced that the 2025 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta generated $40.1M in total economic impact, welcomed an estimated 225,000 attendees [with 26% traveling from more than 50 miles and 78% of these visitors coming from out of state], and that the event will return July 2-5, 2026, coinciding with America's 250th birthday.

"The Charleston Sternwheel Regatta is so much more than a festival-it's a tradition that brings together our community, boosts our economy, and shines a spotlight on our Capital City," said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin. "As we celebrate the successes of 2025, we're already looking forward to July 2-5, 2026, when we will welcome everyone back for a Regatta that will coincide with our nation's 250th birthday celebration."

Based on data from the Charleston CVB:

• Out-of-state visitation grew by 20% from 2024 to 2025.
• 40% of visitors were from households with children.
• 32% of all visitor spending occurred at locally owned businesses.
• The top five origin markets were:
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Beckley-Bluefield, WV
  • Charleston, SC
  • Huntington, WV
  • Parkersburg, WV
• More than 9k jobs were supported

"Tourism is economic development. It supports jobs and brings new money into our community," said Tim Brady, President and CEO of Charleston CVB. "We make data-driven decisions at the CVB. As we see visitation grow from particular areas, like Pittsburgh with this report, we will invest more resources into marketing in those areas."

Since returning to the riverfront in 2022, the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta has offered a wide array of events - from concerts and a drone show to races and parades - attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors and delivering measurable economic benefit to the Capital City.

"What makes the Charleston Sternwheel Regatta so special is the people behind it - our sponsors, city teams, partners, and volunteers who give their time, talent, and support," said Andy Richardson, Regatta Commission President. "This isn't just a festival; it's a reflection of Charleston's spirit and character. Seeing families-especially children-return year after year, and visitors leaving with a true sense of our hospitality, reminds us why we do this. We can't wait to welcome everyone back in 2026 for an even bigger celebration."

Twenty sternwheel boats attended the 2025 Charleston Sternwheel Regatta, with the furthest traveling 250 river miles from north of Wheeling.

"We are thrilled to show off our boats. Many are custom-built, and several are antiques. Next year, we'll celebrate two of our most storied boats turning 100 years old," said Bryan Hughes, incoming President of the American Sternwheel Association. "We were especially proud to welcome the Valley Gem on its first-ever trip up the Kanawha River. People waiting in line for rides asked countless questions about our other boats, showing a renewed interest that will help fuel the next generation to keep these boats alive. We're the current caretakers - but it's future generations who must carry this forward, and Charleston is helping make that possible."

The economic impact was calculated by the CVB using the Destinations International Event Economic Impact Calculator.

BACKGROUND

What is an economic impact calculation?

Economic impact calculations are estimates of an event's overall effect on the economy of an area. They are not revenue reports. Rather, they measure the effects that visitor and attendee spending have on local businesses and the population at large. As attendees and visitors spend money, local businesses and their employees are positively affected. All of this benefits the local economy through increased income, increased spending, and increased tax collections. These are the contributing factors to economic impact.

How is economic impact calculated?

To measure the value of tourism events, the Charleston CVB use two tools: Zartico's Destination Operating System (ZDOS) and the Destinations International Economic Impact Calculator (EIC). ZDOS collects and analyzes real-time visitor data-such as where travelers come from, how long they stay, where they go within the destination, and how they spend their time. Much of this comes from anonymous cell phone and credit card data. This information helps us understand visitor behavior, movement patterns, and overall reach during a specific period or event.

Once that visitor data is gathered, the EIC takes key figures-like the number of attendees, how many were from out of town, average length of stay, and estimated daily spending-and calculates the total economic impact. This includes direct visitor spending (like hotels, food, and shopping), plus indirect benefits to the local economy (such as job creation and tax revenue). When combined, these tools provide a complete picture: Zartico shows the "who, where, and how," while the EIC shows the "how much."

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