Lodging sales in Maine broke the $1 billion mark for the first time in 2017, while Maine restaurants brought in nearly $2.8 billion.
The Portland Press Herald reported that the combined $3.8 billion in revenues reported by Maine’s hospitality industry was a record high — with lodging sales increasing 7% and restaurant sales increasing 4% from the year before.
Steve Hewins, CEO of the Maine Innkeepers and Maine Restaurants associations, told the newspaper that tourism is a driving reason both sectors of the hospitality industry did so well in 2017.
“The strength of Maine as a destination is unbounded by anything,” he said. “We continue to be the hot destination for people right now.”
Greg Dugal, director of governmental affairs for the associations, told the Press Herald that projections for 2018 are likely to similar to last year’s performance.
