BOISE, Idaho — It’s no secret that Boise is a growing city.
Not only is that fact affecting residents – but also visitors – who want to see the City of Trees but can’t find a hotel room to stay in. Hotels in Boise are at a year-round 70% occupancy rate, Carrie Westerward, executive director of Visit Boise said.
“I've been here for 10 years, and it's been tremendous growth, but in a good way,” Westerward said. “It's been for people that have been able to experience what the destination has to offer.’
Boise has 1,600 hotel rooms to offer now – and Westerward said ten years ago, there were only 500 rooms. Even still – that many rooms aren't keeping up with the demand.
“In the summertime, they could be 100% or 90% full,” Westerward said. “Then in softer periods, a little bit less. But on average, we really do have a strong occupancy.”
Not all of those visitors are just tourists exploring Boise. Cody Lund, the executive director of Boise Centre, said that many tourists are coming solely for business.
“From 2019 to where we are today, that corporate demand is continuing to be a big increase in the demand, and that's helping drive that hotel occupancy rate up,” Lund said.
Lund said in 2024, Boise has hosted about 190 events. 60-70 of those events were conventions. In June, Boise hosted a convention of 1,000 people – representing all 50 states.
“The growth in the Treasure Valley has really driven the occupancy up on the hotel side,” Lund said.
Westward said there's about 5 million people that have come in and out of the Boise airport this year. Most visitors are from California, Washington and Utah, according to a 2021 study by Idaho Commerce.
Those visitors are also helping Boise’s economy. Just this year – visitors have brought in $1.9 billion to Boise’s economy, Westward said.
The City is working to help the hotel demand through building new hotels – the next one that will open is the Marriott on the southeast corner of downtown Boise, Westward said. As of now, Westward and Lund said visitors may need to use Airbnb’s or hotels outside of downtown, but Bosie is keeping up with the demand as they can.
“We've had about three new hotels that have come on alone just in the downtown core that are really helping us with the inventory,” Lund said.