NAICS 561591 Quarterly Industry Report
Convention and Visitors Bureaus
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 561591Sector: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services (56)Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Convention and Visitors Bureaus (NAICS 561591) draws on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5], U.S. Census Bureau, and SBA size standards database[6]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides tourism analysts, municipal planners, and hospitality consultants with current market data. The editorial analysis reflects the independent assessment of FairMarketValue.com's research team, with all quantitative claims sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the convention and visitors bureaus industry.
Share of Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
0.2%
By establishment count, 2022 Census[2]
NAICS Sector
56
Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services
Industry Definition & Overview
Convention and Visitors Bureaus (NAICS 561591) encompasses not-for-profit and public sector organizations primarily engaged in marketing and promoting communities and regional destinations to business and leisure travelers per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. These establishments assist organizations in locating meeting and convention sites, provide travel information on area attractions and lodging, distribute promotional materials, and organize group tours.
About 8,039 enterprises operated within this classification as of 2024, an 8.8 percent increase from the prior year. Funding typically derives from transient occupancy taxes imposed on hotel guests, creating direct alignment between bureau activities and lodging revenue generation per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5]. Revenue scales range from under $1 million for small regional offices to exceeding $100 million for major metropolitan destination marketing organizations.
Organizational structures vary widely. Municipal tourism offices, independent nonprofit associations, and hybrid public-private partnerships all operate under this classification. Key activities include maintaining tourism websites, coordinating familiarization tours for travel agents and meeting planners, hosting industry events, and conducting visitor economic impact research. Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], the size standard is $25.0 million in average annual receipts. Digital marketing and social media campaigns have become primary tools for visitor attraction, supplementing traditional print advertising and trade show participation.
What's Included in This Industry
- Destination marketing and visitor promotion services
- Convention and meeting site location assistance
- Tourism information and visitor guide development
- Promotional material production and distribution
- Advertising and digital marketing campaigns
- Travel agent and meeting planner familiarization tours
- Convention and event facility coordination
- Tourism research and visitor economic impact analysis
- Trade show and industry conference participation
- Visitor welcome centers and information services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Sector | Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 56 |
| Subsector | Administrative and Support Services | 561 |
| Industry Group | Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 5615 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | 56159 |
| National Industry | Convention and Visitors Bureaus | 561591 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 561510 | Travel Agencies | Travel Agencies book travel services for consumers, serving as downstream distribution partners for destinations that convention bureaus promote and market |
| 561520 | Tour Operators | Tour Operators assemble vacation packages for destinations that convention bureaus market, creating complementary roles in the tourism promotion ecosystem |
| 561599 | All Other Travel Arrangement and Reservation Services | All Other Travel Arrangement Services provides reservation and ticketing functions, while convention bureaus focus on destination marketing rather than direct booking operations |
| 561920 | Convention and Trade Show Organizers | Convention and Trade Show Organizers manage events at facilities that bureaus promote, with bureaus attracting the events and organizers executing the logistics |
| 721110 | Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels | Hotels and Motels provide lodging whose occupancy taxes fund bureau operations, creating a direct financial relationship between hotel performance and bureau budgets |
| 711110 | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters | Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters provide cultural attractions that bureaus market as destination draws for leisure travelers and convention attendees |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 9.1% | 85 |
| 2 | Ohio | 6.0% | 56 |
| 3 | New York | 4.9% | 46 |
| 4 | Illinois | 4.9% | 46 |
| 5 | Indiana | 4.8% | 45 |
| 6 | Pennsylvania | 4.7% | 44 |
| 7 | Georgia | 4.4% | 41 |
| 8 | Michigan | 4.3% | 40 |
| 9 | Minnesota | 4.1% | 38 |
| 10 | Florida | 3.7% | 35 |
% Of Establishments
0%
9%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of organizations operate as convention and visitors bureaus?
Bureaus include municipal tourism offices, independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations, and hybrid public-private partnerships. About 8,039 enterprises operated in this classification as of 2024 per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Revenue scales range from under $1 million for small regional offices to over $100 million for major metropolitan destination marketing organizations.
How is the convention bureau industry structured?
Most bureaus are nonprofits funded by transient occupancy taxes on hotel stays per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5]. This creates alignment between hotel performance and bureau budgets. Organizational structures vary from small regional promotional offices to large destination marketing organizations running sophisticated advertising campaigns, trade show programs, and digital marketing initiatives.
What is the SBA size standard for Convention and Visitors Bureaus?
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[6], NAICS 561591 has a size standard of $25.0 million in average annual receipts. However, most bureaus operate as nonprofits, limiting direct SBA loan applicability. For-profit destination marketing firms within this code may access SBA financing.
What NAICS codes are related to convention bureaus?
Related codes include NAICS 561510 (Travel Agencies), NAICS 561520 (Tour Operators), NAICS 561599 (Other Travel Arrangement), NAICS 561920 (Convention Organizers), and NAICS 721110 (Hotels) per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Each plays a role in the tourism promotion and distribution ecosystem.
Which industries work most closely with convention bureaus?
Hotels are the most direct partners, as their occupancy taxes fund bureau operations. Advertising agencies execute marketing campaigns. Convention organizers produce events in bureau-marketed destinations. Travel agencies distribute services to consumers. Attraction operators provide the experiential content that bureaus promote.
What activities are included in NAICS 561591?
Core activities include destination marketing, convention site location assistance, visitor guide production, advertising campaigns, familiarization tours for planners and agents, tourism research, and visitor information services per the U.S. Census Bureau[4]. Digital marketing and social media programs now represent a growing share of bureau activity.
How are convention bureaus funded?
Primary funding comes from transient occupancy taxes (hotel taxes) that visitors pay on lodging. Additional revenue sources include membership fees from local businesses, sponsorships, event hosting fees, and municipal appropriations. Some bureaus generate income through advertising sales, merchandise, and fee-based consulting services.
Which cities have the largest convention bureau operations?
Las Vegas, Orlando, New York, Chicago, and San Francisco operate some of the largest and best-funded convention bureaus, reflecting their status as top convention and tourism destinations per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[5]. Annual budgets for major metro bureaus can exceed $100 million.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [5]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [6]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [7]SBA programs sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]504 loans sba.gov
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