2015 Oregon Brewers Festival Generates $30.2 Million for Local Economy

Courtesy of Oregon Brewers Festival

PORTLAND, Ore. – Nov. 24, 2015 – A recently completed study estimates the economic impact of the 2015 Oregon Brewers Festival (OBF) at $30.2 Million.

Jeff Dense, Professor of Political Science and Craft Beer Studies at Eastern Oregon University, and a team of students administered 751 on-site interviews July 22-25, 2015.

The study utilized IMPLAN (IMpact Analysis for PLANning) data and software package to estimate the economic impact of the Oregon Brewers Festival on Multnomah County. The 2015 OBF generated an estimated $19.4 million in direct, $5.7 million in indirect (additional input purchases made by local businesses) and $5.1 million in induced (expenditures by employees from wages paid by companies in direct contact with tourists) economic impact.

“The Oregon Brewers Festival, and craft beer tourism, continues to have a significant economic impact on the Portland economy,” Dense said.

Respondents were queried on demographic factors, along with estimates of Oregon Brewers Festival expenditures in tourism-related categories, including transportation, lodging, meals, gasoline purchases, non-beer related recreation, beer purchased to take home, expenditures at the festival grounds and retail purchases.

Findings of the study include:

• A majority (52.8%) of OBF patrons were out-of-town visitors.
• Visitors from Washington, California and Canada comprised 28.7% of OBF patrons.
• 35.6% of respondents were attending OBF for the first time.
• 28.2% of OBF patrons were 50 years or older.
• The average out-of-town visitor spent $583.
• Lodging ($9.13 Million) accounted for the largest share of OBF expenditures.
• State and local government received $1.72 Million in indirect business taxes.
• 45.5% of OBF patrons utilized mass transit to attend the festival.

This was the fifth year of the study: past years’ numbers were $32.5 Million (2014); $31.2 Million (2013); $30 Million (2012); and $23.2 Million (2011). This year’s decrease was likely due to less than ideal weather.

ABOUT THE OREGON BREWERS FESTIVAL
The Oregon Brewers Festival was founded in 1988 as an opportunity to expose the public to microbrews at a time when the craft brewing industry was just getting off the ground. Today, that industry has succeeded, especially in Oregon, where (as of July 1, 2015) 194 brewing companies operate 234 brewing facilities in 72 cities in Oregon. Portland has 61 breweries — more than any other city in the world – and the Portland metropolitan area is the largest craft brewing market in the US with the most number of breweries at 91. The Oregon Brewers Festival always takes place the last full weekend in July. The 29th annual event will take place July 27 through July 31, 2016. For more information, visit www.oregonbrewfest.com.