Despite uncertainty in this economic climate, the BB&T Charleston Food + Wine Festival rang in its most successful year yet and plans to increase
its charitable donations by about 250 percent. A study by the College of Charleston’s Office of Tourism Analysis found that the event’s total economic impact reached nearly $2.4 million, up from $2.2 million last year. Both labor income and tax revenue climbed by tens of thousands of dollars. The 2009 festival welcomed 15,000 attendees this year, or 2,000 more people than in 2008. Of those guests, 44 percent came from out of town, and nearly 14 percent marked their first visit to Charleston. On average, visitors spent $610 locally. Nearly all of the festival’s more than 50 events sold out. Ticket sales came in about $83,000 higher than budgeted and more than $200,000 higher than last year. Charity money soared from $20,000 in donations in 2008 to $70,000 at last month’s event. Organizers said the festival plans to give $50,000 to its signature charity, the Medical University of South Carolina Children’s Hospital. That’s $37,500 more than last year. The festival will increase its scholarship funds for College of Charleston and the Culinary Institute of Charleston and will launch a scholarship for The Art Institute of Charleston. The event also generated food for Crisis Ministries and money for the Lowcountry Food Bank. The festival’s financial report is due out in June.
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