MILWAUKEE (May 20, 2025) — The 2024 Republican National Convention brought a total economic impact of $321.5 million to Milwaukee and the surrounding region, according to a new report released by VISIT Milwaukee and the MKE 2024 Host Committee.
The study was conducted by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics company that specializes in analyzing travel-related spending and its wider economic effects. The report, titled 2024 Republican National Convention Economic Impact Analysis, outlines how direct spending from the convention and its attendees contributed to the local and state economy.
The analysis found that direct spending from the convention totaled $216.3 million. Of that, $162.2 million came from operational spending related to the event itself, and $54.1 million stemmed from visitor spending outside of official convention activities.
Approximately 50,000 visitors came to Milwaukee for the RNC, held July 15–18 at Fiserv Forum and surrounding venues. That influx supported 3,441 full-time and part-time jobs, generated $16.8 million in state and local tax revenue, and spurred significant activity in the hospitality sector.
The largest portion of off-site visitor spending went toward lodging, which accounted for $36.6 million. Food and beverage spending totaled $7.7 million, followed by retail purchases at $4.5 million, recreation and entertainment at $3.1 million, and local transportation at $2.2 million.
The $321.5 million total economic impact includes direct, indirect, and induced effects. Indirect impacts stem from supply chain purchases and business-to-business services, while induced impacts are generated by employee household spending resulting from event-related work.
Tourism Economics used an input-output model tailored to the regional economy to measure how spending circulated through the area. The report notes that beyond its financial footprint, the convention elevated Milwaukee’s visibility on the national stage and established a model for hosting large-scale events.
VISIT Milwaukee and the MKE 2024 Host Committee commissioned the analysis as part of their post-event review. The full report is publicly available through VISIT Milwaukee’s website.
