California's Fourth District Court of Appeal has upheld the judgment that Measure (2020) was approved by voters. This ruling paves the way for efforts to modernize the San Diego Convention Center and invest in the future of our region.
Measure C increased the transient occupancy tax (TOT) in the City of San Diego with funds to be dedicated to convention center improvements, homelessness services and programs, and street repairs. The court ruling follows the City’s decision earlier this year to begin collecting the additional hotel tax as of May 1, 2025.
“This is good news for the San Diego Convention Center, downtown San Diego, and the wider community we serve. The funding available through Measure C will help the Convention Center continue to serve as a premier, world-renowned gathering place for meetings and conventions,” said Rip Rippetoe, President and CEO, San Diego Convention Center Corporation.
Strengthening our Role as an Economic Driver
For more than 35 years, the San Diego Convention Center has served as a major economic driver for our region. We host events that attract visitors from across the globe, producing significant economic benefits for local businesses and creating thousands of jobs. Our annual convention activity supports a regional economic impact of approximately $1.5 billion, including over $35 million in hotel and sales tax revenues. Those tax revenues contribute to core city services such as public safety and road repair.
Investments in our facility will ensure we can continue to drive this impact. Upgrades such as improvements to the roof, electrical infrastructure, and central plant (heating and cooling) will support a reliable and welcoming experience for all our guests.
“Convention center improvements will allow us to remain an industry leader, maintain and attract new events, create jobs, and generate meaningful economic benefits for our region. We are encouraged by the decision and optimistic about what it means for the future, while recognizing there are still procedural steps ahead,” Rippetoe said.
We also have an opportunity to increase our economic impact by creating more space for event activity. As of now, we cannot host all the events that want to be in San Diego. By optimizing our building and expanding the available space, we could host larger conventions and a greater number of events throughout the year, resulting in fewer quiet times during convention move-in and move-out days. Ultimately, this would boost outside visitor spending for the benefit of our city and region.
What’s Next
Some key next steps are outlined in this statement from San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. Given the time that has passed since the 2020 vote, we will work closely with the City of San Diego and the Port of San Diego to assess project timelines and planning details. We remain committed to communication and collaboration with our SDCC community—including clients, staff, partners, and neighbors—and will provide ample notice and updates as future projects take shape.
In the News
Learn more through recent coverage:
- San Diego Union-Tribune (via MSN): San Diego’s contested Measure C hotel tax hike clears important legal hurdle
- NBC San Diego: After 5-year legal battle, appeals court upholds passage of Measure C
- ABC 10: San Diego hotel tax to fund Convention Center improvements moves forward after 5-year legal battle
- KPBS: Court sides with San Diego in hotel tax dispute, validates Measure C 5 years after vote
