The area outpaced projected national growth of 0.5 percent. It also was better on revenue per available room, or RevPar, by nearly 3 percent, with an overall 7.2 percent increase, according to Smith Travel Research, which tracks lodging statistics nationally.

The bureau secured 90 new meetings and events in 2011-12, plus six major events. The projected economic impact from these events was $75 million, the bureau said.

The Harrisburg-Hershey region is the fourth-largest region in Pennsylvania in terms of annual visitor spending at $2 billion, the bureau said, citing a 2010 study for the Pennsylvania Tourism Office.