Almost 5 times more travelers flew from Columbia Metropolitan Airport last month as a year ago.

In the latest count, 36,384 passengers flew this May compared to 7,737 last May.

Air service development director Kim Jamieson said total passengers for the year has reached 128,862 not counting those who flew into the Lexington County airport from elsewhere.

Those flying in doubled hotel occupancy, Jeff Homad of Experience Columbia told ColaDaily.com

The area’s nearly 13,000 hotel rooms were 66% full in April, compared to 30% a year ago. This is being caused by leisure travel, youth sports and smaller group and convention business, Homad said.

The Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center has hosted more than 130 events since it reopened,

Tje SC Fire Fighters Association meeting brought in more than 6,000 people over 4 days, generating an economic impact of over $350,000, he said.

More than 100 people visited the Visitors Center at1120 Lincoln Street, a record number since the center reopened last June.

The Convention Center, airport and some hotels have received Global Biorisk Advisory Council accreditation, the gold standard in establishing cleaning, disinfection and infectious dis

“That helps make leisure guests, business travelers and convention attendees feel much more comfortable and safer,” Homad said. “Business travel will hopefully resume in early fall to add to the good news and economic impact,