Visit Santa Barbara President and CEO Kathy Janega-Dykes attributes the economic bump, in part, to the World Cup. “June reflected a combination of healthy seasonal demand and visitation associated with the FIFA World Cup,” Janega-Dykes said. During the first few weeks of the World Cup tournament, local businesses were packed with soccer fans watching games and spending money on food, beverages, and more. “Visit Santa Barbara remains focused on attracting overnight visitors who create measurable value for our residents, businesses and community.” The data referenced by Visit Santa Barbara’s report was provided by hospitality analytics company STR, using hotels across Santa Barbara, Goleta, Montecito, Summerland and unincorporated Santa Barbara County.