The 119th Boston Marathon will generate nearly $182 million in spending, according to an estimate from the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau. Roughly $102-million of that will come from expenditures by the marathon's 30,000 official participants, in areas including lodging and dining, the estimate said.
"It's just such a wonderful event," beamed runner Laura Gargolinski, who is in Boston from New York City to take part in the marathon. "It's a beautiful weekend, so I'm planning to spend a lot of time outside and visiting a lot of the local businesses, and a lot of the restaurants, and stores around the area."
"I think people are very open and very welcoming to the tourists here," said marathon runner Pauline Albert, from Ottawa, Canada. "I think they enjoy seeing us, and they're making us feel very welcome."
Albert said her visit included a hotel stay, meals out, and sightseeing including a famous Boston Duck Tour.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said the business boost is much appreciated this year, following a rough winter.
"The hotels are filled, and the restaurants are filled, and the shops are filled, so there's a lot of great things going on," Walsh told New England Cable News. "This winter, particularly February, was so long. They're not going to make up all of their losses, but certainly it's a great way to kick into the spring and the summer."
"There's a ton of runners who will be here, from all parts of the country and the world," added Gov. Charlie Baker, R-Massachusetts. "It has certainly turned [the Boston Marathon] into something way beyond what it once was, and that's a huge boost to the area economy."
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Sporting goods retailer Marathon Sports, located at the finish line of the race, has all hands on deck. It even brought back former staffers to help with the crush of customers this weekend.
"Business-wise, this is our Christmas," said Shane O'Hara of Marathon Sports. "You're getting your marathon gear, you might even be getting a shoe you haven't seen before because of the towns or cities that you live in, or your memorabilia for the marathon. So it's definitely a busy time."
Estimates from the Boston Athletic Association and the Convention and Visitors Bureau showed race participants will raise an estimated $25-million for their favorite charities with this year's marathon.
