Convention Center 'payout' $390M
By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer
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| Events at the Hawai'i Convention Center are estimated to bring in almost $400 million in visitor spending and tax revenue this year, according to SMG, the center's marketing and management agency.
Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Since the convention center opened in 1998, taxpayers have questioned whether they are getting their money's worth.
Convention center marketing director Randy Tanaka said the numbers show, "At the end of the day, if you count up all that's been done, the payout is there."
The state is spending $48 million this fiscal year to operate the convention center, including $5.8 million to promote it. The $48 million also includes debt service on the center.
The $360 million in visitor spending projected for this year compares favorably to the $203 million estimated for 2002, according to Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau figures.
For this year, "I think it's promising that they're projecting it to be as high as it is," said state Rep. Jerry Chang, D-2nd (Hilo), chair of the House Tourism Committee.
Next year, meetings at the center are expected to generate $26.1 million in tax revenue and $314.7 million in visitor spending, and in 2005 the center is expected to bring in $27.5 million in tax revenue and $331.4 million in visitor spending.
Convention center marketers are working to fill empty spots in the calendar during those years, which could push the revenue projections higher.
Convention center marketing and management agency SMG calculates the numbers from figures showing that "westbound" convention attendees, typically from the Mainland, spend an average of $136 a day. "Eastbound" convention attendees, who are often from Japan, are estimated to spend about $287 per day. The per-day spending figures are from 1996 data.
SMG reported the visitor spending and tax revenue figures in a report to the Hawai'i Tourism Authority yesterday.
Contact Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.
