Orthodontists put smiles on state economy

By Kelly Yamanouchi
Advertiser Staff Writer

The American Association of Orthodontists expects to draw more than 17,000 to its national convention beginning tomorrow at the Hawai'i Convention Center. It will be the third-largest event in the 7-year life of the convention center on the edge of Waikiki. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The conference, to run through Tuesday at the Hawai'i Convention Center, will draw orthodontists, dentists, students, technicians and suppliers. They represent a lucrative group for the state's tourism industry that is striving to shake off the lingering effects of the Iraq war and reduced travel caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak in Asia.

The orthodontists' meeting is a much-anticipated event for the convention center because it draws thousands of high-spending visitors. If attendees are impressed with Hawai'i, industry officials hope they will plan vacations in Hawai'i and encourage their friends and family to visit.

The conference is the third-largest event to be held at the 7-year-old convention center. The two largest were the 2000 International Association of Lions Clubs meeting and the 1999 American Dental Association convention.

The orthodontists meeting is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise difficult time for the tourism and business travel industry nationwide. The slow economy, cutbacks in corporate spending and global events have made business groups reluctant to travel.

"We're seeing more pressure ... to validate the need for the meeting, that it's going to be successful," said Joe Davis, general manager of the convention center.

Convention center manager and marketer SMG, a Philadelphia-based company, is coordinating a program to welcome attendees with more than 125 banners, 1,500 signs and 20,000 buttons. SMG also has been focusing on keeping up maintenance of the center "to make sure the facility and the neighborhood look first rate," Davis said.

First impressions appear to have been positive. "The center is lovely, and its proximity to hotels was a factor in choosing it as a meeting venue," said James Gjerset, president of the St. Louis-based American Association of Orthodontists, in a press statement.

The association has more than 14,600 members in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. It supports research and education in the orthodontic field and increases public awareness of the benefits of treatment.

The convention attendees include 6,000 pre-registered orthodontists in addition to staff members and exhibitors. Meeting organizers expect as many as 3,000 more people to register on-site. The event is expected to bring in $40 million in visitor spending and $3 million in state tax revenues. Using the state's multiplier effect, the total economic impact is expected to reach $68 million.

"The vast majority of the orthodontists are bringing their families and what that means for the state is tremendous economic impact," Davis said. "You'll see many of these families on other Islands. You'll see them enjoying the amenities and spending money into the economy."

About a dozen Waikiki hotels are housing the delegates.

After the convention, more than 3,000 convention delegates plan to attend additional programs run by the association on Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i.

If the event goes well, SMG hopes to discuss with the orthodontists' group the possibility of holding future events in Hawai'i.

Reach Kelly Yamanouchi at 535-2470, or at kyamanouchi@honoluluadvertiser.com.