Posted on: Tuesday, February 1, 2005
Free rent attracts 11 bookings
By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer
An offer of free rent has drawn 11 bookings at the Hawai'i Convention Center that are anticipated to add more than $120 million to visitor spending and contribute roughly $10 million to state tax revenue, center officials said yesterday.
Advertiser library photo The bookings resulted from a promotion in conjunction with the Professional Convention Management Association meeting held at the center last month. SMG, the convention center's marketing and management firm, has offered association delegates free rent for events through 2010 if they were booked by yesterday. Officials were originally in negotiations with 15 organizations interested in the offer.
The convention center normally rents for about $120,000 per convention, officials said. Waiving the rent does not result in a loss from an operating standpoint because the center still collects revenue for services such as food and beverage, they added.
The additional events secured include:
• The National Pest Management Association's 2010 national convention. More than 2,000 delegates are expected to attend, generating about $6.5 million in visitor spending and $630,000 in state tax revenue. • The American College of Gastroenterology meeting in 2011. That is anticipated to draw about 5,000 people and generate $13.4 million in spending and $1.1 million in tax revenue. (Center officials said they made an exception to the offer, which was supposed to only apply to events through 2010.) • An Emergency Nurses Association event in 2008. About 1,000 delegates are expected, generating $3.1 million in spending and $260,000 in tax revenue.
• The Hawaiian Islands Ministries' meeting in 2009. About 4,000 attendees are expected, with 1,500 from outside Hawai'i. The event is expected to generate $2.7 million in spending and $228,000 in tax revenue. Davis said the Ocean Sports Expo has also signed a letter of commitment for an event in 2006. The event is expected to draw 1,000 people and generate $2.5 million in spending and $203,000 in tax revenue.
He also said two more groups will announce their meetings here when their boards approve the agreement. One of the meetings, set for 2010, is expected to generate $37.6 million in spending and $3.1 million in tax revenue.
The other, also set to meet here in 2010, is expected to generate $6.3 million in spending and $520,000 in tax revenue.
Four organizations also signed contracts with the center Jan. 10: the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the National Association of College Auxiliary Services and Sweet Adelines International.
Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.
"I think it's exceeded our expectations," said Joe Davis, general manager of the Hawai'i Convention Center. "It was a successful marketing initiative."
Eleven bookings drawn by the offer of free rent at the convention center are expected to add more than $120 million in visitor spending.
