Posted on: Tuesday, January 11, 2005

Convention contracts signed

By Lynda Arakawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

The Hawai'i Convention Center yesterday secured conferences with four national and international associations, including the American Medical Association, drawing nearly 16,000 more delegates to O'ahu between 2007 and 2009.

The four events are expected to add $48.9 million to visitor spending and nearly $3.8 million to state tax revenue, said convention center officials.

The size of the conventions are considerably smaller than the major events previously held at the center, such as the 2000 International Association of Lions Clubs meeting and the 1999 American Dental Association convention, which drew about 35,000 and 30,000 delegates, respectively. The third-largest convention, the American Association of Orthodontists conference in 2003, drew more than 17,000 people.

But yesterday's commitments are still considered significant developments for the convention center, which has been shoring up gaps in large events with smaller meetings booked with less lead time. The events should provide a boost to local businesses during slower seasons.

"Usually with the larger groups, depending on how active their group is, we do see an increase of about 50 more guests," said Tori Kobayashi manager of Oahu Nature Tours. "For a small business, that does add up quite a bit."

Oahu Nature Tours often works with the O'ahu Visitors Bureau to provide packages for delegates and sold out nearly everyday during the Orthodontists' conference, Kobayashi said.

The commitments yesterday resulted largely from a promotion in conjunction with the Professional Convention Management Association meeting being held at the center this week. SMG, the convention center's marketing and management firm, has offered association delegates free rent for events booked through 2010.

About 2,600 planners and suppliers are here to attend PCMA's 49th annual meeting, which began Sunday and continues through tomorrow.

SMG officials say another 11 events with PCMA members are in final negotiations. Those conferences, in addition to the four bookings secured yesterday, are estimated to bring a total of $209 million in visitor spending and $17 million in state tax revenue.

The contracts signed yesterday with the center include:

• The American Medical Association's conference in November 2007. The event is expected to draw about 3,000 delegates and generate $9.4 million in visitor spending and $780,000 in state tax revenue.

• The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry's conference in April 2009. About 1,800 delegates are expected at the event, which is anticipated to generate $9.4 million in visitor spending and $517,000 in state tax revenue.

• The National Association of College Auxiliary Services conference in November 2009. About 1,100 delegates to attend, with the event expected to generate $4.6 million in visitor spending and $384,000 in projected tax revenue for the state.

• Sweet Adelines International conference in November 2008. About 10,000 delegates are expected, generating an estimated $25.5 million in visitor spending and $2.1 million in projected tax revenue.

Abigail Sipe, director of events and regional services of the National Association of College Auxiliary Services, said the organization has considered holding its conference in Hawai'i but that prices for facilities and room rates have "always been just out of our reach."

SMG's offer of free rent at the convention center, which Sipe valued at almost $120,000, as well as a partnership with the Hilton Hawaiian Village, enabled the association to bring its conference to the center in 2009.

"I think they went above and beyond to make it very clear that there would be a return on investment for each organization and participant," Sipe said. "Hawai'i unfortunately, while it has great weather, comes with the stigma that if you send somebody for an event, they're not going to go and attend, they're going to be on the beaches. But I think they were very good at showing us the balance of (being) able to have fun in addition to networking and taking advantage of all the city has to offer."

PCMA officials did not have statistics on bookings in cities that host the association's annual meetings but said officials in Indianapolis and Anaheim, where the meetings were previously held, have reported an increase in business following the events.

PCMA board president Michael Payne praised the Hawai'i Convention Center's "incredible, beautiful location," as well as the center's service, technological offerings and hotel packages.

PCMA president and CEO David Kushner also said the center's "sophisticated" marketing and sales efforts, including making thousands of calls to members encouraging their attendance, made an impression on meeting professionals.

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com or at 535-2470.