Posted at 11:51 a.m., Monday, July 2, 2007
New promotion spurs bookings for convention cener
Advertiser Staff
The Hawai'i Convention Center got some good bites as a result of a recent promotion: two new bookings and 13 additional leads.The joint promotion titled, "Pot of Gold," by SMG Hawai`i/Hawai`i Convention Centerand the Hawai`i Visitors and Convention Bureau, was conducted in concert with the launch of the new joint online resource BusinessAloha.com.
The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) booked for 2014 and the American Phytopathological Society (APS) in 2011, according to Joe Davis, SMG general manager of the Hawai`i Convention Center. And he said the center hopes to finalize additional bookings based on the leads received by the end of the year.
The APMA will be here twice.
"We are anticipating our 2008 meeting will be a huge success and in anticipation of our tremendous faith in Hawaii's ability to deliver, we are pleased to announce we will meet in Hawai'i again in 2014," said Anne R. Martinez, meeting administrator, American Podiatric Medical Association
She said the promotion provided an extra incentive to rebook their meeting far in advance.
The center has been averaging lower than expected bookings for some years, especially for next year.
The Center forecasts this economic impact the conventions: APMA's meeting will attract more than 3,500 delegates resulting in an estimated statewide spending (delegates, organizers and exhibitors) of $12.4 million and a state tax revenue of $1.6 million; and the APS meeting is expected to attract more than 1,200 delegates resulting in an estimated statewide spending (delegates, organizers and exhibitors) of $4.3 million and a state tax revenue of $550,000.
