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Economic Snapshot: More Conventions Head To Dallas Area
Economic Snapshot: More Conventions Head To Dallas Area
By KAREN ROBINSON-JACOBS
Staff Writer krjacobs@dallasnews.com
MICHAEL HOGUE
Staff Artist mhogue@dallasnews.com
Across North Texas, municipalities have been spending big bucks to boost their appeal to wallet-bearing conventioneers. Their timing appears to be good. After a sharp decline in travel during the economic downturn, the exhibition industry is bouncing back. In 2011 and the first three quarters of 2012, conventions nationwide saw increases in attendance, inflation-adjusted revenue and exhibitor space, according to the Dallas-based Center for Exhibition Industry Research.
Dallas
This year was Dallas' first full year in the convention hotel business. Voters approved the construction of the Omni Dallas Hotel based on the hope that a hotel attached to the Dallas Convention Center would boost the number of large conventions, which fill up hotel rooms throughout central Dallas.
2009 2010 2011 2012
Big crowds
The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau is focused on getting more local companies and associations to bring their convention business home.
325
16% 10%
17%
200 150 60
2012 325
8% 6% 7%
Ro om
Dallas Auto Show Glenn Becks Restoring Love Rock 'n Roll Dallas Half Marathon Great American Trucking Show
tt A d en
-2% -5.1
N um
Net squ feet
ig ht
-13%
-15%
80 54.5 50
vents b 2013 (E ooked a s of 12/ 01/12)
an
ro be
-21%
ce
fm
are
tin ee
-10.7
-24%
gs
Dallas Auto Show
450
Dallas, which still is booking conventions for next year, has already booked 7% more conventioneers than in 2012.
The Potters House MegaFest Lone Star Classic (volleyball) AHR Expo (HVAC)
100 72.5 60
Bureau officials estimate the economic impact of MegaFest will be $41 million.
Irving With a budget of $133 million, funded through municipal bonds, the city got into the convention game in a bigger way last year with the opening of the Irving Convention Center. Previously, the convention bureau booked only meetings that fit into one of the local hotels. A large group would have been 350 people, one official said.
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13
16
6, 19
,0
1.2
00 266 12,6 , 14
00 0
8 36
rs Exhibito
-1
es Attende
e Revenu
1,7 16 68 13 5 26 88 1,5 99
02 Nu m be om Ro Nu m r be e of ve ro tt fa Ni
-7.5 -9.6
ts gh
en de es
**
-11%
SOURCES: Center for Exhibition Industry Research; Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau; Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau
nt s
Were seeing more corporate use, which dovetails with the return of the economy. Weve also seen a lot of weddings, a lot of social events. The operating subsidy comes out of my operating budget. So the better the convention center does from a revenue standpoint, the better it is for all of us. Maura Gast, executive director, Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau
The city of Dallas bet $500 million that it would attract more large conventions with the addition of a headquarters hotel. With some convention groups downsizing, competition for the really big fish will become more intense. Dallas will have to step up its game. Karen RobinsonJacobs, staff writer