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Gathering Place
Joe Davis |
Convention center
has proved its worthSince the grand opening of the Hawaii Convention Center in 1998, the facility has evolved into a key asset in the state's economic development.
Last year alone, the center was a catalyst for bookings of more than 222,000 hotel room nights, and has generated more than $360 million in visitor spending and more than $30 million in taxes.
Combined year-to-date economic impact totals (visitor spending plus offshore event tax revenues) are estimated at $390 million for the local economy. Unaccounted for in this total is the so-called "trickle down" effect or multiplier that is generally used to calculate indirect economic benefit to the state.
During the past five years, the center has served as the site for some 733 national, international and local events, accommodating more than 520,000 offshore and 514,000 local attendees. With the assumption of the marketing function by SMG in January 2003, major achievements include the development of a new marketing plan and generating major re-bookings by achieving consistently high customer satisfaction levels.
In fact, user satisfaction ratings of good to excellent have never dipped below 95 percent during the five years of the facility's operations.
Re-bookings form a critical piece of business for convention centers. The American Dental Association has committed to return to Hawaii in October 2009 with an anticipated 40,000 attendees and bookings of 60,000 room nights. This coup is all the more important when considering that the dentists group comprised one of the largest offshore events ever held at the center.
In May 2001, the center proved itself to be a viable site for East-West meetings as well as a secure destination for potentially controversial meetings when the Asian Development Bank held its successful meeting here. Out of a total of 39 confirmed conventions for this year, 15 emanated from Asia (with one group from Korea and the remaining 14 from Japan).
Another milestone convention was held in August 2003 when the American Society of Association Executives brought more than 4,100 delegates to the center for its annual meeting and exposition.
Composed of association executives who choose destinations and venues for their own organization's meetings, the ASAE reports that 20 percent of its delegates book their own convention in the host city within five years, for an estimated economic impact of $1.3 billion in future convention business to the state of Hawaii.
While in the islands, the ASAE and its delegates generated about $12.8 million in visitor spending and estimated tax revenues of $1.06 million.
Reviewing the progress of the first five years and looking ahead, we believe the center is well positioned to take advantage of our unique advantages, the most important of which is espoused in our theme: "The Hawaii Convention Center: Where Business and Aloha Meet."
Joe Davis is general manager of the SMG-managed Hawaii Convention Center.