Viewing page 44 of 356
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
Moving Up.. HOUSTON'S 1980 CONVENTION BUSINESS BREAKS ALL PREVIOUS RECORDS Houston's 1980 convention business has broken all previous records, according to an announcement by Leonard E. Rolston, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Council (GHCVC). More than 711,000 delegates attended 683 conventions this past year. The revenue generated by this business brought more than $229 million into Houston's trade channels. In comparison, Houston hosted 465 conventions, with an attendance of 666,771 and a dollar value of $159.6 million in 1979. Bookings for future conventions also continued to break records. The GHCVC convention sales staff booked 661 future conventions, with an expected attendance of over 974,000 and a dollar value to the city of $285.1 million. Major conventions hosted last year include: American College of Cardiology (12,000 delegates), Concrete and Aggregates Show (16,500 delegates), Offshore Technology Conference (87,000 delegates), Texas Association of Nurserymen, Inc. (8,000 delegates), Instrument Society of America (25,000 delegates), Nursing Employment Exposition (10,000 delegates), and Modern Language Association of America (10,000 delegates). Commenting on Houston's booming convention business, GHCVC Chairman of the Board G. D. "Sonny" Look said, "We feel our convention increases are, in part, attributable to our revised marketing plans for last year. We stepped up our national advertising with a campaign that won an international award and participated in more sales missions - including two fly-ins of meeting planners to Houston. The Convention Sales team also focused their solicitations on target markets," Mr. Look explained, "that made it possible to devote more time to proposals for selected meetings." Mr. Rolston added, "We feel very strongly that we will continue to see increases in Houston's convention business in the years to come. However," he noted, "we realize that we are losing the 'middle-market' conventions due to the limitations of our facilities." Rolston defined the "middle-market convention" as "one too large, or with too many exhibits, to meet in the downtown Albert Thomas Convention & Exhibit Center and too small to require the four times-larger Astrohall." When asked about the picture for the future, Rolston elaborated, "Houston has the potential to become the leading convention city in the country. Three years ago there were 23,000 hotel rooms, today there are over 25,000, and by 1983 there will be 35,000 hotel rooms. In terms of restaurants and entertainment, we already are in the forefront. When plans for our new convention facility become a reality, we will be able, once again, to actively solicit every association and meeting group in the nation." [[image]] [[caption]] PHIL ROBERTSON PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EVENTS [[/caption]] Phil Robertson has been promoted to Director of Special Events at the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Council (GHCVC). The announcement was recently made by the Council's President Leonard E. Rolston. Robertson joined the Council in 1977 as a Visitor Development Specialist. In January of this year, he was named Marketing Manager of the Visitor Development Department. "The Department of Special Events," stated Rolston, "was established to coordinate activities of an extraordinary nature which contribute to the marketing programs of the Council. [[advertisement]] HOUSTON. THE URBAN WEST THE WORLD IS COMING TO. [[image - drawing of man on a bucking horse]] It's the convention city gushing with exciting nightlife and fun-filled days, bustling below one of the world's most dramatic new skylines. It's Houston, the great Urban West city with everything you need to make your convention great: Over 1,000,000 square feet of exposition space in three separate convention centers. And over 25,000 sleeping rooms now, with 8,000 more expected by 1984. Plus a convention staff that helps you every step of the way. To learn more about Houston, and what the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Council can do for you, call Len Rolston at 1-800-231-7799 or, in Texas 1-800-392-7722. Ask for our support service directory, computerized housing system description, and our Convention and Meeting Planners Guide. Then, come to the great Urban West. And ride herd on a successful convention. [[image - logo]] Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Council 1522 Main St., Houston, TX 77002 [[/advertisement]]
