 PCMA Post Script
Seattle’s convention sales team travels to New Orleans in January for the 2009 Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA) Annual Meeting, commemorating a year since Seattle hosted the meeting and garnered record attendance of more than 3,500 top meetings industry decision makers.
Definite WSCTC and hotel bookings from PCMA as of December 15, 2008:
On the National Front:
Corporate Convention Business Languishes with the Economy
Many U.S. cities report loss of 2009 corporate meeting business as the national economy wanes. On the West Coast, some of Seattle’s key convention competitors report dramatic loss of business on the books. San Francisco recently lost the contracted 2009 meetings of Network Appliance and Cisco Systems, with combined attendance of 30,000, as well as 50,000 room nights and projected economic impact of $47 million for the city. Seattle’s 2009 corporate business has remained relatively solid, although T-Mobile recently cancelled its January meeting, which would have used 12,500 room nights in the city.
Seattle Convention and Meeting Business on the Books:
First and Second Quarters, 2009
Meeting |
Date |
Attendees/
Roomnights |
Confidential Client |
2/2-6/2009 |
6,000 |
World Aquaculture Society |
2/15-17/2009 |
2,500 |
Texas Instruments |
2/25-3/1/2009 |
2,500 |
Confidential Client |
2/28-3/5/2009 |
2,500 |
National Association of Student Personnel
Administrators |
3/6-11/2009 |
3,000 |
Association of College and Research
Libraries |
3/12-15/2009 |
5,000 |
Property Loss Research Bureau |
3/21-25/2009 |
3,500 |
Organization of American Historians |
3/24-29/2009 |
2,500 |
Council for Exceptional Children |
3/31-4/4/2009 |
4,000 |
COE |
4/18-23/2009 |
1,800 |
American Academy of Neurology |
4/23-5/2/2009 |
5,000 |
American Association of Immunologists |
5/7-13/2009 |
4,000 |
International Trademark Association |
5/15-21/2009 |
8,000 |
American College of Sports Medicine |
5/27-30/2009 |
4,000 |
Associated Professional Sleep Societies,
LLC |
6/6-11/2009 |
5,000 |
Healthcare Financial Management Association |
6/13-19/2009 |
4,000 |
Government Finance Officers Association of
the US and Canada |
6/24-7/1/2009 |
7,000 |
Univera LifeSciences |
6/25-28-2009 |
5,000 |
Seattle Super Saver Value Season Under Way
Now through March, the Seattle Super Saver hotel booking program features some of the city’s most competitive hotel rates along with more than 50 value offers at top visitor attractions, restaurants, retail shops, tour and transportation companies and more.
"Seattle attractions, merchants, restaurants and other businesses are excited to join us in promoting Seattle’s high season for arts and entertainment," said Tom Norwalk, SCVB President & CEO. "The program offers a competitive marketing advantage for Seattle tourism businesses during hard economic times."
The program’s marketing plan features new print advertisements in Seattle Metropolitan and Portland Monthly magazines and an aggressive publicity campaign in regional feeder markets.
Online bookings: www.seattlesupersaver.com
Reservation Line:
(800) 535-7071 (U.S. and Canada)
(206) 461-5882 (outside the U.S. and Canada)
Reservation lines are open 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Pacific Time), Monday through Friday.
Visa Waiver Expansion Opens New Overseas Markets
The U.S. officially admitted seven countries to its Visa Waiver Program in October: South Korea, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. The expansion is estimated to bring approximately one million new visitors to the United States annually, as well as significant increases in South Korean travelers to Seattle and Washington state. Some 73 percent of South Koreans have visited the U.S. and are expected to return. Asiana and Korean Airlines offer direct air routes to Seattle.
The Visa Waiver Program allows citizens from participating countries to travel to the United States for business or pleasure for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Overseas visitors to the United States spend more and stay longer than other travelers, spending an average of $4,000 per person, per trip.
China Tourism Marketing: Outbound Initiatives
SCVB’s Michael Kurtz, Director of Tourism Development, Asia and Latin America, promoted Seattle and Washington state at the China International Travel Mart in Shanghai in mid-November. SCVB partnered with the Port of Seattle and Washington State Tourism on the program. Kurtz conducted one-on-one appointments and interviews with top Chinese tour operators, travel agents and travel media. Calls were orchestrated by i2i Media, the destination’s tourism representative in China, and follow-up on the keen interest among Chinese travel professionals is underway. |
