From Deseret News archives:
Hurricane may lift S.L. convention business
And while extra conventions would be good news for the city's bottom line, the bureau is taking steps to make sure it doesn't come off looking overly opportunistic.
"We want to make sure we receive our fair share of that displaced business, but at the same time we don't want to be predatory," bureau vice president for sales and marketing Mark White said.
The bureau said it has worked out a deal with downtown hotel owners to donate some profits from windfall conventions to Katrina relief.
"The hotels have generously kicked in," said Mark Bennett, spokesman for the bureau.
All across the United States, local leaders are looking to book conventions displaced by the hurricane. Cities like New Orleans and other Gulf Coast locales are unable to hold conventions, and other places, like Houston, are using their convention centers to house evacuees.
In Salt Lake City, bureau staff are in talks with several convention organizers who may want to relocate to Salt Lake City. Convention staffers are examining their existing slate of conventions and finding holes where they might be able to plug in displaced groups.
While most of those talks are confidential, one group that is looking at Salt Lake City is the Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Bennett said.
The 75th Annual SEG International Exposition, which draws geophysicists from across the globe, is supposed to be held at Houston's George R. Brown Convention Center Nov. 6-11.
Currently the convention center is being used as a makeshift evacuee home for displaced Gulf Coast residents and is unavailable for convention use. Houston officials are, however, hoping the center will be ready by November.
"At this time the George R. Brown Convention Center is scheduled to be in full operation Oct. 1, 2005," convention center managers said in a letter to the SEG. "We recognize the importance of updating you concerning your November convention as soon as information from our mayor's office is available. We feel very comfortable that we will be able to accommodate your convention Nov. 6-11, 2005."
Still, with circumstances so uncertain, convention planners are in talks with Salt Lake officials about the possibility of moving the convention to Utah if Houston isn't an option.
Comments
- Congressional vote on playoffs? 7:51 p.m.
- 2010 World Cup daily schedule 7:24 p.m.
- Notre Dame won't go to a bowl game 7:10 p.m.
- Nebraska could now help TCU 7:09 p.m.
- Cops need help in tool heist 7:08 p.m.
- Source says Flyers fire Stevens 7:07 p.m.
- Murder case starts for juvenile 6:46 p.m.
- Court decision could cost $15M 6:44 p.m.
- West Bountiful fire displaces three 6:25 p.m.
- Ed Smart infuriated with revelations 6:24 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Ed Smart infuriated with revelations
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
409 - Max Hall issues apology
393 - Hall's pain reflects self-betrayal
362 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
293 - Utes won't respond to Hall
278 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
235 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
183 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
"Mormons don't even celebrate advent. What is up with this?" There's...
He just does not have good basketball instincts. I know this is his first...
To the 5:04 comentator, This is a FEDERAL prosecution. It is the entire...
Skousen and Beck? What an utter embarassment! THe fact that we have a panel...
I'm a little surprised by this choice of all-staters. I thought for sure San...
I find it strange when folks suggest that Atheism is a religion of its own....
Would you want to deprive people of all their pet lizards, pet birds, and all...
To: Tim D. | 5:21 a.m. Dec. 3, 2009 You said, "I have one BIG hang up with...
"Light travels faster than sound, which is why someone may appear bright...
I agree, John. And Aaron, it means know what you're talking about before you...


You can be the first to comment on this story.