Economy

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Fortunately for the local economy, many of those same evengt planners expect to be just as busy a yearfrom now, as dozenxs of major events remain on track and are anticipateds to draw hundreds of thousands of visitore to the area. Indeed, state and city convention officials say plans for 2010 remain on despitethe country’s financial Between lists compiled by the Boston Visitors and Convention Bureau and , the city is currently expectin g at least 10 conventions with over 10,000 attendees next and upwards of 40 expecting to draw thousands of visitorx apiece.
In fact, early indicators hint that 2010 may actualluy be a growth year forGreater Boston, in termzs of event-driven hotel reservations. Already 54 eventws are scheduled fornext year, a lineup expected to bring more 338,0090 attendees to the area and fill over 541,000 room nightas at local hotels. By this year’s convention schedule has 59 major events slated toattract 359,000 attendeesd projected to fill 491,736 room However, event organizers say it will take some effort — both in marketinh dollars and strong international outreach to maintain that momentum.
Mary Larkin, vice presiden of the International BostonSeafoocd Show, anticipates a strong 2010 sincw this year’s show was so successful, with between 16,000 and 17,000 peopl e who attended. She does, however, intend to spend more time appealing to internationapl attendees to prepare for thenext show. “What we typicall do is market toseafood professionals, to new groupas that may be interested in the event,” she said. “Witb more observation, we’re going to be marketint more internationally.
” Beth Stehley, vice presideng of sales and convention services at the Bostonh Visitors andConvention Bureau, said organizers she’es spoken to are not reducingt funds for events in 2010. “They all seem cautiouslg optimisticthat we’re gonna come out of this,” she “We’re just hoping ’09 will be a blip in and it will be business as usual in Stehley said the BVCB has been marketin g the events through e-mail blasts and promotional visitz to events in other cities. “We go and promot what Boston hasto offer, like museums and she said. Boston hotels won’ be worrying about a lack of businessin 2010.
The , for will be taking up over 35,000 roomx during its convention, whichn is scheduled for 10 days in The is securingover 29,000 rooms for its nine-dau event in August, accordinf to data compiled by the MCCA. Like the BCVB, event officialss are taking new approaches in advertising thei r showsas well. New England Grows, which held its annuaol 2009 conventionin February, expects around 15,000 to attenx the event next year, up from the 12,737 that participate this year. Executive director Virginia Wood said the organizationj is ramping up its campaigningthis “The things we’re trying to do is addressd the constituents, via educational programs and she said.
“We’re adding any conteny that is solutions-oriented. How can we get them through thisroughh economy? What solutions, ideas and trends can we offer them, so we’rs the place they come