Economic Impacts of Conferences and Conventions

Abstract This study examines the conference and convention trade as a travel activity. The objective of the research is to determine and compare the economic impact of conferences and conventions to the overall travel and tourism activity in a rural region. Expenditures of conference and convention participants and vendors were used. Annual visitor days totaled 970,051 for the activity. Non-resident visitors and vendors spent considerably more per activity day than residents. The residence of vendors must be considered when determining regional expenditures used for deriving economic impacts. Total sale impacts were $163.3 million. The value-added component of the economic impact totaled $98.4 million and 4,188 jobs were supported. Conferences and conventions were a major contributor to the regional economic impacts from travel and tourism.