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http://www.wtol.com/Global/story.asp?S=2866429
TOLEDO -- The Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau has booked
the largest convention in Toledo's history. For eight weekends this
summer, nearly 7,000 visitors will descend upon the SeaGate Convention
Centre for the annual convention of the Christian Congregation of
Jehovah's Witnesses.
Toledo's selection to host the event was announced Thursday. While
the convention proceedings will take place at the SeaGate Convention
Centre, the impact of the visitors will be felt throughout the
community, as guests enjoy the region's attractions, hotels,
restaurants and festivals and spend their money here.
The direct economic impact from this event is expected to be more than
$8 million and generate nearly 30,000 room nights over the event's
eight weeks. Thursday's announcement was the culmination of more than
a year of work for the Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau,
which worked with the SeaGate Convention Centre, the Christian
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses and a wide variety of agencies
and downtown landowners to ensure that everything was in place to make
the event a success.
"This is a huge economic development success and a perfect example of
the SeaGate Convention Centre functioning as an economic magnet," said
Jim Donnelly, president and CEO of the Greater Toledo Convention and
Visitor Bureau. "Bringing the event to the SeaGate Convention Centre at
break even costs generates opportunities for the local economy and
accomplishes exactly the kind of thing the Greater Toledo Convention
and Visitors Bureau and the SeaGate Convention Centre were set up to
do."
The Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau is the umbrella
organization that works with hotels, convention centers and other area
agencies to draw events like this to the area. In 2003, the CVB
confirmed 378 conventions with more than 84,000 room nights in Greater
Toledo. Overall, tourism makes an approximately $1 billion annual
impact on the local economy.
"We were thrilled at the reception we received from the people we have
worked with in Toledo. Both the SeaGate Convention Centre and the
Greater Toledo Convention and Visitors Bureau worked long and hard to
help us have a successful event in Toledo. All our members look forward
to a great summer in Lucas County," said David Dunn, of the Christian
Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses. "It is our desire that each
weekend, 7,000 Jehovah's Witnesses leave Toledo spiritually
refreshed, and return to their home cities to assist the local
residents in their communities."
Donnelly said that much of the credit for the convention choosing the
SeaGate Convention belongs to the people of the community. "Perhaps it
is most important to note that this organization has visited Toledo
before, and chose to come back again. I believe that speaks volumes
about the hospitality of our people and the quality of our community as
a destination," Donnelly said.
The convention will be held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of eight
weekends in June, July and August. Visitors from the Ohio, Indiana and
Michigan tri-state area are expected to attend the conference this
summer, which is typically a downtime in the convention calendar.
Posted 2:10pm, Thursday, January 27, 2005 by AEB
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