Springfield wins bid for major tourism conference

By the numbers

In 2011*:

In 2010:

In 2009:

SOURCE: Ohio Department of Development

*latest report available

More than 300 people from Ohio’s tourism industries will come to Springfield for a statewide conference that is expected to bring $200,000 in revenue to the city.

Springfield has been seeking more conference business and this time beat out Cincinnati as the site for the Ohio Travel Association’s annual conference in 2014.

The event, a first for the city, will bring people from various tourism related industries — including transportation, lodging, amusement attractions and more.

“Their presentation showed real passion for the community and their willingness and excitement over being able to share Springfield for those throughout the state,” said Melinda Huntley, the executive director of OTA.

Huntley said Ohio tourism has been growing year over year and currently has $40 billion in economic impact to the state. According to the Ohio Department of Development, the economic impact of tourism grew 6.5 percent from $38 billion in 2010 to $40 billion in 2011. Last year’s numbers will not be released until May.

Locally, the economic impact of tourism grew from about $312 million in 2010 to $326 million in 2011.

To win the conference bid, the Clark County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau gave a presentation to OTA at its 2012 conference in October. CVB director Chris Schutte said it was between Cincinnati and Springfield for the conference.

“Springfield is a very workable location,” Schutte said. “You can leave your car in one place and walk to the convention sites or to places like the Heritage museum or our dining options.”

Local officials also plan to be very hands on, which Schutte said was a key reason the city was selected to host the conference.

“The CVB is assisting with staging, finding sponsorship for key events, and we’re taking a very hands on approach,” said Schutte. The OTA and the CVB feel it is “a function of the host city or municipality to take on some responsibility.”

Schutte said the Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center — where the convention will be held — in combination with the the Courtyard by Marriott downtown is a major reason why Springfield has begun to attract more and larger events.

In the five years Schutte has been in Springfield, he said he’s seen a growth in attracting events since the Hollenbeck opened in summer 2011.

“It is, in terms of quality of venue, as good as anything else in bigger cities,” Schutte said. “Without Hollenbeck there is no way we could’ve brought this conference to Springfield.”

Since it opened, Hollenbeck has attracted the Miami Valley Cycling Summit, the Ohio Green Build and Energy Expo, Springfield Rotary Club and more.

“We’re very pleased with the success we’ve had with the venue so far, but we continue to work with our partners,” said Stuart Secttor, executive director of Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center.

Secttor cited the Courtyard by Marriott and local officials as partners in promoting the Hollenbeck and downtown.

The OTA conference is “another sign of the success and revitalization of downtown and the hard work of our downtown merchants and (Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce) and the CVB. It’s all a team effort and it’s paying dividends.”

Becky Creager, the Marriott general manager, said she has seen a growth in the events the hotel has been involved in since the conference center opened.

“We’ve actually been able to secure a couple of large events due to the addition of the conference space … it’s something I think is going to help our business in the long run,” she said.

Creager said the Marriott and Clark State have a close relationship, and because of that, the hotel is a preferred caterer and also gets a fair share of room nights from visitors to the Hollenbeck.

And as hoteliers are often among those who attend the upcoming OTA conference, Creager said she is very excited for next year’s event.

“We’re very excited to be able to show Springfield off,” she said. “These are definitely the kind of people we want to put Springfield in front of and get some potential new business into town.”