16 meetings = $2.2 Million dollars in McAllen
Posted by Nancy Millar on Mon, Feb 13, 2012 @ 03:03 PM
More than $2.2 Million dollars in economic benefit to the area are the result of 16 events that have been booked so far in fiscal year 2011-20122, events that are also being serviced by the McAllen Convention and Visitors Bureau staff.
The events, which are taking place at the McAllen Convention Center, at hotels with meetings space and other event venues, and are bringing more than 5,300 visitors who will generate more than 3,600 room nights for McAllen area hotels.
“We continue to promote McAllen as a meeting destination for small to large conferences and conventions,” said Victor Castillo, Convention Sales Director at the McAllen CVB, a division of the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.
“It’s estimated that an average convention delegate spends about $140 dollars a day in meals, lodging, shopping and entertainment,” said Castillo as he described that the direct and indirect spending keeps people employed.
For McAllen CVB Director, Nancy Millar, The Texas Tropics or The City of Palms, as some people like to call McAllen; the City offers a friendly and personalized service that cannot be found anywhere else. “That’s because we don’t treat conventions and visitors like numbers,” said Millar as she emphasized, “visitors know this from the minute they arrive at the airport, when they get to the hotel front desk, a restaurant or when they go to any local entertainment venue.”
“Now we have something new to offer which will help us attract more meetings” said Castillo as he referred to a new convention hotel, which should break ground by March 1st. “There are groups that simply don’t look at us if we don’t have a convention hotel; now it’s time to get in front of them, learn more about their bidding process and hopefully bring their meetings here in the next few years.”
Left to right: Mary Hernandez (Holiday Inn), Robert Zapata (Casa de Palmas), Nancy Millar and Trisha Watts (McAllen CVB), Cindy Alanis (Drury Hotels) and Carina Jimenez (Convention and Expo Management Services).
The McAllen CVB recently exhibited at Southwest Showcase in Austin, a premier event for those involved in meetings, education and exhibitions. That’s where they partnered with local hoteliers and a convention decorating group to show hundreds of meeting planners and association executives that McAllen have a team to take care of their meeting needs.
“We made new contacts and we’re getting ready to do a sales blitz soon, because we want to get the word out about The Texas Tropics, and get more people to say Let’s Meet in McAllen.“ Castillo emphasized.