CVB Travel: City's largest annual conference starts July 23

Nearly every hotel room in Springfield is expected to be full when about 3,300 teachers from across the state meet for the city's largest annual conference July 23-26.

The Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education summer program during the tourist season makes the city's 5,400 hotel rooms prime commodities, said Tracy Kimberlin, executive director of the Con-vention and Visitors Bureau.

"With the other travel we have during that time of year, the city's rooms are at 100 percent occupancy," he said.

That's good news for hotels, restaurants, retailers and attractions. Not only are hotel rooms full, but delegates will spend about $1 million during the conference, which the group has been doing since 1988 when the CVB convinced Missouri ACTE to move the summer program to Springfield.

Donna Vossen, executive director of Missouri ACTE, said Springfield is more affordable than others cities, yet large enough to be interesting.

A national survey comparing the cost of hotels, food and car rentals showed Springfield is one of the least expensive cities in the nation for visitors. With an average cost per day of $167.79, it ranked 98th out of 100 in "The 2001 Corporate Travel Index" published annually by "Business Travel News."

For comparison: The average per diem is $215.41. The most expensive city is New York City at $408.14 per diem. Kansas City was 54th on the list at $204.59. St. Louis was 38th at $206.04. Biloxi ranked 100th with $148.49.

Springfield also provides a variety of shopping, dining and entertainment opportunities for the delegates.

CVB sales manager Diane Gillespie is glad Missouri ACTE is happy with the city. The conference, which provides courses required for technical and career teachers to maintain state certification, plans to meet in Springfield through 2005.

Gillespie also knows the bureau must work hard to keep the group coming back after the 2005 program. Besides providing services such as conference registration assistance, help with hotel reservations, shuttles, advertising assistance, coupons and visitors guides, the bureau tries to make sure the group is aware of new activities, restaurants and entertainment.

Bureau staff members are keeping a close watch on developments at Jordan Valley Park and University Plaza Trade Center where more meeting space is proposed.

Not only would additional space help the city provide better service, even larger conventions and conferences could be accommodated.

"Larger conferences means increased positive economic impact for local businesses," Kimberlin said. "It also means a boost for the city's lodging tax, which provides funding for the bureau, Wonders of Wildlife, Jordan Valley Park and other projects."

(Susan Wade is public relations manager for the Spring-field Convention & Visitors Bureau.)