Hotels prepare for large group events

Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau staff members have booked two dozen events through April anticipated to bring tens of thousands of visitors to the city.

Leading the pack are the 56th annual Greater Ozarks Open Bowling Tournament and the National Christian Homeschool 2014 basketball championships, both expected to top 10,000 in attendance. Others around the corner include the Missouri Baptist Association conference, expected to bring 700 people Jan. 27–28; the Missouri Organic Association conference, bringing 300 people Feb. 6–8; and the Feb. 28–March 30 Missouri Winter Games, which drew about 5,000 people last year.

A key economic factor in hosting such events is the room nights reserved in area hotels. According to the CVB, the March 9–16 youth basketball tournament is securing nearly 500 room nights, while other groups top 1,000 room nights: SpyderFest by Powersports, 3,220 room nights, and two Premier Baseball Championships, between 1,000 and 1,500 room nights.

Through October, the most recent CVB data available, room demand in the city was up 5 percent and occupancy settled at 56.7 percent. At an average daily rate of $71.33 per room, hotel operator’s revenue per available room is up to $40.41, compared to $37.59 at the same time in 2012. October had a strong showing, with $8.15 million in room sales, to push the annual sales total above $73.4 million, a 6 percent increase from the same period a year prior.

Among CVB’s recruitment efforts, sales department representatives are at the Professional Convention Management Association Convening Leaders Convention, which concludes today in Boston, and an upcoming Religious Conference Management Association conference.