Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau: Organization awaits February move to Jordan Valley Park

With an anticipated move-in date of February 2004, the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau is excited about finally being under one roof in its new offices in the Jordan Valley Car Park, located in Jordan Valley Park.

Tracy Kimberlin, CVB executive director, said it will be the first time in several years all of his Springfield-based employees will be in the same building.

There are seven employees currently working in the Tourist Center located near Battlefield Road and Highway 65, and another six people working in leased space in the Union Planters Bank building across the street. That makes for some interesting communications.

Sales Director Dana Maugans said the offices in Jordan Valley Car Park will bring all the CVB resources together and provide great visibility for the organization near the revitalized downtown area.

"The vast majority of all large conventions are going to use University Plaza, the Expo Center and the proposed arena, so this is a good place for us to be," Kimberlin said.

Most of the CVB events are booked about two years ahead of time, so there is not a noticeable difference in the number of groups interested in the Springfield area for their events.

Some of the groups coming to Springfield in the next few years include: Missouri Republican Party Convention, Missouri Association of Career and Technical Education, Wally Byam International Caravan Club, Amateur Athletic Union Girls 11 and under National Basketball Championship, Southeastern Outdoor Press Association and many others.

The CVB booking goal is tracked from July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004, and is referred to in terms of "room nights." Kimberlin defined a room night as when one or more persons stays in one room for three days, thus equaling three room nights. If 10 people stay in 10 rooms for three days, it would equal 30 room nights.

The CVB met its 2002-2003 goal of 52,000 room nights and is shooting for 60,000 room nights in the current cycle. The landing of an AAU basketball tournament will do a great deal to help the 2005 goal with estimated room nights for that event around 9,600, Maugans said.

"The sports market is our biggest market, and we really like to work with amateur athletics, especially those involving children," Maugans said.

Other areas of focus when determining which groups to pursue include conservation and religious organizations. Maugans said the CVB tries to focus on what the Springfield area has to offer and then match those attributes with the needs and wants of various groups.

The CVB sees approximately 30 percent of its bookings from repeat business and about 70 percent from new bookings.

Jim Haddaway, first international vice president of the Wally Byam Caravan Club, said the geographic location of Springfield, the Jordan Valley Expo Center, Bass Pro, Wonders of Wildlife Zooquarium, cave tours, Lambert's and Branson helped convince him this was the place for their 50th anniversary rally in 2005.

"People with the city really have a can-do attitude and that means a lot to us," Haddaway said.