Convention Sales Top December Mark

While December generally is not a big month for convention business, this month proved to be a record-setting exception in Spokane.

According to Mina Gokee, director of convention sales for the Spokane Convention & Visitors Bureau, December will contribute $6.5 million to the local economy, marking the highest-ever figure for the final month of the year and the second-highest for 1997.

August was the top convention month this year, with $11 million.

Contributing to record performance for December were the Northwest Mining Association convention and gatherings by the Washington Wheat Growers, Far West Fertilizer Association, two religious groups and the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament.

To arrive at the economic impact figure, the Spokane CVB factors the number of “delegate days” for each convention and multiplies that amount by $155. , DataTimes