Convention Bureau Sees Bright Future

The Spokane Area Convention and Visitors Bureau has booked three future conventions that could bring more than $5 million into the Spokane economy.

Mina Gokee, director of convention sales, said the bureau booked three conventions during the past month totaling $5,383,250 in anticipated economic impact.

The National Association of Resource Conservation and Development Councils scheduled a June 2003 convention for 2,700 attendees. The five-day event is expected to bring $2,497,000 into Spokane.

In November 2001, the National Congress of American Indians will bring 2,000 delegates to town for six days. That convention is projected to have a $2,100,000 economic impact.

Finally, the International Conference of Police Chaplains is expected to have an impact of $786,250 when its 850 delegates visit for six days in July 2003.

So far this year, the bureau has booked $32.3 million in future convention business, said Gokee.