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Anaheim/Orange County Meeting Numbers Stay Solid in 2008Positive Experiences by Meeting Planners and Attendees Frame the Year
Coming Year Projections Look Bright
ANAHEIM, Calif. (January 5, 2009) – Anaheim and Orange County’s meeting and convention business brought in more than one million attendees in 2008, finishing the year on a very consistent note.
Meeting data tracked by the Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau (AOCVCB) noted that 764 meetings, trade shows or conventions were conducted in 2008 at the Anaheim Convention Center and area hotels. As a result, a reported 1,252,067 people met in the Anaheim/Orange County area last year. Additionally, these meeting attendees spent a total of $975,000,000 throughout the region during their stay.
According to Charles Ahlers, president of the AOCVCB, “Meetings have a significant economic impact on our area’s hotels, restaurants, transportation and entertainment venues. We are very pleased that so many meeting and event planners reported record numbers in 2008 and had a positive experience here.”
The following are just a few of 2008’s convention highlights:
In June, the American Library Association (ALA) hosted its first-ever meeting in Anaheim with an attendance of 22,000. ALA meeting planners and members stated that the meeting was a great success, and as a result rebooked Anaheim for 2012.
AORN (Association of PeriOpertive Nurses meeting exceeded attendance estimates and rebooked Anaheim for 2016.
Natural Products Expo experienced a record attendance of 53,510. This annual meeting is booked through 2010.
Canon Communications also had a record attendance of 53,000. This annual meeting is currently booked through 2013.
The Academy of Management experienced record-breaking attendance of 9,793 and rebooked for 2016.
NAMM once again filled the city of Anaheim and surrounding areas with thousands of attendees and brought in a record-breaking attendance of 89,689.
“Given the tenuous global economy, we are cautiously optimistic that 2009 will prove to be another quality year for Anaheim and Orange County’s meetings and conventions. One very positive note is that there will be more citywide conventions in 2009 than in recent years.” Ahlers stated.
A few of Anaheim’s major meetings to be held during 2009 include:
Date
| Group Name
| Estimated Attendance
| January
| NAMM International Music Products Assn.
| 89,000
| January
| Craft & Hobby Assn.
| 22,000
| February
| Canon Communications
| 50,000
| | February | Helicopter Assn. Int'l
| 15,000
| | February | Religious Education Congress
| 40,000
| March
| Natural Products Expo West
| 50,000
| March
| The Spirit Team (American Championships)
| 20,000
| April
| Distributive Education Clubs of America
| 14,000
| May
| California Dental
| 30,000
| June
| Institute of Food Technologists
| 22,000
| June
| Future Business Leaders of America
| 8,000
| September
| ASIS International
| 24,000
| September
| Produce Marketing Assn.
| 18,000
| October
| Solar Electric Power Assn.
| 20,000
| November
| Rockwell Automation
| 10,000
| December
| Milton H. Erickson Foundation, Inc.
| 8,000 |
*A complete list of AOCVB booked conventions, meetings and events for 2009 available to the media upon request.
The Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau is a non-profit destination marketing organization dedicated to promoting Anaheim/Orange County as a premier visitor, convention and meeting destination. For more information, call 714/765-8888 or visit anaheimoc.org.
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