Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/646776
Columbus has been selected as the host city for the 2018 National Urban League Conference. The event will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in August 2018 and is expected to bring 5,000 visitors to Columbus and add $3.6 million to the local economy. "I am very pleased that the National Urban League has chosen Columbus to host its national convention. Conferences such as these help to solidify our city's place on the national stage to host such large conven- tions," said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "I want to thank the Columbus Urban League, former National Urban League trustee, CEO, Steve Rasmussen and Nationwide along with Experience Columbus for their work in landing this convention." The Columbus Urban League's hard work and desire to have a national conference in Columbus was integral to getting the event. "We are honored to have been selected for the 2018 national conference. What we already know of Columbus, the nation will soon experience in the goodwill, good work and good hearts of our city," said Stephanie Hightower, president of the Columbus Urban League. "Alongside Nationwide, Experience Columbus and our Mayor, we put our best foot forward to showcase all the Columbus has to offer. Now, the preparation for 2018 as a community of corporations, businesses and partners in the mission of liv- ing empowered and being a world class conference host begins." The booking represents the latest under Experience Columbus' "Make it Columbus" initiative designed to encourage locals with connections to national associations to bring their groups to Columbus. "Nationwide is proud that Columbus will host the National Urban League Conference in 2018. For decades, we have partnered and supported the mission of the National Urban League, and its affiliates, as we collectively make a difference in the lives of others," said Gale V. King, Nationwide chief administrative officer and National Urban League trustee. "As home to Nationwide world headquarters, we look forward to joining our other corporate partners as we welcome the thousands expected." The National Urban League Conference will be held in Baltimore in 2016 and in St. Louis in 2017. B M & T ••• January/February 2016 ••• www.blackmeetingsandtourism.com 10 Atlanta's hospitality development boom over the past decade is catching the interest of meeting planners. Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau( (ACVB) attracted 19 new business opportunities for future years during the first three quarters of 2015. These events are either brand new to the city, or have not convened in Atlanta in more than a decade. The meetings represent more than 355,000 hotel room nights, an estimated 220,000 attendees and more than $290 million in economic impact. "Atlanta's meeting infrastructure has developed beyond Centennial Olympic Park," said Mark Vaughan, executive vice president and chief sales officer, ACVB. "The city is com- prised of four compact meeting districts – Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead and the Airport Area – each with hotels at every price point, award-winning dining options, top attrac- tions and flexible venues for meetings of any size." Bookings include: • International Exposition Company will host its annual International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition (AHR Expo) in Atlanta in 2019. The AHR Expo is expected to bring an estimated 50,000 attendees. • Varsity Spirit Corporation will bring the annual One Up Championships to Atlanta in 2016 and 2017. The champi- onships are expected to bring an estimated 22,000 attendees each. • American Society for Microbiology (ASM) will bring the ASM Microbe conference to Atlanta in 2018. ASM Microbe is expected to bring an estimated 20,000 attendees. Established in 1913, Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau is a private, nonprofit organization created to favor- ably impact the Atlanta economy through conventions and tourism. I N T H E N E W S COLUMBUS SELECTED FOR 2018 NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE CONFERENCE ACVB ATTRACTS NEW BUSINESS TO ATLANTA