St. Louis to host convention about conventions

ST. LOUIS, MO (ST. LOUIS PUBLIC RADIO) - The City of St. Louis is hosting what tourism officials are calling the “Super Bowl of Conventions" this weekend.

The members of American Society of Association Executives are responsible for booking some $60 billion in convention activity annually.

All told, some 5,000 hospitality industry reps and executives will be in St. Louis from Saturday to Tuesday.

The purpose of the convention is for those reps to try to convince 1,500 different associations to hold annual meetings in their city.

Brian Hall of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission says hosting the event gives St. Louis a huge advantage. Since roughly 20 percent of conference attendees will book their annual meeting in the host city over the next five years.

"And that results in about $186.5 million if we’re able to book one-in-five meetings for a future date here in St. Louis," Hall said. "Which is obviously a huge opportunity for us.”

The event will kick off with a free concert under the Gateway Arch at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

Adam Allington, St. Louis Public Radio

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