I’ve realized it’s probably easiest to post answers to several questions that have come up recently, questions I have answers to, here, for everyone to read.
For a list of medical meetings for 2007, visit http://meetings.primediabusiness.com/search.asp. I searched for 2007, and returned 705 meetings. It is up to the meeting planner to submit the meeting to the database, so this is not a complete list. Of those, I counted about 170 that are meetings that will not be considered based on being associated with a particular state or institution/locale.
The number of full-time employees in Cuyahoga County who are employed by Travel and Tourism was 69,200 in 2005 and has increased from 48,828 jobs in 1994. This number comes from data provided by Longwoods, International and Rovelstad & Associates. Further information on the economic impact of tourism on Cuyahoga County can be found at http://www.travelcleveland.com/medicalmart/more_info. Additional jobs beyond the hospitality industry are sustained/created with conventions and meetings, including various convention services, A/V, Lighting, exhibitor management, motorcoach/charter rental, equipment rental, unique venue rental, etc.
The ExPact Study from 2004 explains the methodology for determining the direct spending impact of meetings and conventions. DMAI is working with DK Shifflet and Associates on an updated Convention Spending Study that will be released this fall, providing the most current data.
Also, the PriceWaterhouseCoopers study that was conducted in 2005 to review the potential of a new convention center is available online. This study does not reflect the impact of a Medical Mart or targeting medical meetings as a result, for the new convention center, nor does it reflect current US dollars.
Excerpts from State of the Exhibition Industry: Medical and Healthcare:
“The medical and healthcare industries remain strong as a result of an aging population, longer life spans and modern medicine. Exhibition activity reflects that strength, as the sector’s index score grew at a CAGR of 4 percent from 2000 to 2006. CAGR scores for net square footage and revenue increased 5.4 percent and 4.1 percent respectively from 2000 to 2006. The overall index score in this sector increased 3 percent from 2005 to 2006, fueled by an 8.1 percent year-over-year increase in the revenue.
The forecast for this sector continues to look positive. There’s currently an increase in biomedical research generating a plethora of new drugs and medical devices — all of which are ideally suited to be marketed at exhibitions. There’s also a healthy demand for educational sessions in which doctors and scientists can learn the latest techniques and exchange ideas.”
Lastly, this is a busy week for Cleveland. The CVB is playing host to several meeting planners, group travel planners and media this week in a Familiarization tour, to show off Cleveland’s many assets. This includes a Travel Expo taking place at the convention center on Thursday. Also this week, CBS Morning Show is in town, taping live from in front of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum from 7-9am on Friday, July 27. Please feel free to make your own homemade Cleveland+ sign and you could win Browns or Indians tickets. They will be showing segments from various Cleveland locales during the show, and these segments will be available on their website as well after the show.
Lorelei Sugano
CVB of Greater Cleveland
