The San Diego Convention Center managed to remain open during the fires that raged through California. And few events were cancelled, officials say.
Only one large group, Sharp Healthcare’s annual employee meeting, which was expected to attract 12,000 to 14,000 local attendees, cancelled its event at the convention center due to the fires.
Carol Wallace, the Convention Center Corporation’s president and CEO, said some questioned the decision to remain open. She explained:
“It’s important to remember that the conventions held in our building are planned and contracted four to five years in advance and attract hundreds of thousands of out-of-town attendees annually. San Diegans who work in local hotels, restaurants, shops, museums, etc. depend on these events and the tourism industry, for their livelihood,”
The convention center has provided a direct link to local relief efforts coordinated by the American Red Cross on its web page, she added.
Report by David Wilkening
