The Kansas City CVB is creating a “buzz” in the industry with strong recent activity, say tourism officials.
The occupancy rate for the Kansas City area’s 29,087 hotel rooms hit 67.1 percent in September, the best in a decade and a giant leap past 2005’s average of 58.5 percent, according to the CVB.
The September figure was inflated by moves of the Irish Fest to Crown Center, a national convention here from New Orleans and a NASCAR Nextel Cup race. But occupancy for the year is still expected to exceed 60 percent.
“Kansas City’s nascent downtown revival, anchored by the Sprint Center, the Power & Light nightlife district, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and a new ballroom at Bartle Hall, is practically selling itself,” reported the Kansas City Star.
So far this year Kansas City has pitched 75 bids for events scheduled between 2008 and 2012. Thirty of them have or are expected soon to sign on, according to Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association sales chief Bill Bohde
“If they were playing baseball the sales team at that pace would be batting .400. That’s Hall of Fame territory. Last year’s “closure” rate for signing deals was a minor league .210, or 21 percent,” he said.
“We’ve almost doubled our closure rate,” said Bohde, and it keeps getting better. He boasts the already impressive 2006 booking numbers have the potential to double by year’s end.
“Our total product right now is creating a tremendous buzz through the meeting and planning world,” said Mr Bohde.
September’s occupancy boom of 67.1 percent was 12 percent better than September 2005 and even bested the national average of 65.1 percent. That hasn’t happened in a long time, if ever, said Kansas City-based hospitality consultant Jeff Marvel, of Marvel & Associates.
Report by David Wilkening
