In this morning’s Dallas Morning News, columnist Steve Blow makes a good case for a city coming together to earn and keep trade show and convention business.
With the northern and largest metro areas of the country either pricing or “ruding” themselves out of the business, Dallas gets a big chance this weekend to win over some of this moving business with the annual Professional Convention Management Association event.
Now, I admit I am a supporter of my adopted hometown. But I must say that this metro area and those with similar attributes can’t help but gain from the changing exhibit and convention business. More and more, convention planners are looking for:
- Lower labor costs. Texas is a right-to-work state and benefits from having skilled, non-union labor and the rules that hamper their work.
- Central location. DFW, Hartsfield, Sky Harbor, Lindberg Field, Bergstrom, San Antonio International, George Bush are all large and accessible by direct flights. Major Interstate highways cross or pass through most of these cities making freight costs at least more affordable.
- Warm(er) weather. No having to plug in your car, stand under a heater on a train platform or arrange for a heated bus or wait in cold cab lines. And there are outside activities to be had in these Sunnier climes.
- Manners and common courtesy. I think most of us can say without hesitation that when it comes to politeness, courtesy and cooperation, nothing beats Southern or Western people. While I know that the folks at Javits and in Philly have been working on this in recent years, when was the last time you weren’t yelled at or put off by a NYC cabbie or waiter? And Lord knows asking for directions on the street from a stranger is out.
Bottom line is that for cities to compete for these precious events, it has to be a whole package. Yes, facilities like convention center hotels and manageable docks go a long way toward helping conventions choose locations. But the whole experience has to be considered. Good luck, Dallas.
To read the whole text of Steve’s story go to http://tinyurl.com/yfdm955
TTSG
