Kansas City CVB batting .400
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
David
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Skyscanner reveals major travel trends 2026 at ITB Asia
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements