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The Atlantic City Convention Center’s focus on the convention and trade show segment paid off in 2009 as an independent report on the U.S. convention business found that Atlantic City performed much better than similarly sized centers in event numbers and attendance.

Atlantic City’s 85 events drew 221,804 attendees, according to the 2009 Convention Report produced by PricewaterhouseCoopers for the International Association of Assembly Managers. Nationwide, similar centers averaged 45 events with 175,600 in attendance, according to the report, published at the end of March.

“We have pushed for trade shows because the average stay for attendees is three nights,” Gary Musich, vice president of sales for the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, said Tuesday. “They result in a lot more use of rooms and spending by attendees.”

He said the center has several advantages in booking conventions and trade shows, including reasonable costs for overnight stays, a building that works well for such events and a good location in the Northeast.

“We are predominantly a drive-in market, so we performed more favorably compared to cities that are predominantly fly-in markets,” Musich said, because in the recession more have cut back on costlier trips.

Examples of new trade or organization-based shows the center has booked include an American Wind Energy Association three-day program on offshore wind energy, and a three-day Leisure World event for travel agents sponsored by Travel Weekly magazine. Both came in October.

Joe Kelly, president of the Greater Atlantic City Chamber, said he was glad an objective study has confirmed a performance level his business members have noticed.

“Clearly the study says we’ve done good, that the ACCVA has done good. ... We’ve got a great center and a great location,” Kelly said.

Overnight visitors to conventions and trade shows obviously increase business for hotels, restaurants and transportation, he said, noting that the economic benefits can be even broader.

“What people might not see as much as the Chamber does is we’ll get a group that plays a round of golf because they’re in town,” he said.

Adding in the other main use for convention centers — consumer or public shows — the Atlantic City center had more events with 97 last year than the comparable national average of 69. But total attendance was 360,231 in Atlantic City, while the nationwide comparable-size average was 381,700.

Noting that Atlantic City’s 12 public shows are half the average number for a center its size, Musich said the authority prefers to focus on a core of shows that work well, including the annual boat and classic car shows.

“The new antique show did pretty well for its first year,” he said.

Kelly said the report suggests city stakeholders should continue to pursue visitors for times and seasons where the resort isn’t already booked full.

“Everybody is focused on working together to bring that midweek convention, off-season business to town,” he said. “Now that we’ve been successful, we’ve got to build on it.”

Contact Kevin Post:

609-272-7250

KPost@pressofac.com