Some Cities 'Too Much Fun'

With job cuts and cost-saving measures the watchword of the day, cities like Orlando and Las Vegas are fighting their fun-loving image to attract serious-minded conventioneers.

1 minute read

June 18, 2009, 8:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

A predicted 11% shortfall in business travelers has Orlando officials concerned. Rumors abound that a blacklist is circulating throughout the government of cities like Orlando that aren't appropriate for conventions.

"Orlando's convention-and-meetings business has been reeling for months from corporate cutbacks and negative publicity that followed the federal government's bailout of large financial-service companies last fall.

Industry leaders have complained that news reports of troubled companies continuing to spend heavily on conferences and retreats - notably insurance giant American International Group, which hosted a lavish junket for employees after receiving billions of dollars in federal aid - have put a chill on all kinds of corporate travel."

FULL STORY: Text size: increase text sizedecrease text size Is Orlando too much fun for government conventions?

Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in The Orlando Sentinel

Community / Economic Development United States Conventions Orlando

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