AMC Institute News Releases
Contacts:
Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, 504-566-5034
New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Stan Samples, 404-836-5050
Kellen Communications (IAAMC)
ASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES UNITE IN SUPPORT OF
REBIRTH OF NEW ORLEANS
Industry Group Commits To Help Rebuild
Convention Business in the Crescent City
NEW ORLEANS (March 23, 2006) – In a significant move by the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC), the group has issued a proclamation to help direct meeting business to New Orleans to support the rebirth of the city. IAAMC is an international group representing association management companies (AMCs) – for-profit firms managing nonprofit organizations such as trade associations, professional societies and foundations. The association industry dominates the meeting marketplace and spends more than $56 billion annually for conventions, expositions and meetings. AMCs manage more than 18,000 association meetings nationwide per year.
New Orleans has been a regular destination among AMCs and now the industry strives to bring it back as a premier meeting location. New Orleans is generally ranked as the fifth-largest convention city in the United States, after Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando and New York.
“Fueling the local economy with an estimated five billion dollars, tourism is the second largest industry in New Orleans, so this proclamation to us is a great vote of confidence, giving us renewed strength, ” said Kathleen “Kitty” Ratcliffe, Executive Vice President of Convention Sales with the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau. John Ruffin, Chair of the IAAMC, noted, “America is witnessing a resurgence in New Orleans’ pride and determination. The association community has supported New Orleans in the past as a major convention destination. We want to take a proactive role now and make a formal commitment to help the city regain its standing.”
The proclamation, approved by the group’s Board of Directors “calls upon all IAAMC members, in their capacity within their AMC, tosupport the rebirth and rebuilding of New Orleans andto recommend booking client conventions and/or meetings in New Orleans sometime within the nextfive (5) years. ” The IAAMC proclamation continues, “Wealso strongly encouragemembers of the associations managed by AMCs to joinIAAMC membersintheir efforts to bring backNew Orleans' designation asa major meetings and convention center.”
AMCs represent over 3,000 associations nationwide. Sue Pine, Executive Vice President of IAAMC, noted "Through the impact of our members and their footprint of association conventions and meetings, the AMC industry can play a significant role in rebuilding one of America's oldest and most charming cities.”
New Orleans is already on its way to recovery, according to Ratcliffe. “Airlines are at 62 percent of their city destinations and hotel rooms are at 70 percent of pre-Katrina room inventory. We feel good about these recent trends and in the ability of association members to travel to and from the city." Once there, association members are greeted by nearly 1,000 restaurants in Orleans Parish alone, important since New Orleans is considered one of the top three culinary destinations in the world. The improvements in the infrastructure of the hospitality system are further accentuated by this year’s full reopening of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, the largest contiguous-space exhibit hall in the United States.
"The IAAMC proclamation adds to the momentum that will begin to pay off for New Orleans. Many associations have already confirmed their 2006 meetings in the city,” said Ratcliffe. AMC executive Gregg Talley, owner of Talley Management Group and past chair of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), added, “The PCMA has committed to the city’s rebirth by booking a New Orleans meeting for 2009.” Associations already on board for 2006 include the American Library Association, bringing 22,000 delegates to New Orleans, June 24-27; Air and Waste Management Association (3,000 attendees), June 20-23; the American Psychological Association (16,000 delegates), August 10-13; the American College of Emergency Physicians in October (6,000), Society of Exploration Geophysicists (12,000), American Society of Human Genetics (6,000) October; American Society for Reproductive Medicine (6,000) October 21-25; and the National Association of Realtors (25,000 people) during November 10-13.
About the Proclamation:
For full text of the proclamation from the Board of Directors of the International Association of Association Management Companies (IAAMC) to direct meeting business to New Orleans, visit www.AMCinstitute.org. AMCinstitute is the research and marketing arm of the IAAMC.
About the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Since 1960, the New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau (www.neworleanscvb.com) has been the driving force behind New Orleans' most important industry, attracting $4.9 billion to the region annually. Nationally recognized for superior customer service, NOMCVB represents over 1,200 members and provides convention services and visitor information for business travelers and vacationers. In 2004, the NOMCVB welcomed a record-breaking 10.1 million visitors to one of America's favorite meeting and leisure destinations. The NOMCVB is committed to rebuilding the city of New Orleans.
About Associations and Association Management Companies:
The estimated impact on the economy represented by non-profit organizations including trade associations and professional societies is 10-12 percent of the Gross Domestic Product.
Association Management Companies (AMCs) are professional service firms that provide association management and other association services through experienced staff, proven practices and shared resources. AMCs in the United States now manage non-profit budgets exceeding $2 billion collectively. For more information, visit www.IAAMC.org.
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