The statewide entity that markets Connecticut venues and hotels to meeting and sporting-event planners, said it saw a modest increase in signed contracts for events and rooms in the recently concluded fiscal year.
The statewide entity that markets Connecticut venues and hotels to meeting and sporting-event planners, said it saw a modest increase in signed contracts for events and rooms in the recently concluded fiscal year.
The Connecticut Convention & Sports Bureau (CTCSB) said it signed contracts for 109 events and 73,000 room nights during fiscal year 2015, which ended June 30.
That was up from 100 events and 71,672 room nights in fiscal year 2014, according to H. Scott Phelps, who has led CTCSB since former President Michael Van Parys retired last August.
The events are projected to generate $63 million in economic activity for the area economy. That's down from $68 million last year, which Phelps attributed to a change in how the Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI) calculates the economic impact of sporting events. In particular, the association lowered revenue projections from youth sporting events, Phelp said.
When asked about new upcoming events, Phelps said he was particularly excited about luring the USA Cycling's 2017 cyclo-cross national championships, which will come to Hartford's Riverside Park in January 2017.
“It'll fill downtown with cyclists, who are people who can invest in equipment,” Phelps said. “They make an economic impact.”
Hartford had been competing against Louisville, Ky., and other cities for the event, he said.
CTCSB will have to fight harder this fiscal year to beat its previous numbers. That's because its $800,000 contract with the state has been reduced by $100,000, Phelps said. The bureau's entire budget is just over $1 million.
In a recent email newsletter to stakeholders and supporters Phelps described the state cut as a “tremendous challenge.”
It will mean cutting back on the number of people the CTCSB sends to tourism shows to market the state.
“We'll have to work smarter and harder and be stronger partners with the hospitality community throughout Connecticut,” Phelps said. “One good thing here is we have a very veteran staff.”
— Matt Pilon
