August 2010
Rentals and Staging

In This Issue:

Cost-Savings Tips for Meeting Planners
Gulf Coast Travel Industry Soaked by Oil Spill
Hotels See Increased Business Activity
Denver Meeting and Events Industry - Upcoming Events
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Gulf Coast Travel Industry Soaked by Oil Spill

You may have seen the news clippings of the Obama family happily vacationing in the Gulf Coast region this past weekend. This was orchestrated in part to generate business for the Gulf Coast’s tourism industry, which has been battered by the recent BP oil spill.

The area - spanning from Texas to Florida - is projected to lose $22.7 billion in travel-related revenue over the next three years, which is a frightening scenario to the entire Gulf Coast region, since the region relies heavily on $34 billion in tourism-related spending each year. The 400,000 jobs in the Gulf Coast’s travel industry account for between 13 percent and 22 percent jobs in the entire region.  

Businesses all along the Gulf Coast are seeing a significant decline in business in the months following the oil spill, particularly in July and August, as tourists are scared off by the photos of pristine beaches and wildlife tainted by oil. It is proven that natural disasters do have a significant long-term impact on tourism, and it takes a large effort to dissuade negative perceptions. Unfortunately, this region has already dealt with the devastating impact of Hurricane Katrina, which was only five years ago.

What is the Gulf Coast doing to accelerate a recovery? There is a $500 million effort to attract visitors to the region that is projected to reduce the total economic impact by $7.5 billion. The $500 million marketing program, which is funded by BP, is designed to share accurate information on the oil spill and attract visitors to the region.

If you are planning a vacation anytime soon, please consider the Gulf Coast as a destination. Image Audiovisuals wishes all of our colleagues in the region the very best during the recovery process.


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Dan Carrese
Director of Sales
Rental and Staging
Image Audiovisuals, Inc.
2130 S. Dahlia Street
Denver, CO 80222
303-758-1818
dcarrese@imageav.com

Scott Collinsworth
Director of Sales
Colorado Convention Center
Image Audiovisuals, Inc.
700 14th Street
Denver, CO 80202
303-228-8047
scollinsworth@imageav.com

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