The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1952-07-05
Toduy's
Business
Mirror
Rv SAM DAWSON

NEW YORK R-Americans love
conventions. And the hotels, trans
portation and other service COM
panies love the more than Is mil
lion Americans who so to some
1900 of them annually.
The political shindigs this month
in Chicago are spectacular, but
only a drop in the bucket to what
goes on around the country.
Trade, professional, civic, social
and other organizational get-to-
gethers this year viii cost around
ZIG million dollars in hotel rooms,
meals, entertainment, cabs, tips
and the little woman's shopping.
Railroads and buses VIII take in
some As million dollars more. And
the airlines are out to get Is mil
lion dollars in convention travel.
Gasoline stations sell an unesti-
mated number of gallons to con-
vention goers in their cars.
Big conventions like the Shriners
and the American Legion draw
around 100000 persons. But the
average convention is much small
er-around $50, the World Conven-
ton Dates, trade publication in
the field, estimates. And about
$500 Of the meetings have less
than 100 in attendance.
1t is a known fact that
about one-third of the men now
bring their wives along-is a chief
problem, according to the Manual
on Conventions and Meetings by
George DAHL. He says the best
thing is to get them out of the
hotel during the session hours
certainly the first day, and on
trips as far from the convention
site as possible. The second days
entertainment program for the
ladies can be slower. And the third
day they'll pack.
People in charge of conventions
work far in advance-some on
their 1854 plans already. It's an
intricate job. There are associa-
tons concerned with conventions.
in large part-like the Interna-
tional Association of Convention
Bureaus, and the Hotel Sales Man
agement Association International
(Which has 400 delegates at its
own convention).
The Department of Commerce
lists some 1000 national trade, pro.
fessional and civic associations and
1000 state trade associations. Add
to that the nations countless edu-
cational, fraternal, and social or
CARNATIONS Plus the growing
trend toward regional meetings of
national groups--and the American
urge to convene becomes tremen-
deus.
To the Republican and Demo
cratic meetings you can add those
OF such organizations as the Gold
Star Mothers and the Society of
Vascular Surgery. Or the Tele-
phone Pioneers OF America and
the American Bee Breeders Asso-
citation. And the Biological Photo
graphic Association and the Insti.
tute of Newspaper Controllers and
Finance Officers.
There's a Wash Frock Sales
mems Association and the Toy
Knights of America. And the
American Trade Association Exec
utiveS-son1e 1,l00 heads of asso.
Citations. who discuss their eonven-
ton headaches, among other
things.
That's why it's a good thing the
country has around 200 hotels with
convention facilities. Many of these
hotels are now urging associations
to hold their meetings the last
three days of the week. instead
CT the customary first three. to
tighten the load.
On their part. the groups are
showing a tendency to shop around
more for convention cities, instead
1f going TO the same place every
year.