Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-09-09

Legion convention, we at the
Willard were hosts to as many
Legionnaires and their families
as we could accommodate.
I'm addition to being a we'll
hammered group, the Legion
naires provided us with more
revenue than we received from
the Inaugural festivities in 1858,
or on any other occasion. Our
Willard Room, Crystal Room.
Round Robin cocktail lounge
and Rendezvous coffee shop
were extremely well patronized."
More, Than Dollar Gain.
Herbert G.. Blunck, manager
.of the Statler Hotel.sa and
president Of the Hotel Associa-
ton of Washington, Is among
those who think the city gained
more from the convention than
can be measured by dollars. He
said:
f IT think the hotel men of
Washington were delighted to
have the Legion come here dur
ing the summer period. The fact
that many in moderate circum-
stances brought their families,
which may have resulted in less
expenditure per person than the
usual convention, was certainly
offset by the new friends we
made for our Capital City. Here
was a convention composed of
the cross section of America.
1--WE showed our city to thou
sands of people who otherwise
wouldn't have come. think
when you bring in 100000 peo-
pie, it leaves the city not only
money but good will. There were
no problems. They were a Won
derful group of people,
Called Most Profitable.
R. v. Bryce, managing director
of the Harrington Hotel, said:
"The Legion convention was
the most profitable of all groups
booked at the Harrington Hotel
during the past several years.
The cocktail lounge did three
times normal business and the
room revenue was above average.
On the day of the parade we had
more than 5000 in our bar and
eating establishments, which in
dicates how we'll we did. I, for
one. have no criticism against |
the Legion convention and wish |
it would be held here every
year"
Robert J. Wilson, executive
secretary of the Washington
Restaurant Association, acknowl-
edged some restaurants did less
business than they had expected |
but added that others did very
well. 3D.
Expected Too Much.
Though our restaurants did
not get as much business as they
anticipated" he said, fthe Amer
lean Legion convention did bring
much business to the community.
Our people just expected too
much.
"A great many Of our regular
customers stayed away. antici-
pating the visiting crowds. They
should not have done that, as
we were prepared to take care of
both the regulars and the visi-
tors. f-, y
well be reaping business
from now on because of this
convention, with the advertis-
ing given the city and the res
taurants."
I Richard D. Gibbs, secretary
Of the Peoples drugstore chain,
commented:
I'D say we didn't benefit too
much from the convention. Per-
haps it wps a little better than
an average week, but hardly
noticeable, There were some ex-
ira. sales in downtown stores,
but, if anything, business was
hurt a little on Tuesday, the
parade day.
But I'd like to see the Legion
come back every year. It's a
good thing for the city, 1t will
help a lot, because the conven-
ton left a certain amount of
money in town that turns over
several times before it goes out
of circulation"
The liquor dealers, however,
were still disappointed. Cab
drivers also complained that too
many of the visitors elected to
walk and ride buses.