CONVENTION/VISITOR SPENDING TOPS $300 MILLION FOR FIRST TIME IN NKY

NEWS RELEASE

Contact:
Pat Frew, Director of Communications
(859)655-4163 (o), (513)703-3027 (m)
E-Mail:  Pressroom@nkycvb.com

CONVENTION/VISITOR SPENDING TOPS $300 MILLION FOR FIRST TIME IN NKY
The innovative site is the final piece of NKYCVB's new branding and marketing campaign

Covington, KY/March 19, 2008—Visitor spending in 2007 reached an all-time high of $325 million according to figures released today by the Northern Kentucky Convention & Visitors Bureau at the group's 2007 annual meeting, held Wednesday evening at the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.

The $325 million figure was 23 percent more than the 2006 total of $263 million calculated for Boone, Campbell and Kenton Counties. Industry segment breakdowns are as follows:

• Lodging $162 million (49.86 percent)
• Restaurants $74 million (22.72 percent)
• Shopping $39 million (12.06 percent)
• Entertainment $23 million (7.17 percent)
• Transportation $18 million (5.52 percent)
• Other $9 million (2.66 percent)

The meeting's theme was Uncommon Community, which according to Bureau President and CEO Tom Caradonio, served as an explanation for the substantial gains benefiting the region.

"Competition in our industry is at a level we've never experienced before. Each Convention Bureau looks to separate itself from cities of similar size. One of Northern Kentucky's strongest traits is the ability of civic and government leaders to come together in alignment for the good of the community. This sentiment is not a given in many cities. That's why it's essential," Caradonio continued, " that we celebrate the strong working relationship the C-V-B holds with the hotel and attractions community, the Northern Kentucky Convention Center and all our additional meetings facilities."

Convention officials stressed the importance of a renewed focus on working with facilities such as the METS Conference Center near the Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport and the soon-to-be opened NKU Bank of Kentucky Center, which will host numerous events in the sports and religious markets, to name just a few. Other statistics released by the Bureau included:

• Total economic impact to the community as a result of 2007 Bureau initiatives was $44.2 million, up from $39.4 million in 2006;
• For every dollar spent on marketing the region to convention goers, nearly $11 was returned to the community in economic impact ($10.90). This represented a 10 ½ percent advantage over 2006;
• Corporate travelers continue to lead the market segment category at nearly 41 percent, followed by Leisure at 34 ½, Meetings and Conventions 22 and Government 2 ½ percent.

• The Bureau honored people who helped recruit conventions to Northern Kentucky last year as part of its Champions program:
• Ann Miller, Kentucky Speech Language and Hearing;
• Jim Farley, American College of Healthcare Administrators;
• Kim Luse, Coalition of Urban and Metro Universities;
• Larry Blake, Southeastern Regional Association of Physical Plant Administrators

The Bureau Star Awards were handed out to industry stakeholders for outstanding achievements. Nan Boyle, who served 20 years as the Bureau's Financial/Marketing Consultant before retiring in December, was honored as well as former Founder of Southbank Partners Wally Pagan for his instrumental work in getting the Convention Center built as well as dozens of other high profile riverfront development project completed during the past decade.

The mission of the Northern Kentucky Convention and Visitors Bureau is that of an aggressive sales, marketing, service and informational organization whose primary responsibility is to positively impact the Northern Kentucky economy through conventions, meetings and visitor expenditures. The direct economic impact of visitors' spending in Campbell, Kenton and Boone Counties in 2007 was $324 million.