Sports group captures hospitality triple crown

According to the West Michigan Sports Commission, the organization has, on average, booked more events and drawn more event participants here, who have spent more money than convention attendees, than the former Convention and Visitors Bureau over a “comparable” three-year period.

The following data reflects an annual average over those three years for the sports commission from 2009-2011 and for the convention bureau from 2004-2006.

Agency Average Number of Events Average Number of Participants Average Amount of Direct Spending

Sports Commission    

Convention Bureau

  49

15

  55,340

24,150

  $16,000,000

$4,700,000

Note: The convention bureau data is prior to the organization becoming Experience Grand Rapids.

Source: West Michigan Sports Commission, December 2011