Tough Times for Georgia World Conference Center

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported today that bookings at the Georgia World Congress Center were down so far this year and total revenues could see a dip nearing $3.5 million, as the convention center heads in to its fiscal 2010.

Dan Graveline, executive director for GWCC blames a soft economy and a slower than average February for the dip in its overall budget, but also believes there are currently too many venues to support national trade show activity.  The industry, Graveline said, would take time to compensate for the surplus.
The knock against Atlanta has historically been that it doesn’t bode enough hotels and nightlife to support major activity at GWCC, which is the fourth largest convention center in the country.

Other signs of trouble
Budgetary shortfalls aren’t the only problems for Atlanta this year.  Here are some other related headlines recently making the news:

• Just two weeks ago, the Atlanta Visitors Center and Convention Bureau said that it is cutting spending by $570,000 this year, due to 4.9 percent decline in hotel occupancy.
• Funding for Brand Atlanta — the public-private partnership that launched in 2005 to boost Atlanta’s identity in the region and nationally — may have all but dried up, the AJC reported earlier this month.  The timing couldn’t  be worse for Atlanta, which this fall is set to host two internationally acclaimed exhibits – Terracotta Warriors at the High Museum of Art and King Tut at the Atlanta Civic Center.